What is Corporate Trauma, and how do you know if you have it?
I don’t think the concept of traumatizing work experiences is anything new. I wrote about a few of mine in Brand Shadow, and I’m sure many of you have your own “battle wounds” from painful work experiences. But the phrase Corporate Traumatic Stress Disorder is something that came to me when I was first reading “The Myth of Normal” by Dr. Gabor Mate and his son, Daniel.
In The Myth of Normal, Dr. Mate describes that not all trauma shows up in the same way, and that we can have what he describes as “Big T” and “Little T” traumas. Big T trauma looks like what we have been traditionally taught about PTSD — trauma that is the result of war or some other significant, traumatic event, such as assault. By contrast, Little Ts or little traumas on the surface appear to be minor, but can become very insidious, and add up over time to have very detrimental effects on a person’s mental and physical health.
During my time working with executives and in corporate spaces, I have identified a few signs that someone may have experienced or be experiencing corporate trauma. I’ll reiterate here that I am not a physician or a doctor, so if you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD or other medically related issues, please seek proper medical attention. I do specialize in working with emotional triggers and challenging behavioral patterns in corporate spaces, and these are some of the ways I have seen trauma show up in my clients’ experiences.
Disrupted Sleep and Lack of Focus – Beyond stress and insomnia-related sleep patterns, clients who have experienced significant work-related stress or micro-traumas have reported increased nightmares, including night terrors. The disruption of sleep, amplified by the content of their dreams, has a direct impact on their ability to focus and be responsive during waking hours. This creates an exhaustive and seemingly endless cycle of sleep deprivation.
Emotional Dread or Anxiety – It’s one thing to want the weekend to last a little bit longer, but it’s something different when every Sunday you become paralyzed with anxiety. I’ve talked to people who described waking up Sunday morning already in a state of panic, knowing Monday is that much closer. This is more than not wanting to go to work. It shows up as an all-consuming fear that permeates their personal lives.
Physical Illness – One person described working for an abusive boss for too long. They didn’t want to “just give in and quit.” They didn’t want the boss to win. But they were more than miserable. They were being abused daily, disrespected, openly harassed, and even threatened. This had been going on for nearly a year before they decided to go to HR, but by then it was too late. 3 days after the report was made, they suffered a sudden health emergency and ended up in the hospital. Their health event was directly correlated to their experiences at work.
If you’re in a job where the symptoms listed above are “the norm,” it’s not sustainable. But you don’t have to let it get to that point, even when you’re dealing with a difficult situation.
Here are 3 things you can start right away to begin reclaiming your health and your spirit.
- Find Support – Your needs and experiences will help you determine the level of support that you need. Therapy might be the right option, but it’s not your only option. Working with a trusted mentor or professional coach can help you explore and develop strategies to manage the stress and excel toward success.
- Begin a Mindfulness Practice – I think people resist mindfulness because they think it has to look a certain way or that it’s not for them. The opposite is true on both counts. Everyone can benefit from a disciplined mindfulness practice, and it is especially healing for people who have experienced emotional trauma. Create your peace from within.
- Track Your Triggers and Energy – Keep a simple daily log for two weeks, noting when your energy dips, when you’re most reactive, and what work events or people are involved. Patterns will emerge, and those insights can be invaluable. Awareness is the first step in regaining your power.
Corporate trauma doesn’t just fade with time—it gets stored in the body and shows up in our choices, our leadership, and our health. But healing is possible, and you don’t have to go it alone.
If this resonated with you, like, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs to hear it. And if you’re ready to start reclaiming your energy and purpose, check the links below for my free archetype quiz or to schedule a leadership shadow session.
