Why #Triggered Jokes Need To Stop | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Why #Triggered Jokes Need To Stop

Most of us do not know what being triggered feels like.

17
Why #Triggered Jokes Need To Stop
Pexels.com

If you scroll through my brief list of articles here on Odyssey, you’ll see a common theme, and you’ll see it quickly. I write about mental illness. I do this because I have several mental illnesses that have been a large part of my life for several long years.

A word we often use in the mental health community is “triggered.” We use it to mean a feeling that reminds us of our illness so strongly that we have an urge to act on it.

Apparently, “triggered” is also a hashtag, with almost 1.5 million memes ranging from pro-pedophilia arguments to SpongeBob images. The meme states that someone has been made upset by a certain subject or idea, but it is also taking a stab at those in the mental health community that overuse the word.

But most of us do not know what being triggered feels like, because most us understand painful memories but do not know what it is like to rely on unsustainable, unhealthy, and often life-threatening coping skills.

So the next time you want to use #triggered, I ask you to think of the following message, because this is what being triggered feels like to me.

Disclaimer: I am not claiming that this is what mental illness or being triggered feels like to everyone; I am simply sharing my experiences.

When I am triggered, I cannot breathe. I cannot think straight. My entire mind is consumed by memories, events, and the need to destroy myself for just a moment of peace. Imagine walking on the beach with your best friend, lover, spouse- and feeling the warm sunshine on your shoulders. The cool water kissing your feet gently, your toes digging deep into the sand that closes around them, accepting your body as a part of it. Now, imagine being pushed into the water. Your head is held underneath by your scalp, bleeding as fingernails dig into them. You wonder what you’ve done to deserve this. Your lungs start to burn and your eyes are forced open by the desperate need to find your way out. Salt water stings the back of your eyes, and you can feel your skin start to tighten and crack. You know you cannot hold your breath for much longer. Your body doesn’t have the same strength. Your arms and legs feel limp. You know to give in is death. But you cannot hold out. And just as you feel the first of the briny water splash down, heavy, into your chest…

Nothing. Here is the end of triggered. You either decide to stay and fight or you decide to give up, to breathe it all in. You know death will feel sweeter, but you shouldn’t give in. You can’t keep going like this.

And the worst part of it all? No matter what you choose, you know it’ll happen again. Minutes, hours, days — it’s not a question of if it’ll happen. It’s a question of when. How strongly. And if you’ll be able to resist death this next round.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

325
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
student thinking about finals in library
StableDiffusion

As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1854
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

3147
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments