Carnism-Induced Trauma
How to Avoid Burning Out as an Animal Rights Activist Articles from All-Creatures.org

FROM

Melanie Joy, Carnism Awareness & Action Network
2016

It has been our experience and it is our assertion that carnism, like other atrocities, causes mass traumatization of not only the primary victims (farmed animals) but of secondary victims (humans) as well. For clarity and accuracy, we describe the traumatization resulting from carnism as carnism-induced trauma.

Because carnism is organized around mass violence, it inevitably causes mass victimization. As with other atrocities, the victims of carnism are often traumatized. The most obvious and direct victims of carnism are farmed animals. However, there are countless human victims of carnism as well. Whenever we have to disconnect from our natural empathy for other beings -- human or nonhuman -- and participate in acts of violence toward them, or whenever we witness such acts of violence, we are at risk of traumatization. At particular risk are those closest to the violence, such as meatpackers and slaughterhouse workers, children who are forced to kill or witness the killing of animals through hunting or farming, and vegan activists who have been and/or continue to be exposed to the violence inherent in animal agriculture.

At CAAN, we have been contacted by countless individuals who experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress directly related to prior experience carrying out violence or witnessing violence toward animals. Symptoms include intrusive thoughts or images, flashbacks, hyperarousal (one’s nervous system being on “high alert”), numbing or constriction (feeling emotionally “flat,” disconnected from one’s feelings and from others), loss of faith in humanity and/or in any meaning or order in the universe, survivor guilt (feeling guilty for not being a direct victim), and depression. There are many more symptoms of post-traumatic stress, and a comprehensive list can be found here.

Our intention at CAAN is neither to diagnose nor to treat post-traumatic stress. We also do not suggest that all individuals involved in violence toward animals are traumatized, just as all individuals involved in violence toward humans are not traumatized. However, it has been our experience and it is our assertion that carnism, like other atrocities, causes mass traumatization of not only the primary victims (farmed animals) but of secondary victims (humans) as well. For clarity and accuracy, we describe the traumatization resulting from carnism as carnism-induced trauma.

Because of the volume of requests we have received from survivors of carnism-induced trauma, we are taking measures to address what we believe to be a pressing and widespread concern. Our Mental Health Professionals Carnism Awareness Task Force will be engaging in research to better understand and address this issue, including compiling a list of vegan psychotherapists. We will also be developing support services for survivors.

We recommend that survivors of carnism-induced trauma -- particularly those who are now working as activists against carnism -- learn more about secondary traumatic stress and read Trauma Stewardship, which explains this phenomenon and offers tools to manage and help prevent it. We also recommend that, if your symptoms are severe or are interfering in your day-to-day life, you contact a mental health professional for further support.

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