As a sailor of the vast Internet sea and Captain of a modest blog, I recognize that it is impossible to cater to the individual needs of all 7,000 of my readers. But, on this particular afternoon, I have made an attempt, adding: “Trigger Warning: sexual assault and violence” above a link to an article on the Brock Turner case. Less than 24 hours later, my Tumblr inbox is filled with nasty messages, insults, all using phrasing too profane to quote outright, and all under an anonymous heading.
Sadly, I am not surprised. But how, you may ask, can one seemingly harmless sentence spark so much anger? I didn’t alter the article in any way. Nor did I add any commentary about the case. Nevertheless, I have done something wrong. For many in our society, the concept of “triggers” or “trigger warnings” is just another sign that the end is near.
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Let’s clarify something. A trigger warning is not: an excuse, something invented by whiny college kids, a sign of melodrama, or the punchline of a joke. A trigger warning is a brief statement notifying others that the content they are about to consume contains this specific material. Triggers are specific content that causes an aggressive, negative emotional response. They are incredibly common and can be used by anyone, particularly those with PTSD or anxiety. Triggers, like many aspects of mental health, have come to the forefront in recent years, as individuals struggling with these issues feel more comfortable in coming forward and discussing them. However, trigger warnings have been met with a disproportionate amount of backlash. For many individuals, trigger warnings are a necessity in their mental health-care, but instead, they are treated like jokes.
So, in preparation for Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s clear some things up, shall we?
“Triggers don’t exist, grow up!”
Not only do triggers exist, individuals can have severe reactions when exposed to them unexpectedly. Panic attacks, dissociative episodes, or flashbacks to the trauma that created the trigger are all possibilities. A trigger warning gives an individual time to prepare or remove themselves from the situation. It is not up to others to judge when or how an individual should “grow up” and overcome the difficulties of their past. Trauma is not something you simply grow out of.
“Trigger warnings don’t exist in the real world!”
Right….we totally don’t have ways to warn people of explicit content. Is this movie safe for kids? Who cares! They just need to “grow up”, right? If a professor shows a video in class that causes someone to have a seizure, then they’re just “being too sensitive”, right?
It’s impossible to control everything in your environment. An individual cannot always shield themselves from their triggers, but by including them where we can, we can better prepare them for the moments they will face those triggers.
This is where many people misunderstand triggers and their purpose. When I included that trigger warning before the article, it was not with the expectation that those who needed it would not read the article. It’s a warning so that they are aware of what the article contains and to prepare themselves mentally for that.
When college students request trigger warnings, they are not asking for a free pass. They are not asking the professor to stop showing that material. They are asking for a warning shot, so they may participate fully in class without the mental uproar that unexpected material may cause.
Trigger warnings are a tool many individuals use to care for their mental health. Every time a trigger is turned into a punchline, you are ridiculing individuals who have faced trauma and are working to recover and improve their quality of life. We are so forgiving of physical wounds, but refuse to acknowledge the mental ones. You may not be able to see them, but they are there nevertheless, and it is up to us as a collective to help the ones who struggle with these illnesses. We must acknowledge that it is okay to be vulnerable, to be hurt, and embrace these ways of healing without ridicule or condescension.
