How can you manage work-related trauma?

This article seems to assume that the person is self-aware and prepared to seek help. One of the debilitating aspects of mental health issues like shock, trauma, PTSD, bereavement etc is lowered self esteem and loss of confidence. Everyone else can see what's going on but the person themselves. Concerned colleagues, HR, management have a valuable role in this area, being proactive in a sensitive manor. I find that less form filling and more casual 1-2-1's/quick coffees are key to helping others opening up a process for recovery to begin.

Support resources should be available long-term after a work-related trauma, as signs, symptoms, and functional impacts may appear days or weeks later.

I coach many high achieving professionals who have suffered workplace trauma but not recognized it as such. This is especially the case when the trauma is complex (based in chronic relational dynamics) rather than acute (which is easier to spot). It is important to have a sounding board who can help spot the signs and validate your experience; otherwise too many folks don't even realize that workplace trauma may be a significant factor in their struggles.

Listening to your body is very important to help recognize signs of a toxic workplace and related work stress. The stage before PTSD is called "acute stress disorder" -- this is important to know about for early recognition and treatment. I have had many people come to me for help with acute stress symptoms like intense dread going to work (especially Sunday nights), waking up throughout the night, difficulty falling asleep, ruminating about work outside of work hours, irritabilty, panic attacks, anxiety, and difficulty setting boundaries with work. Partners and loved ones often recognize these symptoms sooner-- it is good to ask them for their perspective too and seek help early, before symptoms worsen.

It is not easy for trauma survivors to notice their symptoms or even feel them. PTSD specifically manifests in avoidance and the inability to feel our difficult feelings. This includes: - not talking about the trauma - reluctance to visit the place ever trauma happened - emotional numbness etc. Trauma-informed psychologists help clients through creating a safe environment and helping clients process their experiences.

Therapists who specialize in work stress management, anxiety, and trauma are helpful to work through difficult situations at work, whether it is dealing with a high-conflict boss, managing a difficult team member, or a toxic workplace. Sometimes the situation is something that needs to be documented and reported to HR-- that process in itself can also be stressful. Getting additional trusted and objective emotional support along the way (outside of work) like therapy is helpful. It also not need to rise to the level of trauma to seek support for work stress management. Many high-achievers in high-pressure industries can benefit from psychotherapy to achieve their full potential and find a sustainable and fulfilling work-life balance.

The important thing is to show that there is support, and more importantly it's ok seek it out. Make sure your employees know about mental health programs/benefits. Encourage, don't push, support. Lastly educate yourself in signs of Trauma responses and behavior. Be proactive, give a stressed employee less intensive work for a day or so. Encourage the use of PTO or Personal days to decompress. A mental health day off can do miles of good for a struggling individual. Find ways to be available and to show they matter.

As a manager to know what support is available for your staff and have this information easily accessible. Can relieve another element of a person's distress.

Support comes in different forms. It can be from friends, family or a mental health professional. Trauma-informed psychologists can help clients process trauma through: - creating a safe and supportive therapeutic environment, and being mindful of physical and emotional safety, ensuring that the individual feels secure during sessions. - Psychoeducating clients. This knowledge informs their approach to therapy, allowing them to tailor interventions to the unique needs of someone who has experienced trauma.

Prioritize self-care as a responsibility, practicing secondary resilience to ensure you're well-equipped to care for others. As a supervisor, effectively manage your staff, empower them, and provide resources to address both trauma and secondary trauma in the process.

My take has always been to practice a lot of self-care that is if we can recognize the cause(s) of workplace trauma one of which is a toxic and unhealthy work environment. As one who is faced with this challenge, take breaks if you can. Do not hold back from communicating your needs assertively to your team lead and the authorities concerned. Have a self-care routine that helps you de-stress mentally and emotionally. Lean on your friends and family who can provide you with the support and care that you need. Most importantly, make a calculated plan for exit.

Physical exercise and mind-body practices like yoga, meditation, and breath work are very effective ways to treat work-related stress and trauma. I recommend blocking off time on your calendar and scheduling self-care to make sure it becomes routine and is uninterrupted. One example is a simple yoga breathing exercise called rhythmic breathing- breathwork is a useful tool to amplify the "relaxation response" which puts the brakes on anxiety and stress in the body. You can do this for a few minutes a day while on a work break or at the end of the day. 1. Inhale gently and slowly in through the nose for 4 seconds. 2. Hold for 4 seconds. 3. Exhale through the nose gently for 4 seconds. 4. Repeat this breath cycle 10 times.

Self-care is important for everyone but especially for individuals who have experienced trauma. Doing things to regulate the nervous system are particularly significant for self-regulation which in my opinion falls under the umbrella of taking care of yourself and your needs across all environments. Having a go-to strategy list on your phone or on paper/whiteboard can be a great tool to practice self-regulation while working from home or in the office. It might include things like- take short breaks to get up and move your body, stretch or stroll for 5-10 min a few times during the work day, listen to soothing music on your headphones, do a quick guided meditation at lunch, squeeze a stress ball, or step outside for a few minutes.

C'est le grand sujet et pour y répondre correctement, il faut comprendre comment le système nerveux fonctionne. Le mauvais stress s'accumule en sous-cortical, c'est à dire sous la conscience (cortex), de façon réflexe. Je peux vouloir récupérer mais la difficulté est de reprendre la main sur le système nerveux réflexe ou végétatif (SNV) rendu fou par le mauvais stress. Le problème, quant on s'est habitué au stress depuis longtemps, est qu'on a perdu la clef qui met sur off le SNV. C'est pour pallier ce problème que j'ai créé la recorporation active car selon moi la respiration , le yoga et ma méditation ne permettent pas en première intention de rétablir le contact entre les 2 cerveaux (cortex et cerveau réflexe).

If you feel guilty for setting boundaries like I sometimes do, remind yourself that boundaries are respectful to you and to others. They are not meant to push people out of your circle, but to keep people and jobs in the circle. When we create a boundary and hold people to the consequences for breaking the boundary, they have a choice to either comply and give you the space you need, or keep pushing and lose you as an employee/colleague. Boundaries protect you from burning out, which ultimately benefits the company and people you work with.

Definir limites é extremamente importante, e para saber os limites é necessário se conhecer, saber até onde pode ir, qual é seu papel, o que está alinhado com seus valores, para então, optar, se guiar pelo caminho do que se torna saudável, aí é consequência ser leve.

Great post! I actually just decided to start setting boundaries for people this year. I never knew this was something I had been struggling with for so long.

Workplace culture is an important factor in whether people can feel comfortable setting boundaries with work. Many workplace cultures, especially in high-pressure industries like finance, investment banking, big law firms, and medicine promote and champion the idea of sacrificing personal life for work. There is even a sense of pride in such workplace cultures that life equals work, which can lead to high rates of burnout. It is important to identify and determine why you are finding difficulty setting boundaries with work. What would be the response when you say no? Do the leaders value work-life balance? Does they value productivity or face time? Is the workplace or industry the right fit for your long-term goals for work-life balance?

Boundaries act as protective measures, preventing situations or discussions that might inadvertently trigger or re-traumatize the individual. This allows for a more controlled and mindful exploration of the trauma.

One thing I have found helpful is to thoughtfully "respond" instead of "react" to situations that have caused me to feel threatened or uneasy in the workplace. One of the ways to respond is a mindfulness practice called "STOP". S= Stop (what you are doing), T= Take a breath, O= Observe (how you are feeling?, where is it being felt in the body?", P= Proceed. My perspective is not to proceed unless it feels safe to do so. You may repeat those four steps several times before responding. This is a mindfulness mediated response. The stressor came in, you stopped, assessed the present moment, and then with a clear mind responded. Kindness is key. Take a step back. Sometimes, no response is the response. Not everything requires your attention.

This small paragraph makes many assumptions, because the potential outcome of seeking justice depends on what type of trauma we are talking about.... Survivors get stigmatized, blamed, attacked and dismissed more often than not by authorities. The amount of courage and support it takes to actually have a good result is exhausting and mind-boggling. So folks need massive emotional wherewithal to attempt this and remember that the truth may not matter. Our "justice" system often creates more trauma than it solves. So yes, pursue that justice - but be ready for what may happen, gather your allies and your documentation and focus on your goal. Take excellent care of yourself, and be patient. Breathe.....

Invest in Mental Health Training Educate your team on recognizing and managing work-related stress and trauma. Awareness and training can significantly improve workplace resilience and empathy.

Share your story and seek help. This can also inspire others and help in breaking the stigma around mental health, fostering a more supportive and understanding community. This collective sharing of experiences contributes to building empathy and encourages a culture where seeking help for mental health is viewed as a courageous and commendable step.

‘Managing’ sounds a bit like we need to put up with it and carry on. This should not be true for anyone, and we all have choices even if the shadow of depression and fear can make it feel like we don’t. When one does recognise the signs, it’s often after great cost to their health and well-being. At that point, we shouldn’t look at ‘managing’ work trauma, but rather freeing ourselves from it. This may mean seeking help and making big life changes, but the alternative - a life full of fear and sadness - is not a choice anyone should make.

I also DEEPLY disagree with the statement above that one should seek reconciliation and/or an apology from one's boss or company - most workplace trauma is so insensitive and egregious that one cannot return to work there when trust has been violated and ugly things have been said or done. True trauma does deep damage and going back to that environment will only deepen that and delay healing. Consult a trauma specialist to begin that process while considering whether you can look for other employment.

I see this as an and/then, rather than an either/or answer. Of course, first seek appropriate mental health support and engage in radical self love and compassion. It’s important to understand that going up against systems requires “an army,” so find your allies. Don’t go in alone. You must develop and fine tune your felt sense or interoception, in order to take care of your health and wellbeing during this process. This then sets the stage to create the boundaries necessary to protect that awareness, which is a critical component to moving forward and seeking justice. Remember, your health is most important, and you may need to fight this battle from the outside, because we cannot heal in the same environment that made us sick.