The Impact of Trauma at Work

Many of us have been in unhealthy work environments at one point of another. Workplace trauma is not only hard to manage, but can have lasting effects.

Work-Related trauma happens for a variety of reasons:

- One-time Accident

- Natural Disasters

- Harrassment or Violence

- Racism/Sexism/Ageism

- Unrealistic Expectations/Workload

- Cruel Behavior

- Ongoing Uncertainty

Many people with trauma aren’t consciously aware of it. 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That’s 223.4 million people.

Trauma is often misdiagnosed as depression or anxiety. Depression or anxiety symptoms can be a worsening of already existing mental health conditions.

Research shows over 75% of people with PTSD have co-occurring mental health disorders like major depression or anxiety.

People with childhood trauma are more likely to put themselves in potentially traumatic environments in adulthood. Trauma causes:

- Emotional Regulation Issues

- Difficulty with Relationships

- Disconnection of Mind & Body

- Low Self-Esteem

- Dissociation

- Physical Health Problems

- Sleep Disregulation

- Substance Abuse Issues

Trauma can show up as:

- Emotional Distress

- Extreme Moods

- Avoidance Behaviors

- Intense Reactions

- HypervigiIance or Hyperactivity

- Trouble Functioning

- Changes in Sleep/Eating Habits

- Feeling Helpless or Detached

- Trust Issues in Relationships

- Self-Medicating with Substances

- Chronic Fatigue

Psychologist Dr. Esslin Terrighena explains how trauma can trap us in a time capsule and suck us back in, even years after the traumatic event. Many of our intense emotional reactions to triggers in our now, result from triggers that have formed in our past.

Modern trauma therapists now know that you cannot heal trauma with logic. Trauma survivors must learn to connect with their body and how they feel in order to process traumatic emotions.

Therapies that connect the brain and body include:

- EMDR1 / EMDR2

- Brainspotting

- Somatic Healing

- Sound/Light Therapies

- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, 30% of Americans have suffered abusive conduct at work. Physical signs of trauma to watch for at work include:

- Stomach Issues

- Panicky/Frantic Feeling

- Dreading Work

- Urge to Cry or Leave

- Inability to Focus

- Inability to Advocate for Self

- Women are 2-4x more likely to develop PTSD than men

- Black Americans develop PTSD at higher rates than all other groups

- 46% of people with PTSD also develop subtance abuse issues

- People with PTSD are 22x more likely to consider or attempt suicide

- PTSD increases mortality risk by 47%

We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

If you’re struggling, call 988 or visit https://988lifeline.org/ for help.

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Workplace Trauma.pdf

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