Constant anxiety about animal cruelty

[Klelia_rose]

I worry all the time about animal cruelty. At night I can’t stop thinking about animals all around the world who are in distress/will be in distress/have been in distress. I recently traveled with my boyfriend in several countries much poorer than mine (I live in Canada). I’ve seen animals used in tourism related activities being mistreated and working in terrible, crual conditions. Everytime I saw one of those situations it would keep me from enjoying the rest of the day, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it and obsessively worrying about the animals. I just couldn’t understand how/why tourists who participated in those activities couldn’t see what I was seeing. My boyfriend who tends to be less anxious than I am was able to just ignore it but I just couldn’t forget/unsee the animal suffering around us, to the point where I absolutely hated that trip.

My worrying is the same when I’m home. Not knowing whether an animal on the street is abandoned or not makes me obsessively worried. I have a cat and I constantly make up scenarios of all the possibile harm that could happen to him. I profoundly hate all people who visit zoos and encourage meat consumption etc, during my travel I was also hating the local culture of the countries I visited since my impression was that people culturally didn’t care much about animals. I’m starting to feel like I hate everybody who doesn’t seem to care as much as I do and every nation who doesn’t make an effort to improve animal rights/welfare even if because of a low socioeconomic context. I think I won’t ever be able to travel to less developed countries where there are a lot of strays again. The sight of so much animal suffering everywhere is just unbearable. I came back three weeks ago and still think about the animals I saw everyday. I’m thinking of volunteering at a refuge in my hometown but i’m scared that it will become psychologically unhealthy for me… Am I the only one in that situation?

[SCC1]

I'm sorry for this long reply, but this is a topic I feel very strongly about. Coming up, a little story.

Klelia_rose, I feel exactly like you do. I can't stand to see animals hurting either.

We have a lot of dogs where I live (pets), and if some or one is barking at night, I think "Take your dog in (people/owners), it's late and cold/too hot!" I want to call the police when I even just think animals are getting mistreated.

I used to stay in another location and there were 2 people who lived in a house next door with 2 dogs. The dogs were loud with their barking and would bark until late at night. It did bother me a little, but I felt bad for them because the owners just left them outside. They didn't bring the dogs in to take care of them.

One day I had been sitting on the porch and heard what sounded like 1 of the dogs being strangled. I called the police and explained what I had heard but they couldn't do anything because I had no proof. I didn't actually see this happen. I said to the police, "You can't come to check to see if the dogs are ok?" They said no, because it was just me hearing them. Needless to say, I was highly pissed.

These people would leave their dogs out in the cold weather, too-snow, etc. I called the police again and told them that. I said, "I've called you twice and nothing has been done. These people are mistreating their dogs!" That time, a couple of cop cars circled around the neighborhood and knocked on the people's door. I couldn't hear what was being said, but I think it was a warning to them.

Then, ANOTHER incident where it was probably 20° out and snowing and about 1230am. So, once again I called. I made it very clear that I wanted someone to come because (same reason). This time a cop went by their yard and shined a flashlight to see if he could see the dogs. He did and talked to one of the owners. It took her about 10 minutes to answer the door. She had probably been sleeping and had just left the dogs outside. She got smart with the police and he told her if she didn't "comply", he would take her away. That time, I made sure to hear the conversation. The woman had lied and said the dogs had only been out for 15 minutes when it had really been an hr+. And, the whole time the cop was talking to her, I was yelling at the woman with my finger in the air.

I don't know what happened in the end, but I heard sometime later that they don't live in the house anymore. I am hoping the dogs are not still with them; they obviously don't know how to treat animals.

I had called animal control before about a sick cat and put up a makeshift shelter for another who was in the cold and snow. She was a feral cat.

I also worry a lot about animals I see or think about...walking in the neighborhood, either by themselves or in groups (groups for the deer, ducks). I worry about their safety and if they will have enough food or if they're cold, etc. It bothers me, too, for a long time.

Anything I think of that could possibly happen to the animals or that I see happen, upsets me. It is too much to think about and affects me immensely.

If I ever see an animal getting hurt...I will not say what I'd like to do to the owners or someone who hurts any animal.

And, I think you should volunteer at the refuge. I had recently volunteered at an animal shelter feeling the same as you about being (triggered). But, I wasn't and it was great to see all the cats and dogs!

I feel the same way about insects/other little creatures. I will not kill them and try to help them live if they are struggling to.

[oscarfox49]

Many of us suffer in the same way and feel powerless to do anything. BUT, we must accept that worldwide this has always happened, that there is enormous suffering even in the natural world, and that all we can do to change human attitudes is to support campaigns and make sure people are aware of our views.

But do understand that YOU cannot change the world and entrenched attitudes in a world that produces most of its meat food in the most appalling and cruel ways. Making yourself sick taking on the responsibility for it all is not going to help any animals at all. All any of us can do is to add our views to the social media, influence friends and acquaintances of our views, write letters and donate to animal welfare organisations if we are able.

But the sad fact nothing is going to change any time soon. Just remember that in voting for any government or council representative your vote should be dependent on their attitude to animal welfare.

[Audiomarc1]

NO. You're not alone! You and I share the same fears regarding our wonderful animal world. When I read or see a situation of animal abuse, my life crumbles for a bit. I sometimes don't want to live in a world where people and animals are treated as disposable things. I have belonged to animal rights organizations. I have volunteered at animal shelters. But, sometimes I just cannot keep it together when I see such cruelty. I do donate as much money as I can to help these poor creatures who don't deserve the cruelty inflicted upon them. Well, now I'm very sad thinking about this. I'm going to give love to my 4 fur babies and hope to feel a bit better. Let me know if you are as disgusted as I am about this cruel and uncaring world we live in. Thanks for sharing your feelings and listening to mine.

[TegaItaisan]

I'm no expert but I am very well in tune with my own feeling concerning this. Watching ASPCA commercials showing sad animal faces in cages or tied up in chains make me so,,so sad. And sometimes angry. I find that my release to this negative emotion is to make sure that I do my BEST to treat animals with the care they deserve. When I have a chance I go to therapy (my local SPCA) center and I visit with the animals. If time allows, I ask and they allow me to lay with them in the visiting rooms. Animals, like humans, need to interact with other animals and humans. If only to spend time in a visiting room, getting pets and some play time is much much better than being alone in a cage next to other animals in cages doing nothing.

I am sure that talking to other that have pets and care for them as much as you do would be of help, along with counseling.

Kept your mind on the things that you CAN do for animals and keep your mind distracted from ting of the things that you cannot do.

Thanks for caring and take care if yourself.

[Jeff1943]

We are all upset by animal cruelty, the problem is that when we experience anxiety disorder those feelings become exaggerated by a factor of ten so we feel things much more deeply.For some this 'obsession' may centre on child cruelty or health issues whilst others like yourself it is cruelty to animals.

Once this is understood you realise why you are so over concerned for animals. The best way forward is to accept your strong feelings for the time being and accept that such an 'obsession' is normal for people with anxiety disorder. Do what you can to support those fighting against animal cruelty but accept your too strong feelings on this subject knowing that as your anxiety eventually heals your exaggerated response will return to a normal level.

[SCC1 in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you, Jeff1943. That is helpful to hear being that I, too, become very anxious about animal cruelty. Thank you for letting me (us) know that we can let the feelings pass and that that is okay to do. I will do this the next time I become overwhelmed with worry. You have eased my mind knowing I can feel strong emotions but don't have to let them take over. 🙂

[Jeff1943 in reply to SCC1]

There are many paths to recovery but for me the greatest are the teachings of the late Claire Weekes who understood anxiety disorder in all its forms like no other. In her early days she experienced anxiety herself and developed a method by which she recovered and spent the rest of her life advocating it to others.Her method is based on accepting our symptoms (for the time being) and not fighting them as fighting only causes more stress and strain, which we can do without.

We are told that in the last 50 years her method allowed untold millions to obtain respite and recovery: Claire claimed that anybody who followed her teachings could obtain recovery no matter how long and how deeply they had suffered.

Her method replaces bewilderment with true understanding and then explains why fear is an imposter because high anxiety cannot kill or maim us or send us crazy. And she explains how to overcome the fear of fear.

I say to people that if you only read one more book in your life that book should be "Hope and help for your nerves" obtainable new or pre-owned on Amazon or E-bay.

I commend Doctor Claire Weekes' method to all, many advances in psychiatry have been made since 'the woman who cracked the anxiety code' wrote her first book which, incidentally is devoid of technical terms, but what worked for me and millions more in the 1970s still works for all in the 2020s.

"Face. Accept. Float. Let time pass."

[Fallin77]

I feel so relieved to know I am not the only one with this problem. I can't watch tv and I can't look at facebook or my email because something may pop up in reference to an animal that is suffering somewhere in this world. I can't get these images out of my head...all it takes is one thought and I am consumed with that repetitive thought all day and it brings me to tears 😢 just to think about any animal that is suffering or put to sleep. I don't know how to tell people about this even a psychiatrist because I don't think they can relate to how distressing this is and I thought I was the only one who gets this way. I do all I can to help animals.I am constantly giving money to charities that help animals and I donate dog food, toys and treats, but I never feel like it is enough. Thank you so much for sharing your pain and suffering. I know this is a horrible thing to live with.

[ciley]

i relate to your feelings~i was often feeling ill with this even lately i have felt broken hearted for swifts flying 1000's miles to their home; to ,exhausted, find it destroyed~due our interference with the natural world~yes i feel it too~if you are younger the pain can grow a scab,which, realistically we need, as the world is as much bad as good, and this is the truth~