Jaycee Woods

One of my short stories involves a restrained prisoner who is threatened with being tasered to extract intelligence. Never having been tasered I needed some hints on how to describe the effects. Below is my exchange with Copilot to gain some details to include in the story.

Question: I am trying to write a fictional scene. When a person is tasered, what do they sense as an experience?

When a person is tasered, they experience a total loss of muscle tone and an inability to move for a brief period of time. It’s like a sudden, excruciating cramp that leaves them stunned and immobile. Psychologically, the experience can be traumatic, causing extreme fear, confusion, and feelings of helplessness. So, in your fictional scene, you could emphasize the sudden shock, pain, and disorientation that the character feels when tasered.

Question: Muscles, got that. What about their other senses like smell, taste, hearing, sight?

When a person is tasered, their other senses remain largely unaffected. However, the intense pain and shock might momentarily blur their vision, cause ringing in their ears, and heighten their awareness of their surroundings. Smell and taste, though, typically remain unchanged during the brief duration of the taser’s effect.

Question: Tongue is a muscle, so it would contract too?

Yes, you’re absolutely right! The tongue is indeed a muscle, and it would contract during the intense shock of being tasered. So, in your scene, you could describe the character’s tongue momentarily tensing up due to the electric current.

Question: Jaw muscles would most likely tighten then, correct?

Indeed! When tasered, the jaw muscles would likely tighten due to the intense electric shock. The sudden jolt could cause the character’s jaw to clench involuntarily.

Question: What about mental impacts? Given shock therapy, the mind has to be doing something unusual when tasered.

Certainly! When tasered, the mind experiences a sudden surge of adrenaline and stress. Here are some mental impacts:

Fear and Panic: The character’s brain registers the intense pain and threat, triggering a fight-or-flight response. Fear and panic flood their thoughts, urging them to escape or defend themselves.

Disorientation: The electric shock disrupts neural signals, causing momentary confusion. The character might struggle to process what’s happening or where they are.

Hyperawareness: Despite the disorientation, the mind becomes hyperfocused on the immediate environment. Sounds may seem louder, and details more vivid.

Helplessness: The inability to move due to muscle paralysis can lead to feelings of helplessness. The mind races, searching for a way out.

Memory Formation: The brain rapidly encodes the traumatic experience into memory. Later, the character might recall the event with vivid clarity.

Remember, these effects are brief, lasting only as long as the taser’s impact.

Question: Afterwards any side effects, like smell burnt flesh, piss and crap themselves?

Certainly! After being tasered, there can be additional effects:

Burnt Smell: The electric discharge might cause a faint smell of burnt flesh or hair due to the intense heat generated by the taser’s prongs.

Involuntary Bodily Reactions:

Urination: Some individuals may involuntarily urinate due to the shock.

Defecation: Similarly, the sudden stress can cause involuntary bowel movements.

These effects are not universal, but they add realism to your fictional scene.

Question: For after effects, what about nausea, sweating, etc?

Certainly! After being tasered, there can be additional effects:

Nausea: The intense shock and adrenaline surge might cause nausea or a queasy feeling. The character’s stomach churns in response to the trauma.

Sweating: The body’s stress response triggers increased sweating. The character’s skin becomes clammy, and they might feel overheated.

Remember, these effects vary from person to person, but including them adds realism to your scene.

Question: How is breathing affected afterwards?

After being tasered, breathing is typically affected in the following ways:

Shallow Breaths: The intense shock can cause the character to take rapid, shallow breaths. Their chest may feel tight, and they might struggle to inhale deeply.

Increased Heart Rate: The adrenaline surge from the taser impact accelerates the heart rate. The character’s breaths might sync with their racing pulse.

Gasping: Some individuals gasp for air due to the sudden stress. It’s as if their body urgently demands more oxygen.

Remember, these effects are transient and last only as long as the taser’s impact.

Question: What is recovery time for these effects?

The recovery time for the effects of being tasered varies. Generally, the muscle paralysis and disorientation last only a few seconds to a minute. However, the psychological impact may linger longer, causing anxiety or fear. As for physical symptoms like sweating, nausea, and increased heart rate, they typically subside within minutes after the taser’s effect wears off.

Question: If this abuse was part of ongoing punishment in a penal setting, are there other consequences that build up with time?

Certainly! In a penal setting where taser use is ongoing, several additional consequences can accumulate over time:

Physical Trauma: Repeated taser shocks can cause muscle strain, bruising, and even minor tissue damage. The cumulative impact on the body becomes more pronounced with each use.

Psychological Toll: Enduring frequent taser abuse leads to heightened anxiety, fear, and emotional trauma. The anticipation of the next shock can be as distressing as the shock itself.

Desensitization: Over time, the character might become somewhat desensitized to the pain. Their fear response could diminish, but this doesn’t mean the experience becomes any less traumatic.

Chronic Stress: The constant threat of taser punishment creates chronic stress. This affects overall health, sleep patterns, and mental well-being.

Physical Dependence: In extreme cases, the body might adapt to the electric shocks, leading to a dependence on the adrenaline rush. The character could feel restless or agitated without it.

Remember, these effects compound, making the character’s situation increasingly dire.