That said, I would suggest an additional level needs to be added here. The first challenge is recognising that trauma has had an impact on you as an individual. I say this because for many years I didn’t actually recognise that it was happening. Looking back, I can see red flags all over the place.

Regrettably, I was also working in environments that were full of triggers, as well as with management that not only didn’t recognise what was happening but also did not feel any obligation towards their staff. In several instances, this resulted in being ‘managed out’. Thus compounding problems around trust.

I’m fortunate now that I am working under management that has a very different attitude towards these issues. Having been cautiously honest since the start, trust has been built up on both sides. The difference in terms of outcomes has been staggering.

I guess what I’m saying is that I agree 100% (or, in Trumpian terms, 200%, 500%, 1000000% …) with what you say here and would recommend your guidance to anyone who is managing the impact of Trauma in their daily lives.

I hope you don’t mind but I’ve cited this article in a piece of work I’m doing for a Masters Course on Systems Thinking with a focus on how to manage staff with complex, chronic mental health conditions.

Cheryl, thank you so much for sharing your experience. It can be quite disconcerting when you don’t understand why you are reacting a certain way to a particular situation. I’m glad you figured it out. The free tricker tracker tool that I have at the end of my article may help you create awareness of other triggers in the workplace. I hope it helps. Let me know if there are other topics you would like me to cover.

Thank you for your kind words, Gerald. I appreciate that. I’m glad it was a help to you. I am curious…what was the one main thing that helped you the most from this article? Is there something else you would like me to cover?