Posted by Larry Hoover on February 7, 2009, at 9:43:49
In reply to Re: **mutiple triggers** - being cautious, posted by garnet71 on February 6, 2009, at 21:48:51
> Can we exercise some common sense here? When one writes a post titled "Suicidal" - is it really necessary to subsequently write "WARNING - TRIGGERING POST ABOVE"??? Doesn't the word "suicidal" speak for itself?
>
> If anything, it devalues the urgency of the situation and adds unneeded drama.
>
> ?Yes, a trigger warning may still be appropriate.
One can speak of e.g. suicidal thoughts in an abstract or non-specific manner. One can ask for help without providing any details at all. In contrast, discussions of methods or cirumstances or consequences or whatever, by their capacity to induce imagery or emotion can bring about profound physiological/psychotraumatic responses. The response is involuntary.
The trigger warning gives more appropriate warning than a less concise subject line offers. As a person subject to a number of triggering stimuli, I can say that being surprised by content leaves me totally vulnerable to that involuntary reaction. In contrast, with foreknowledge via a trigger notation, I can adopt a protective state of mind that will later allow me to read what might have been a triggering message without suffering that huge response. In exercising that choice, I account for my own resiliency at that moment, my internal cognitions, my willingness to enter a risky situation, and so on. I choose. And I am able to choose because I have been afforded an opportunity to make the choice. And most important for me, when I can exercise that choice for myself, I believe I can reduce my future sensitivity to triggering stimuli.
So, "suicidal" in a subject line may or may not speak for itself. In this case, the determination is in a gray area. Other situations are far less gray. The trigger warning tends towards black and white, and I appreciate all who consider that issue, to diminish the element of surprise.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:877474
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20090116/msgs/878702.html