University of Chicago: ‘We Do Not Support So-Called Trigger Warnings’

Re:University of Chicago: ‘We Do Not Support So-Called Trigg... by vonmoltke on Thursday August 25, 2016 @05:53PM (#12362796)

You glossed over the first sentence:

> Avoidance in the form of 'trigger warnings' may actually worsen the underlying problem for people with PTSD because avoidance can strengthen the underlying fear.

The argument is that active avoidance is bad because it makes the ensuing panic attacks worse when they do happen and makes it harder for exposure therapy to work. Your post is addressing a strawman.

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Re:University of Chicago: ‘We Do Not Support So-Called Trigg... by ZeroGravitas on Friday August 26, 2016 @05:49AM (#12365224)

A trigger warning is not avoidance. No one is advocating avoidance, that is the straw man here.

I repeat myself: "Obviously, trigger warnings provide a useful tool for people to manage their own exposure to these panic attacks."

This allows for simple acts such as taking anti-anxiety medication beforehand or sitting at the end of a row to allow you to leave a lecture unobtrusively if you need to.

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