weather during the September 11 attacks, or the anniversary of a traumatic experience sights – (real, photo, film or video) for examples, a fallen tree or a light shining at a particular angle places – for example, a bathroom, or all bathrooms a person, especially a person who was present during a traumatic event or resembles someone involved in that event in some respect an argument a sensation on the skin – such as the feeling of a wristwatch resembling the feeling of handcuffs, or sexual touching for victims of sexual assault the position of the body physical pain emotions – such as feeling overwhelmed, vulnerable, or not in control a particular situation – for example, being in a crowded place The trigger is usually personal and specific. However, it need not be closely related to the actual experience. For example, after the Gulf War, some Israelis experienced the sound of an accelerating motorbike as a trigger, which they associated with the sound of sirens they heard during the war, even though the resemblance between the two sounds is limited. The realistic portrayal of graphic violence in visual media may expose some affected people to triggers while watching movies or television. Experiences People who have experienced trauma and who have developed trauma triggers may panic when the trigger is experienced, especially if it is unexpected. For example, the noise of fireworks may seem unbearable to a combat veteran whose trauma is coupled with sudden, loud noises as the trigger. Trigger warnings Trigger warnings, sometimes called content warnings, are warnings that a work contains writing, images, or concepts that may be distressing to some people. Content warnings have been widely used in mass media without any connection to trauma, such as the US TV Parental Guidelines, which indicate that a show includes content that some families may find inappropriate for their children. The term trigger warning, with its trauma-specific context, originated at feminist websites that were discussing violence against women, and then spread to other areas, such as print media and university courses. Although it is widely recognized that any sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, feeling or sensation could be a trigger, trigger warnings are most commonly presented on a relatively narrow range of material, especially content about sexual abuse and mental illness (such as suicide, eating disorders, and self-injury). Controversy in higher education The idea of giving content warnings to