I think by this point, we've all heard the words "trigger" or "trigger warning" in some context that makes us tilt our heads and go "Wait, really?" Because some people use the word to describe something that causes offense or distaste rather than flashbacks or panic attacks, it seems like it's become kind of a buzzword - and a stigmatized one at that! A lot of people now seem to think that having triggers is something to be mocked as a sign of over-sensitivity. I've even heard of PTSD-sufferers no longer using the word because they don't want to be seen as weak or thin-skinned. What's your take on this? Do you still use the word "trigger" to describe stimulus that could give you flashbacks/panic attacks/anxiety, or do you no longer use it to avoid the stigma that's become attached to it?
In my opinion, I'm all for increased awareness of triggers and the effect they have on people, but I think it's a shame how the word has become misused and misinterpreted, by people (without PTSD or any other trauma-related disorders) on both sides of the issue. It's become a politically-charged word when it's supposed to be a psychologically descriptive one, and actual PTSD-sufferers pay for it: either you have to cut a useful word out of your vocabulary to avoid the stigma associated with it or you stick with it and risk facing mockery from people who don't really know what it means. You may feel guilty for having things that trigger you at all! And it can be especially bad for people who have uncommon/irrational triggers. For example, if someone's abuser was a person who listened to say Black Sabbath a lot (nothing against Black Sabbath - they're just the first band that popped into my head!), then hearing certain songs by Black Sabbath may be a trigger for them. It may fill them with feelings of anxiety and dread, and may even trigger flashbacks or panic attacks. But if they were ever to say that Black Sabbath's music was a trigger for them in the current political climate, you can bet they'd get all sorts of people interrogating and mocking them for it, demanding to know why they're so "offended" by the band's music and maybe even labeling them as "overly-PC." In reality, that person is likely not offended by Black Sabbath's music in the slightest, and the fact that it's a trigger has nothing to do with political correctness at all! It's about an irrational, psychological connection with their trauma, not any sort of political/moral opinion. But because people nowadays don't understand the word, they might just assume the person is offended, not that they're experiencing a symptom of their PTSD.
Speaking for myself, even if there's an unfortunate amount of people who misuse the word, I'm not removing it from my vocabulary when speaking about my PTSD. It's a word that originally belonged to PTSD-sufferers/trauma survivors and I'm not letting it get taken away just because some people want to turn it into a meaningless buzzword! And if ignorant people try and mock me for being too "politically correct", I'll just tell them I'm not being politically correct, I'm being factually correct. I'm using the word as it was intended to be used and I'm not gonna stop just because they don't know what it actually means!
(No shade at people who would rather stop using the word - there's no shame in just plain not wanting to argue with with stupid people who might start crap just because you used a word in its intended context!)
In my opinion, I'm all for increased awareness of triggers and the effect they have on people, but I think it's a shame how the word has become misused and misinterpreted, by people (without PTSD or any other trauma-related disorders) on both sides of the issue. It's become a politically-charged word when it's supposed to be a psychologically descriptive one, and actual PTSD-sufferers pay for it: either you have to cut a useful word out of your vocabulary to avoid the stigma associated with it or you stick with it and risk facing mockery from people who don't really know what it means. You may feel guilty for having things that trigger you at all! And it can be especially bad for people who have uncommon/irrational triggers. For example, if someone's abuser was a person who listened to say Black Sabbath a lot (nothing against Black Sabbath - they're just the first band that popped into my head!), then hearing certain songs by Black Sabbath may be a trigger for them. It may fill them with feelings of anxiety and dread, and may even trigger flashbacks or panic attacks. But if they were ever to say that Black Sabbath's music was a trigger for them in the current political climate, you can bet they'd get all sorts of people interrogating and mocking them for it, demanding to know why they're so "offended" by the band's music and maybe even labeling them as "overly-PC." In reality, that person is likely not offended by Black Sabbath's music in the slightest, and the fact that it's a trigger has nothing to do with political correctness at all! It's about an irrational, psychological connection with their trauma, not any sort of political/moral opinion. But because people nowadays don't understand the word, they might just assume the person is offended, not that they're experiencing a symptom of their PTSD.
Speaking for myself, even if there's an unfortunate amount of people who misuse the word, I'm not removing it from my vocabulary when speaking about my PTSD. It's a word that originally belonged to PTSD-sufferers/trauma survivors and I'm not letting it get taken away just because some people want to turn it into a meaningless buzzword! And if ignorant people try and mock me for being too "politically correct", I'll just tell them I'm not being politically correct, I'm being factually correct. I'm using the word as it was intended to be used and I'm not gonna stop just because they don't know what it actually means!
(No shade at people who would rather stop using the word - there's no shame in just plain not wanting to argue with with stupid people who might start crap just because you used a word in its intended context!)
