Trigger warnings are a staple to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all viewers while causing no inconvenience.

A trigger warning message does not get in the way of a film. It does not take anything away from the movie, but it could save some viewers from serious mental and physical harm.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is very real and can be detrimental to a person’s life. A trigger can cause a person to experience a flashback and have to relive that trauma over again, causing increased heart rate, anxiety attacks and inability to sleep, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. It is bad enough that people experience trauma in their lives, and they should not have to relive it.

Trigger warnings are not only important to prevent possible emotional pain but also to prevent physical pain and possibly death. This past summer, the long-awaited “Incredibles 2” came out, and after initial viewings before the release, it included an epilepsy warning for the movie. There were about two minutes in the film in which strobing, moving lights filled the screen. Strobe lights are a common seizure trigger. A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. This can cause convulsions, stiffening of muscles and limbs and contorting of the body. Basic life functions such as breathing can stop as the brain is not sending the proper messages and organs, and brain damage may occur in severe causes, which will cause lasting impairments and health issues for the victim. In some cases, death may occur depending on where a person is when the seizure occurs or how serious their seizure is.

Seizures are just one example of why trigger warnings are so important. A simple unobtrusive warning could very well save someone’s life. It is not an exaggeration how important they are. People need to be aware of what to expect and how it may cause them harm prior to being exposed to it. Films cannot be screened without first warning of possible triggers for both PTSD and trauma as well as other medical issues like seizures.

Just because some personally do not have to worry about the trigger warning does not make it any less important. Those blessed enough to not have to worry about trigger warnings can be annoyed for the few seconds it takes to announce it before the film because it is far more important to ensure a safe, accessible and enjoyable experience for everyone.