1 definition by Talia Dixon
an acronym, meaning: "Post Traumatic Cringe Disorder"
derived/inspired by "PTSD" or "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder"
To truly understand PTCD, you must first understand PTSD... mainly, how those with PTSD will be brought back to the moment of a traumatic event when triggered. Upon this, their body momentarily relives their past trauma as if it is happening present day. triggers can be anything - auditory, visual, olfactory (smell), tastes, etc- that for any which reason your body has subconsciously tied the trauma to.
Knowing this, the implication of someone saying they have "PTCD" is that they have laid witness to something so utterly cringe-worthy, that they're legit haunted by the experience in the same fashion as the disorder it's inspired from.
Imagine:
a person witnesses a man walk into a gathering where everyone is having a great time, only for the room to fall silent at his every attempt to come across as cool or funny. Awkward silences, long stares, and attempts to re-direct will occur non-stop by others; yet the man, so egregiously full of himself, continues to try to be the center of attention. every joke and misplaced laugh of his only humiliates him further.
After witnessing such cringe, you may realize that the littlest things that could possibly remind you of that moment never fails to bring it back vividly, regardless of how much time has past, and that each and every time you feel the cringe all over again. You are experiencing PTCD.
derived/inspired by "PTSD" or "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder"
To truly understand PTCD, you must first understand PTSD... mainly, how those with PTSD will be brought back to the moment of a traumatic event when triggered. Upon this, their body momentarily relives their past trauma as if it is happening present day. triggers can be anything - auditory, visual, olfactory (smell), tastes, etc- that for any which reason your body has subconsciously tied the trauma to.
Knowing this, the implication of someone saying they have "PTCD" is that they have laid witness to something so utterly cringe-worthy, that they're legit haunted by the experience in the same fashion as the disorder it's inspired from.
Imagine:
a person witnesses a man walk into a gathering where everyone is having a great time, only for the room to fall silent at his every attempt to come across as cool or funny. Awkward silences, long stares, and attempts to re-direct will occur non-stop by others; yet the man, so egregiously full of himself, continues to try to be the center of attention. every joke and misplaced laugh of his only humiliates him further.
After witnessing such cringe, you may realize that the littlest things that could possibly remind you of that moment never fails to bring it back vividly, regardless of how much time has past, and that each and every time you feel the cringe all over again. You are experiencing PTCD.
Person A: Hey, take a look at this guy!
(Person A shows person B a photo of a guy with a long pointed gnome-like beard, wearing a hat and a t-shirt while inside of a pool)
Person B: Ugh, NO! He looks just like the guy who ruined the gathering last week! I still have PTCD from that whole night!
Person A: I'm so sorry....
(Person A shows person B a photo of a guy with a long pointed gnome-like beard, wearing a hat and a t-shirt while inside of a pool)
Person B: Ugh, NO! He looks just like the guy who ruined the gathering last week! I still have PTCD from that whole night!
Person A: I'm so sorry....
by Talia Dixon February 7, 2022