@ialienslut - Tumblr Blog

You’re worth caring for. You were always worth caring for. I’m so sorry if someone has made you feel otherwise.

some stills

I'm wondering if, as a society who cares about vulnerable people, we could stop saying "traumatize" when we truly mean "upset"?

I am sick of hearing sad books or movies "traumatize" their readers. I simply do not believe that happens. A traumatic experience might be adjacent to books (I have vivid memories of books I was reading around certain experiences and even how the contents of those books affected my processing of the experiences). But it's not caused by the book. And, y'know. The weather is Christofascist Censorship Attempts outside.

Meanwhile from the other side I continue to be surprised at just how badly people fail to understand trauma and traumatic experiences in general. Watering down the term isn't helping. Find other hyperbole to express that The Bridge to Terebithia gutted you, chewed on your heartstrings, and made you cry your first pair of contact lenses right out of your preteen eyes.

mumblingsage

#meanwhile actual trauma is not always experienced as consciously upsetting! #people may act extremely chill while being traumatized! #only to then be judged by a peanut gallery on how they handled things

I added those tags as an afterthought but upon reflection I want them in the main body of the post too.

mumblingsage

This post is taking off and I'm wondering if it may have been because of my tone, which was harsher than I truly like to be. Still,

We have got to be cautious of talking about books as if they're dangerous

We've got to be wary of the idea that talking about upsetting topics in general is dangerous (usually silence is far more harmful!)

We could stand to be a bit more accurate in how we discuss traumatic events and their effects

petalpout

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

celestialstar-child

you know what like really really really sucks? is that because of everything i have been through, and the people who have hurt me, and used me.. its hard to believe it when someone says or acts like they have a genuine interest in me.

like my mind tells me that it’ll only be a matter of time before they’re just completely annoyed with me, and/or will only want me for sexual purposes.