If you've ever seen a person's PTSD get triggered from a word or action that brought back a traumatic experience, then you know how absolutely terrifying it can be. Between people forgetting where they are, who they're with, or being unable to look someone in the eye, PTSD and the triggers that cause panic and suffering are no laughing matter. Seeing this in person adds a whole new meaning to terror and helplessness.
A trigger can be anything and can cause an episode at any time. The most common triggers we hear about are loud bangs and sounds of gunfire and explosions as most cases of PTSD stem from being in combat. In my days of summer camp, there was a girl that was triggered by the mention of Harry Potter, and any other member of the magic Wizarding World. Whenever anyone would even say the initials "HP" the girl would begin screaming and fall into a sort of frenzy, and there were always tears. To some, this may seem silly and almost comical, but it's no laughing matter watching a girl no older than Twelve relive a traumatic experience almost every day, sometimes multiple times a day.
Lately, a meme has been spreading around the internet as a response to the habit of (particularly Tumblr users) tagging things with the phrase "trigger warning" (often abbreviated "tw") in order for people with PTSD to avoid seeing things that may set off their PTSD. This makes their internet use safer and makes triggers less frequent.
Unfortunately, no good thing can avoid criticism and scrutiny from neurotypicals. In a world where desiring a safe space is seen as irrational and impractical, making it easier for a person to safely use a website designed to share artwork, ideas, stories, and yes, even memes is seen as a problem. What's the best way to show your problem with something? Make it a joke.
You've seen the pictures. A blurry close-up of a face of a dog or a cat or a woman with brightly colored hair with the word "TRIGGERED" on the bottom in all capital letters, with an orange background and black letters. It's usually used in response to someone asking someone not to do something, or, heaven forbid, get offended by something. It is also used to make feminists seem silly and irrational, and is used to trivialize the movement. It is also used to trivialize mental illness. But, as I said before, being triggered is no laughing matter. PTSD is as inconvenient as it is debilitating. It causes severe distress and panic at any time. It's not ever funny to make fun of people for having a mental illness. You would never tell a soldier to "suck it up and move on," and I'm very sure you wouldn't make fun of a veteran and use a meme in response to your great-grandfather telling you a war story.
Having seen someone's PTSD triggered very recently, here are some facts I can share. They might not look you in the eyes. They might not want to be touched. There might be crying. They might not be able to breathe. They might feel exposed unless entirely covered in a blanket. They might say irrational things. They might share incredibly disturbing things with you in an attempt to purge their brain of the horrors they endured in their past. They might not do any of these things. They might just stare blankly at a wall for what may seem like hours. It will catch you off guard. You might not know what to do. You might be very scared. You will have to remain calm. None of these things are funny and they should not be taken lightly. This is a terrible thing that plagues people's day to day life, and someday, in some way, it just might affect you or someone you love.
