"Trigger warning"

[OTheHugeManatee]

AIBU to think this phrase is useless at best and at worst actively harmful?

I'm absolutely in favour of treating upsetting subjects sensitively when posting on the internet, for example by giving some thought before posting a thread with a disturbing title. But more and more I'm seeing this 'Trigger warning' appearing on MN and it properly gets my goat.

I believe the idea is to warn off people who have PTSD and might be triggered by the content into experiencing flashbacks or other distressing symptoms. But (I have a professional qualification in this area) just putting 'Trigger warning' on something that you think might be vaguely evocative of a traumatic experience doesn't actually do anything.

Two reasons. Firstly, the thing about PTSD is that actual PTSD triggers are hugely specific to individual traumatised people. Just speaking about a similar trauma won't necessarily be triggering, while an apparently innocuous smell, a noise, a texture or something else totally random could send someone into terrifying flashbacks.

Secondly, trying to avoid triggers actually makes PTSD worse. It's well established that the way to treat PTSD is with extremely careful, calibrated exposure therapy, handled by an expert clinician. So even if posting 'Trigger warning' was an effective way of signposting to traumatised people that there was content somewhere that they should avoid, doing so would be feeding into the vicious cycle of PTSD and actively helping to make their suffering worse.

So AIBU for asking people to just stop posting 'Trigger warning' on things? It might be well-meaning but it's of no real use to PTSD sufferers and IMHO its only function is as a way of signalling 'Morbid content lovers over here! I have some morbid content for you!'. If that's not what you're trying to do, why not just give some thought to posting sensitively and leave it at that?

Jeanne I think that's kind of what I'm getting at. Until recently it might have been used in something a bit closer to the clinical sense but as it creeps into pop psychology it's being misinterpreted in ways that are actively harmful to proper understanding and treatment of PTSD.

Your explanation of how it can be harmful is flawed
Secondly, trying to avoid triggers actually makes PTSD worse. It's well established that the way to treat PTSD is with extremely careful, calibrated exposure therapy, handled by an expert clinician. So even if posting 'Trigger warning' was an effective way of signposting to traumatised people that there was content somewhere that they should avoid, doing so would be feeding into the vicious cycle of PTSD and actively helping to make their suffering worse.
Suggesting that there is content to be avoided doesn't invalidate the whole concept of de sensitising. And if a trauma sufferer is aiming to be able to deal with triggering subject matter when caught unawares , well life is full of surprises- its not as if Mumsnet is ever anyone's only source of information or triggering matter.
You may feel its annoying or unhelpful but its not harmful.

YANBU.

It always makes me think of OFAH.

Oh, right, sorry, I'm with you in that case, manatee.

I feel slightly defensive about it because I see a lot of the attitude 'oh, they should toughen up'. And I don't like that either, because I feel that exposing yourself (sensibly, with preparation) to things that are triggering in the proper sense or even that are just difficult, is actually quite tough.

But I think that's a side point to what you're saying!

I have anxiety and panic disorder..... My triggers are very different. I cannot cope for example with clattering above me....

Triggers are all very very different

I put trigger warnings on things I think people may find upsetting and might not want to read. I didn't know it was connected to PTSD. Should I put "possibly upsetting content" instead?

I agree, it is got so out of hand it has became pointless.

No one put trigger warnings on threads talking about cancer or someone dying young, but for me they can be trigger a huge panic attack.

A title should be enough.

I agree with you OP- it makes me cringe

I have to admit I didn't realise that "triggering" was a term that had such a specific link to PTSD/therapy etc.

I've always read it as a "this thread might include discussion or information that some people might find upsetting" (and often the thread has been in a Topic that gives you an idea eg. bereavement or miscarriage/pregnancy loss).

I have only come across trigger warnings on self harm / eating disorder forums and was surprised when they started cropping up on MN threads.

On other forums I have seen them, the trigger is always qualified in the thread title

Trigger - SH (self harm)
Trigger - SA (sexual assault / rape)
Trigger- ED (eating disorder)
Trigger - DV (domestic violence)

... etc.

YABU

I have AS and PTSD. On days when I'm feeling particularly fragile and vulnerable I stay well away from thread with 'trigger warning'. It's a useful buffer which I find protects me somewhat from content I'm not emotionally equipped to deal with.

hedge, don't answer if you'd rather not, but how do you feel about it when people start threads that do trigger your PTSD, but don't put warnings in?

I worry about this, because (in a non-MN context) I realised I put trigger warnings on a lot of things, and people were getting used to me doing that and then feeling worse when other people didn't do the same.

Warnings can be very very useful when described. I read a lot of internet fiction and they are utilised a lot there. I saw them there going back far earlier then ever used on forums and groups and the like.

For example: 'Warning for rape/violence/torture' etc.

They are very useful when used in that way. I knew to avoid certain triggers for myself that way, not PTSD triggers but for example when I'm not feeling at all strong it helps to see them in reference to miscarriage or abortion so I can avoid if I need to. Once I was in floods of tears when not warned in advance, another time I felt physically sick and heaving.

So YABU about no warnings and YANBU about vague warnings, I think trigger warnings are fine so long as you know what it's in reference too. There's a thread asking prolifers a question with 'trigger warnings' on and it's pretty obvious it will be in relation to abortion.

Threads don't trigger my PTSD thankfully, I'm only triggered by real life stuff.

In sort of agree. Surely if people put clear descriptions of what they are posting about in their thread title (as they should!) then it will be very obvious what the thread is about and people can avoid as appropriate.

The only real reason for a trigger warning is if the content of the thread changes substantially from the OP/title representastion eg if a thread starts out as a happy pregnancy thread and ends in miscarriage.

People writing AIBU to think that trigger warning are blatantly trying to incrrease the traffic to their thread, and appeal to the ghouls and lovers of misery pon.

But isn't there a risk that the actual thread title itself will be triggering depending on the trauma that someone has suffered? What does a 'trigger' warning add?

If I thread title pops up in active convos or whatever relating to DV, tragic deaths of relatives, or other upsetting things, there are plenty of posters who will be upset/traumatised by just reading the title.

As an example, which is relatively minor compared with 'major' traumas, I don't like seeing thread titles such as 'My cat got run over yesterday' in chat.

hedge, I don't understand.

You're telling the OP she's BU, and you need trigger warnings, but you're not triggered by threads?

Jeanne

Threads don't 'trigger' my PTSD. By that I mean they don't cause a full on flash back where I feel like I am back in that terrifying situation again.

They can trigger a very upsetting emotional response because some days I'm emotionally much more fragile that others.

I think they are useful when specific.
Not everyone recovers from PTSD and it is useful for those who haven't improved. I think it is useful for people to have an idea and be forewarned so that they can choose their path day by day.

Manatee
I agree with some of what you say as often clients are encouraged to not avoid trauma related thoughts and memories. Solo exposure can work really well for some people as it allows them to take control and trust their own ability to do so. Again for others it doesn't.
I think on balance YABU ish