A note about 'triggers' - another rant.

[emanix]

Note: The following post is NOT likely to be triggering, at least any more so than a toiletry bag, but may offend/upset a few people. It is not, however, a personal attack on anyone, and the blog I am referring to is not on LJ. I just came across yet another blog in which someone uses the term 'triggered' to mean 'somewhat upset/annoyed me'. I'm

Comments

[emanix]

To be entirely fair, perfectly healthy people have an allocation of spoons too, they just have lots more, so I have less issue with that one, but I can see where you're coming from too.

BTW, I don't think I've commented on that icon of yours - adorable!

[blazingrowan]

With you both, on both counts, and I think Chesh makes some excellent points below. Thanks for writing this!

[numberland]

I do agree with you in general but I would extend it to anything that causes flashback/strong immediate reaction because of previous traumatic circumstances/anxiety tendances. I don't pretend that these are all of the same severity or one on the same level of PTSD however I think it is a valid use of the term. For instance, I am quite claustrophobic (in the sense of a clinical phobia) so images or descriptions of certain very claustrophobic conditions can cause some sudden panic, I think that is a clear case of triggering. Secondly, slightly more debatably, I would say I occasionally get triggered when someone uses a phrase or similar that is very close to the phrases used in/just before some of the worse relationship experiences of my life

[emanix]

I would extend it to anything that causes flashback/strong immediate reaction because of previous traumatic circumstances/anxiety tendances

I was intending to cover this with my 'and similar anxiety disorders' - just have to go with the one that I've personally experienced!

[hollykitten]

I don't believe it's unreasonable to describe [panic attacks or sudden occurances of extreme depression] which may be brought on by a random occurance to be referred to as "triggered". Also, the experience of what constitutes a flashback can vary greatly.

The term 'Triggered' does get over-used, however.

Also, what constitutes a debilitating health issue in terms of this spoon thing? (which I've never heard of before)

[emanix]

Sure, that comes under 'and similar anxiety disorders'

The spoon theory comes from here: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/category/the-spoon-theory/

[hollykitten]

Ooooh, ok that makes sense. Yes, saying you're "out of spoons" would be a bit retarded because if you really were you'd be on the floor crying and unable to move (or as I call it, "having a bad day") rather than talking about spoons.

[cheshcat]

THANK YOU. Well said.

I find the co-opting of this phrase by those who are using it casually (in a non-PTSD/non-anxious context) to be immensely insulting to those who actually struggle with the real bio-physical response of a triggering. (Yes, I'm happy to give those with anxiety disorders and phobias the benefit of PTSD allocation. Trauma is trauma; we need not be competitive.)

However, PTSD trauma is (as you indicate) NOT simply everyday discomfort and whinging. It's much more specific as an embodied psychological experience where the experiencee has no or very little control. I find it particularly frustrating when people say things the equivalent of, "X really annoys me because X exists in the first place. Now X is doing some mundane thing and I don't like it, because I should have thought of it first. However, I'll exaggerate how I feel and claim that I feel triggered and this is unfair and I shouldn't be made to feel this way

[emanix]

"I'll exaggerate how I feel and claim that I feel triggered and this is unfair and I shouldn't be made to feel this way." Oh god, the 'my feelings are your fault and your problem' passive-agressive routine. I didn't even get into that one, and I'll try not to now because I might never stop, but so with you there

[emanix]

Hm, being un-PC, and a bit uncharitable there... I should have said 'less well-informed' bloggers, rather than dumber, of course.

[hollykitten]

Don't worry, I don't think that merits having to sit on the naughty step with me ;-)

[judiff]

some multiple people use the word "trigger" for like things that pull a particular person in a system out to the front without warning.

[emanix]

Thanks for the info - sounds like a valid use I wasn't aware of. Still though, something that a person is most importantly *not in control of*.

Basically what I'm angry at are the idiots who use it in contexts like "that really triggered me - I was in a bad mood all evening", or worse, the one cheshcat quoted above.
It's like 'crying wolf' on someone else's behalf - if people keep diluting the term by using it for stuff like that, then when someone really needs it taken seriously it may not be, and that's what upsets me so much.