We're both individuals and connected/affected by one another. It's not horrible to need help; everyone needs attention, none of us can do this alone. Trying to make one's self feel better by exaggerating what we've done and seen is not bad either, as long as it never fools us too. I did like you and blew up a little, very short flirtation with a boy on the beach into a story about his teaching me how to surf which I maintained for maybe 10 years :-) We all want to be part of a beloved group. Gets confusing though if you are hurting but then others who are hurting are ridiculed. The teacher was wrong in that instance. Being upset and triggered by the recent school shootings is appropriate for lots of people who weren't there I imagine. Be who you are, Rio, if you're upset by your past being triggered, so be it; you don't have to make others (or yourself) "believe" you by claiming association with a known upset group. Look at the people who are upset by 9-11 who weren't anywhere near and didn't know anyone in the City. But even so, just because it's Nation-sanctioned shouldn't be why someone "allows" themself to feel upset. I'm way out of school (56) but that gunmen go into public places that are supposed to be safe (like holding up restaurants or stores), could just as arbitrarily show up at a public library or something, makes all of us a bit scared, even without a past that's triggered.