In America today it’s common to observe individuals or groups of people frequently expressing shock & outrage over what other individuals or groups of people have said and done. The term “I am offended” appears to be a phrase we are hearing more often than ever before.

When someone says “I am offended” they are outwardly expressing their negative internalization of information. Being upset, happy, or sad is always an individual choice and everyone can respond to information differently.

When someone says “I am offended” they are letting others know they are hurt and in a way they are seeking an external solution to an internal problem. When large groups of people who are outraged protest against whatever individual or institution has upset them, they may be seeking to remove the external stimulation and even punishing it for existing in the first place. 

Unfortunately, unless a persons internalization process towards a particular external stimuli changes, they will continue to be hurt and be negatively affected by it.  

A person who is perpetually offended (by a wide range of things) may indeed be suffering from a mental disorder and one of them may be narcissism. Narcissistic individuals feel only their perspective matters so anything that challenges their beliefs can be a quick means to an emotional provocation. Perpetually offended individuals can may also be suffering from low self esteem or have an intolerance & acceptance for others. Perpetually offended individuals may also seek to dominate and control others.