Resilience in Advocacy: How to Address Vicarious Trauma And Fill Your Cup
By Blythe Hill, Dressember Founder
I am constantly in awe of the incredible Dressember advocate community. Your unwavering dedication and open-hearted approach to supporting victims and survivors of human trafficking and violence are truly remarkable. Thanks to you, people across the world are experiencing tangible freedom and healing.
It’s important to address the often unseen side of everyday advocacy: the emotional cost of engaging in this important work. As we delve into the harsh realities of human trafficking through the Dressember campaign, we’re not just learning statistics or stories; we’re immersing ourselves in the trauma that survivors endure. This can take a toll on our own well-being, leading to what’s known as vicarious trauma.
What is vicarious trauma?
Think of experiencing vicarious trauma like carrying a piece of someone else’s pain with you. Sometimes called secondary traumatic stress or compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma refers to the emotional and psychological effects of exposure to the trauma or suffering of others. It can take the form of intrusive thoughts, emotional numbness, difficulty focusing, insomnia, or manifest in other ways.
I’ve come face to face with vicarious trauma many times over the years in my advocacy for victims and survivors of violence. A particularly impactful experience came after visiting a partner’s office in South Asia. On this trip, I met dozens of survivors of labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and bride trafficking. Though these are different forms of exploitation, they share a common thread of dehumanization. The stories I heard during this trip left me feeling a level of despair I hadn’t experienced on my Dressember advocacy journey. When I returned home and crossed the threshold of my apartment, tears poured out of my eyes. I was so relieved to finally feel emotionally and physically safe, and yet in the weeks that followed, I felt like I experienced PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
How can self-care sustain your advocacy?
As we fight for justice and spread awareness for this issue, it is crucial that we prioritize self-care to sustain our advocacy. Simple yet powerful ways to care for yourself include regular body movement, meditation, journaling, and adequate sleep. Building and maintaining a strong support network is another key strategy; surround yourself with supportive friends, family, and mentors who can offer a safe place to land during an emotionally turbulent season.
I’m not shy about my love of—and belief in—therapy. A trained professional can offer guidance and tools for processing difficult emotions and experiences. After my trip to South Asia, seeing a therapist, combined with adequate sleep, journaling, and time with friends became my go-to methods for processing the vicarious trauma I experienced.
So, to all my fellow Dressember advocates, remember this: prioritizing self-care isn't selfish, it's essential. Because when you’re operating from a place of strength and well-being, that's when your advocacy truly shines brightest. After all, you can't pour from an empty cup.