Around this time every year, people begin decorating and preparing for Halloween. Decorations, fall food, changing leaves, and Halloween costumes are staples.

And with the rise of the technology industry, so are screamer videos.

You know what I'm talking about. It's a seemingly harmless video. It's asking you to spot the differences so you're leaning real close to the screen (Hint: there are no differences). Or you're watching a car drive along a long, dark, twisting road. Or you're playing a game where you can't touch the sides of the maze. It gives you two tries before a giant, screaming face of the girl from the exorcist or some other gory and bloody character comes out at you and fills the entire computer screen.

When I was around 10 years old, I found my first one. I was leaning into the computer, trying to find what the heck could be different between these two pictures. I figured the end of the video would be the answer.

My mother was leaning over my shoulder, looking as well. When the face popped out, we both screamed. My mom stopped and started laughing at the "prank."

I didn't stop screaming for five entire minutes. I couldn't do anything but roll off the chair and crawl away, trying to get the image out of my head. Both of my parents were alarmed and prepared to take me to the hospital to give me tranquilizers or something similar because I just would not, and could not, stop screaming. I spent a good 10 minutes after that shaking and crying.

I was unfortunate enough to come across two more of these videos, and each year they become more and more clever. I'm always wary of videos this time of year and try to stay away from them, but sometimes I let my guard down. I've been lucky enough to check the comments lately, but once I do, I scramble out of that video and have to take a minute to slow my breathing and heart rate. My heart rate now, even while writing this, is elevated.

These things are NOT funny.

Anxiety and panic attacks aside, these videos could potentially trigger life-threatening conditions, such as epilepsy. People with PTSD could also be triggered by the sudden and loud noise.

Some people simply do not like being scared. I personally hate it. I hate anything that jumps out at me suddenly. I refuse to watch horror movies because I cannot stand the jump scares, and I don't go into haunted houses, either, unless I know nothing will be jumping out at me. Horror movies are a little easier because if I'm absolutely forced to watch it, I know they're coming.

I'm not expecting it from a game or a video on the Internet claiming to be something else.

I cannot stop people from making these videos, because some people think they're hilarious, and that's okay. What I'm asking is to be mindful of your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and anywhere else you come across these videos.

For people like me and for people with medical conditions, these videos aren't "harmless fun." They're panic inducing and just plain awful.

So this Halloween season, enjoy your haunted houses and scary movies. Enjoy candy and parties and costumes, whatever else you're doing.

Just do me a favor and try to stay away from the misleading jump scares. Or at least keep them away from me.