How Should Clinicians Respond to Patients Experiencing Ongoing Present Traumatic Stress of Industrial Meat Production?

Abstract

Slaughterhouse work is traumatizing. Workers experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, especially as dreams of perpetrating violence and as emotional numbing and detachment. Workers' increased likelihood of committing violence is demonstrated both anecdotally and quantitatively. This commentary on a case considers how clinicians should respond to workers' PTSD symptoms. Clinical interventions for trauma typically assume that the traumatic experiences are over, in the past-that is, not part of present, everyday work and life experiences of the trauma patient. This article suggests reasons why perpetration-induced traumatic stress should be understood as a continually present, in addition to being a post, traumatic stress disorder. Importantly, interventions for slaughterhouse workers must focus on cultivating their awareness of traumatization and its symptoms in real time. This article also describes the inadequacy of current research and practice for helping patients for whom retraumatization continues as part of their everyday work.