10 Signs of Trauma That might be Blocking Your Career Growth

Have you ever seen yourself repeating the same patterns of behaviour in your career? Today I have decided to open up this subject for all of you, because it is very important to understand our responses from the traumas that we have faced in the past. You might not notice it easily as some of these signs would have become a part of your personality.

Embarking on a professional journey is often a complex interplay of ambition, skills, and the ability to navigate challenges. However, for individuals who have weathered workplace traumas in their past, the road to career growth can be laden with unexpected barriers. In this exploration of the "10 Signs of Trauma That Are Blocking Your Career Growth," we delve into the repercussions of workplace traumas experienced in earlier career stages.

"You can't change what's happened in the past, but you can control how you react and move forward."

What is workplace trauma?

Workplace trauma refers to distressing experiences or events that occur within a work environment and have a significant negative impact on an individual's psychological or emotional well-being. These experiences can vary widely in nature and severity, ranging from incidents of workplace bullying, harassment, discrimination, or violence to accidents, layoffs, or toxic work cultures.

Examples of workplace trauma include:

1. Bullying and Harassment: Persistent mistreatment, intimidation, or belittlement by coworkers, supervisors, or clients can cause emotional distress and trauma.
2. Discrimination: Experiencing prejudice or unfair treatment based on characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability can lead to feelings of isolation, powerlessness, and trauma.
3. Violence or Threats: Incidents involving physical violence, threats of harm, or witnessing traumatic events in the workplace can have lasting psychological effects on employees.
4. Accidents or Injuries: Workplace accidents resulting in injury or witnessing traumatic incidents such as a coworker getting seriously hurt can lead to trauma reactions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
5. Layoffs or Job Loss: Sudden job loss, layoffs, or terminations can be traumatic, especially if accompanied by financial instability, loss of identity, or feelings of rejection.
6. Toxic Work Cultures: Environments characterized by high levels of stress, hostility, micromanagement, or lack of support can contribute to chronic stress and emotional trauma for employees.

Workplace trauma can have profound effects on an individual's mental health, job satisfaction, and overall well-being.

Here are ten signs that trauma might be affecting your career advancement:

1. Avoidance of Challenges: You find yourself avoiding new opportunities or challenges at work, fearing failure or triggering memories of past traumatic experiences.Symptom: You always try to avoid the new opportunity
2. Difficulty Concentrating: Trauma can disrupt your ability to focus, leading to decreased productivity and difficulty completing tasks efficiently.Symptom: You take more time to finish your work than what is required
3. Imposter Syndrome: You constantly feel like you don't deserve your accomplishments or that you're not as competent as others perceive you to be, which can hinder your confidence in pursuing career advancement.Symptom: You always doubt your capabilities
4. Strained Relationships: Trauma can impact your relationships with coworkers, supervisors, or clients, leading to conflicts or difficulties collaborating effectively.Symptom: You are always skeptical and fail to build great relationships at workplaces
5. Overwhelming Anxiety: You experience intense anxiety or panic attacks in professional settings, making it challenging to attend meetings, presentations, or networking events necessary for career growth.Symptom: You are unable to communicate freely in the meetings.
6. Perfectionism: You set excessively high standards for yourself at work, fearing criticism or rejection, which can lead to burnout and reluctance to take on new responsibilities or challenges.Symptom: You always feel that it could have been done better.
7. Difficulty with Authority: Trauma may cause distrust or difficulty with authority figures, making it challenging to navigate hierarchical structures in the workplace or seek mentorship.Symptom: You are not able to build rapport with senior leadership.
8. Self-Sabotage: You engage in behaviors that undermine your success, such as procrastination, chronic lateness, or substance abuse, as a way to cope with unresolved trauma.Symptom: You go into negative downward spiral and don't perform upto the mark.
9. Limited Risk-Taking: Trauma can instill a fear of taking risks or stepping outside your comfort zone, preventing you from pursuing career opportunities that require resilience and innovation.Symptom: You are reluctant to change the job profiles/ companies.
10. Persistent Feelings of Worthlessness: You struggle with feelings of low self-worth or inadequacy, which can sabotage your efforts to advance in your career or pursue new opportunities.Symptom: You constantly feel you are not good enough."You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter defeat, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." - Maya AngelouHealing from workplace trauma is a journey that requires time, self-awareness, and support. Here are some steps to help you get over workplace trauma:

1. Acknowledge Your Feelings: Allow yourself to recognize and validate the emotions you're experiencing. Whether it's anger, sadness, fear, or shame, acknowledging your feelings is the first step towards healing.
2. Seek Professional Help: Consider seeking support from a therapist or coach. They can provide you with tools, coping strategies, and a safe space to process your experiences and emotions.
3. Practice Self-Care: Prioritize self-care activities that promote your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This can include exercise, meditation, spending time with loved ones, engaging in hobbies, or seeking out activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
4. Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries to protect yourself from further harm in the workplace. This may involve setting limits on your workload, communicating assertively with coworkers or supervisors, or seeking support from HR or management when needed.
5. Challenge Negative Thoughts: Work on reframing negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself and your abilities that may have stemmed from the trauma. Practice self-compassion and remind yourself that you are not defined by what happened to you.
6. Build a Support Network: Surround yourself with supportive friends, family members, or colleagues who can offer empathy, validation, and encouragement as you navigate the healing process.So, identify if you are experiencing any such symptoms and start working on it. Always remember, recognising and accepting is the first step of any healing process. This is all I have for you today. If you are not yet part of my private community - Exceptional Engineers Club. Join my VIP Private FB GROUP immediately by clicking here - Exceptional Engineers Club I will see you soon in my next post.