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CW: mention of self harm and suicidal ideation
I remember when 13 Reasons Why (the show) first came out. I was working in a crisis intervention program with adolescents who mainly struggled with self harm and suicidal ideation.
Almost all of my clients watched this show.
I remember when 13 Reasons Why (the show) first came out. I was working in a crisis intervention program with adolescents who mainly struggled with self harm and suicidal ideation.
Almost all of my clients watched this show.
Almost all of them regressed.
After I got them stabilized, I asked the same question, “Help me understand why you would continue to watch something that you knew was triggering for you?”
I had clients tell me things like “My sibling was watching it and wouldn’t turn it off”,
After I got them stabilized, I asked the same question, “Help me understand why you would continue to watch something that you knew was triggering for you?”
I had clients tell me things like “My sibling was watching it and wouldn’t turn it off”,
“My best friend said it was really good”, and “I thought it wouldn’t be that triggering”.
So then we would spend time looking at who is responsible for making sure they avoid triggering subject matter and what to do in the event of being inadvertently
So then we would spend time looking at who is responsible for making sure they avoid triggering subject matter and what to do in the event of being inadvertently
exposed to triggering subject matter (sometimes we can be passing by a television or scrolling through social media and unbeknownst to us, we’re exposed to things we actively avoid).
After legit arguing (using Socratic questioning aggressively lol)back and forth with majority
After legit arguing (using Socratic questioning aggressively lol)back and forth with majority
of the teens, it finally dawned on them that THEY are the ones SOLELY responsible for avoiding things that trigger them.
I teach my clients that time and time again because if not, they won’t hold themselves responsible for bettering their own mental health.
I teach my clients that time and time again because if not, they won’t hold themselves responsible for bettering their own mental health.
I’m triggered by spiders, holes, clowns, mistreatment of people with special needs, witnessing physical abuse of real children (it happened when I was really young and I was inconsolable and my mom luckily called the cops and the foster kids were removed from that person’s care),
and in fanfic/art: necrophilia, shotacon, and lolicon.
I ACTIVELY avoid this shit. And when something comes across my timeline with any of that in there, I don’t yell at the content creator or the reposter and say that they’re selfish and rude
I ACTIVELY avoid this shit. And when something comes across my timeline with any of that in there, I don’t yell at the content creator or the reposter and say that they’re selfish and rude
For retraumatizing me and exposing me to my triggers.
Because A: It’s not okay to put the responsibility of my mental well being on a strangers shoulders and B: THEY AREN’T RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THEY DON’T TRIGGER A STRANGER.
Because A: It’s not okay to put the responsibility of my mental well being on a strangers shoulders and B: THEY AREN’T RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THEY DON’T TRIGGER A STRANGER.
You are responsible for curating your space in a way that doesn’t purposely expose you to things that you find triggering.
No one else.
And yes, as a therapist I tell my clients that.
No one else.
And yes, as a therapist I tell my clients that.
Somehow antis have made it up in their mind that people online should KNOW what triggers them and keep track of that and not...make content...that’s triggering to strangers?
Like no. It’s YOUR job to avoid that content.
No one else’s.
Like no. It’s YOUR job to avoid that content.
No one else’s.
