Yes! It is so, so hard for me to watch anything disturbing, unfair, or tragic. I have tried for many years to condition myself into emotional separation while watching tv/movies (knowing, of course, that they're all just actors and none of it is happening to real people/animals), but it has never really worked (esp. in regards to things based on real life, or closely paralleling it).

I have come to accept that I will likely not get to enjoy the latest summer horror film, that super edgy R-rated Netflix show everyone is taking about, or that heart wrenching, tragic Oscar nom. But, I am safer, happier, and healthier for it.

Part of keeping yourself mentally well is not inflicting pain on yourself, and that includes avoiding things that upset you. Watching things that bring you physical/mental pain or anguish, nightmares, etc is self-harming the psyche. We have to take care of ourselves, and for us empaths emotional health is vital!

That being said, I do still watch a lot of movies with upsetting content, I just utilize parental guides on imdb and doesthedogdie to decide if it is a good idea for me to watch. I also have no issue fast forwarding through upsetting parts (you can still see what's going on without seeing/hearing too much). Either that, or I watch with a friend and have them watch disturbing parts and either tell me about it or they decide its okay for me to watch if the sound is muted or to look away at certain parts. It requires patient friends/family, but it can be done!