A few months ago, I noticed the trend of "triggered: jokes appearing on my Facebook news feed. I'm sure we've all seen them by now. Someone replies with "triggered" to something that may have slightly angered, upset, disgusted, or offended them and it's done only as a joke. Here is an example of a thread of people making "triggered" jokes.

Every time I think these jokes are done, another appears, and I'm tired of it. I want to give people the benefit of the doubt and assume they don't understand why it's insensitive, so I'm going to explain why the triggered joke is disrespectful.

A trigger is anything that evokes the memory of a traumatic experience or event and is most commonly associated with PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. People who have PTSD are survivors. They are survivors of assault, abuse, disasters, war, and other traumatizing experiences. They've lived through the unthinkable and when they are triggered by a sound, a sight, a touch, a smell, or even a thought, they are brought back to that traumatic experience and relive it. This can affect people's everyday life, making them avoid certain situations or environments that could trigger them to a flashback. It's a serious mental illness that will affect 7.8% of the U.S. population in their lifetime.

When you make a joke about being triggered, you are minimizing the trauma that these people have survived through and are additionally increasing the stigma around mental illness. Some people are now uncomfortable using the word "triggered" with their therapists because of these jokes, preventing them from having an open conversation about their mental health and from receiving the appropriate, necessary treatment. These survivors deserve the utmost respect, not mocking from strangers. As a nation who cares so much for our veterans, one way we should show we care is by not making a joke out of a mental illness many veterans struggle with. Just like jokes that are sexist, racist, homophobic, etc., "triggered' jokes are tasteless and crass.

I would encourage these individuals that are passing along trigger jokes to have some compassion for other people who have survived trauma and don't use "triggered" as a joke anymore. If you do continue to do so, you're just being insensitive towards a group of strong and brave individuals who have lived through unthinkable circumstances. There are plenty of jokes and memes on the internet to laugh at and enjoy; the "triggered" joke is not one.

Disclaimer: Everyone who has PTSD experiences it in a different way. The way in which I describe PTSD is a very general description and cannot be applied to every person who has it. If you or someone you know is struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, consider taking a look at this online resource.