Put simply, yes. Of course, the unfortunate reality is that a person can’t avoid every single trigger that they might have all of the time – especially if it is an everyday kind of thing. I, for example, used to be triggered by certain songs (and still am to some extent) if I related them to a bad experience or feeling, but I can’t exactly demand that every radio station stops playing them.
Depending on the situation, I think that it is important for people to build up some sort of resistance to triggers through methods such as counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This will help them to process traumatic experiences and learn techniques for coping with distressing subject matter so that they can live their everyday life without being held back by fear.
Whilst it is definitely worth considering that people should seek help with coping with a mental illness or the after-effects of trauma, trigger warnings are absolutely still necessary. For someone who is in recovery, no matter at what stage in the process they are at, triggers still have the power to affect them in a very negative way. On bad days when living itself is difficult, coming across a trigger could push someone over the edge and put back their recovery. Being reminded of the bad things in the world is the exact opposite of what is needed for someone who is recovering from trauma, and can only end in a depressed and/or anxious mindset.
The wonderful things in the world are the way forward, and there are plenty of them to help you with recovering. Just make sure to look out for them.
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