Hi. I’m a 10 year Army combat veteran. I spent quite a bit of my life in foreign countries fighting for my country. I’ve lost a few friends over the past decade. Some came back and weren’t the same. Many lost limbs. I, myself, suffer from PTSD. Explosions like fireworks, gunshots… these things can cause an episode of intense fear and flashbacks. It’s so crippling that it makes me unable to function. Two days ago a neighbor’s 4th of July celebration triggered an episode and left me on the floor. When I got back from deployment, my family didn’t understand. I tried to seek someone in my family who would, but they all told me to just “man up.” I live alone now, with just my dog, who’s trained to help those with PTSD. I’m too afraid to try dating, because I know that most women could never deal with my disorder. The ridicule for it has gotten so bad, that the PTSD is often triggered by people using the words “trigger warning” to refer to things that make them uncomfortable, instead of things that actually cause a severe, crippling episode of horror and helplessness. Because of people using it like that, a lot of people I meet think that “triggers” aren’t actually harmful, that they’re just something that induces mild discomfort, and it adds to the abuse I get for not “being a man” and “dealing with it.” So, as a veteran who has to deal with this reality day in and day out, please reconsider using the term “trigger warning.” I might understand “questionable/offensive content warning” or something like that, but triggers are far more severe. They call them “triggers” because they’re like a gun, and the fallout is just as severe. Please reconsider it. Thank you.

I’m very sorry about what has happened to you, but I’m going to respectfully disagree.

The very definition of the word “trigger” includes “anything that serves as a stimulus and initiates or precipitates a reaction or series of reactions”. In this context, I and many others use it to refer to words, phrases, and actions that have the potential to “trigger” physical, mental, or emotional distress or harm.

People suffering from PTSD are not the only people who can be triggered, and I’m uncomfortable with your assumption that others who use the term “trigger” do not suffer as much as you do. That is a harmful and unfortunately widespread misconception.

I ask you to please consider placing the blame for your mistreatment on the people who have mistreated you, and not on the (often young) people who are only trying to avoid suffering.