Stop Labeling My Life with Trigger Warnings

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Sexuality, wellness, eating disorders, and mental health are all complex issues I’ve written about over the past eight years. Among these, one topic stands out to me: suicide. As a two-time survivor, I feel a deep responsibility to share a message of hope. I want others to know that help exists and that life can be meaningful again. Yet, every time I mention the word “suicide,” my narrative is muted—blocked by the need for a trigger warning. It’s frustrating and exhausting to constantly fight this uphill battle. The only way to truly raise awareness and combat the stigma around suicide is to discuss it openly.

To foster understanding, we need to share names and stories. Trigger warnings are brief notes that precede articles or videos, intended to shield individuals from potentially distressing content. According to an article on Geek Feminist Wiki, they are meant to prevent individuals with strong emotional reactions from encountering certain topics unexpectedly. While they originated in safe spaces, they’ve become so commonplace that they often feel overused. These warnings can turn serious issues into taboos, stifling the crucial conversations needed for suicide prevention.

Discussing suicide openly is essential for reaching those in pain and offering the support they need. You might wonder why I care so much. After all, this doesn’t have to be my fight. But with millions affected annually—12 million American adults seriously contemplated suicide in 2019 alone, with 47,500 lives lost—it’s a battle worth fighting. When I awoke on “the other side,” I realized how important it was to share my story and remind others that hope and help are out there.

Trigger warnings aren’t limited to discussions about suicide; they can gatekeep a wide range of topics. This can create a sense of forbidden knowledge and silence survivors who have faced similar experiences. A study published in 2019 in Clinical Psychological Science suggests that trigger warnings might cause more harm than good. They don’t shield individuals from pain but can instead exacerbate it for those with traumatic histories. Furthermore, a 2016 article in The New York Times by Harvard psychologist Richard J. McNally argues that trigger warnings may be “countertherapeutic” because they promote avoidance, which can perpetuate PTSD.

It’s important to clarify that I don’t believe all trigger warnings are inherently negative. If I were to share the specifics of my experiences, a warning would be warranted. Clearly graphic depictions of suicide can be harmful. Similarly, if I discuss a light-hearted topic but suddenly shift to something distressing—like sexual abuse—readers deserve a heads-up. As writer Jamie Collins notes, trigger warnings can be a useful tool for those needing to protect themselves.

Yet, I’m weary of societal norms that push these discussions into the shadows, suggesting that suicide is unworthy of dialogue. I’m tired of the silence and denial surrounding these sensitive issues. Trigger warnings can inadvertently convey that survivors’ experiences are too graphic or inappropriate to be shared.

While I believe there is room for trigger warnings, it’s time to reconsider how they’re applied. To genuinely heal and confront life’s challenges, we must engage in candid conversations.

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In summary, the conversation around sensitive topics like suicide must continue without the constraints of trigger warnings that can hinder open dialogue. By sharing stories and raising awareness, we can foster understanding and support for those in need.


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