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[Serious] Triggers, and why they aren't a joke


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Triggers

 

We all know what they mean, and we all like to use the word. But what we don't realize is that when we use "triggered" in the context of just jokingly saying that it offends us, it's trivializing what the word actually means. 

 

Triggers are words, images, or anything that causes one to have a reminder of a traumatic experience, and as such, react in such a way that would be appropriate to that event. 

 

The more we use "triggered" to mean that we're slightly offended, the more we're harming those who actually have triggers. 

 

An example of an actual trigger and it's effect would be the "Dynamite Girl" scene from Wreck-it Ralph

 

 

She's not offended, she's legitimately distressed by that phrase. She's triggered.

 

Well, at least that's my view on triggers. What're your views on them?

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Triggers do legitimately exist - their severity varies from person to person.

 

I'm terrified of fire, since my house burned down, to the point of near irrationality.  Fireplaces freak me out.  Open stove tops actually do scare me - and yes, I realize that it's irrational and shouldn't have an effect on me as much as it does, but it happens.  I can't really get over that.

 

I dunno, just thought I'd throw in a personal experience.

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Triggers do legitimately exist - their severity varies from person to person.

 

I'm terrified of fire, since my house burned down, to the point of near irrationality.  Fireplaces freak me out.  Open stove tops actually do scare me - and yes, I realize that it's irrational and shouldn't have an effect on me as much as it does, but it happens.  I can't really get over that.

 

I dunno, just thought I'd throw in a personal experience.

Not sure this counts because it's essentially a dictionary description of pyrophobia.

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Not sure this counts because it's essentially a dictionary description of pyrophobia.

Phobias are irrational fears, iirc. This fear stems from a traumatic event, and has a trigger (fireplaces, open stoves), so I think that it is a valid trigger. Fears can equal triggers, but not all fears are triggering, ya dig?

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Brilliant example Aez. As far as I know, triggers mostly exist in the context of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD. Catherine, your example sounds more like a phobia, such as the one I have of dogs because of my mum being bit by a dog and me being chased by one. However I am no Psychologist, so IDK.

 

(oh just read what Lujan and Aez wrote)

 

Last January I was admitted to a mental health hospital, and some people there had PTSD. We had to keep off certain conversation topics because of the traumatic experiences that many in the ward had been through at some point in their lives. I personally find it very annoying to hear people make fun of triggering because many of my friends do experience it, and I myself occasionally get panic attacks (which I imagine to be somewhat similar) about random things such as breaking a routine or forgetting something because I have Asperger's.

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A phobia is a trigger.

We just have a different name for a phenomenon that has always existed.

It's only got a bad connotation because the phrase has been abused by terrible people who want to look special and claim the word for themselves when they don't know the actual psychological damage those with actual triggers go through.

 

Once again. Sick and twisted system.

I'm sensing a pattern today.

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