You’re at work, minding your own business when suddenly you’re hit with a trigger. It may be a task or assignment that feels impossible. Or, it’s a request from your boss that feels unreasonable. It may be a coworker who just can’t seem to understand what boundaries are.
For anyone who’s experienced trauma, the workplace can be a minefield of triggers. And if you’re not prepared to deal with them, they can soon lead to heightened anxiety or even panic attacks. But, with the help of EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), you can learn to manage those triggers. By doing so, you can stay calm, cool, and collected at work.
What is EMDR Therapy?
EMDR is a type of therapy that is often used for people who have experienced trauma. It’s a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It uses eye movements to process traumatic memories. Its goal is to help you heal from trauma or other distressing experiences you have had in the past. For example, you may have a coworker who is often crossing your boundaries which leads you to be triggered. If so, EMDR therapy can help you process those feelings and learn to respond in a more healthy way.
How Can EMDR Therapy Help with Workplace Triggers?
An EMDR therapist can help you understand and manage your triggers in a few ways. Here are some of the most common:
- Identify your triggers
- Understand your triggers
- Manage your reactions
These are only some ways that EMDR can help with workplace triggers. But, if you’re struggling to identify, understand, or manage your triggers, it may be time to seek professional help. As an EMDR therapist, I can support you through the process. Together, we can work to understand your triggers and how to manage them in a more healthy way.
Identify your triggers
At work, you may not even be aware of what’s triggering you. Engaging with an EMDR therapist can help you to identify the thoughts, emotions, and memories associated with your triggers. Identifying your triggers is an important first step to managing them. For example, you may have a trigger that’s associated with a difficult work assignment. If so, understanding what it is about the assignment that’s triggering you can help you to manage how you react and your anxiety.
Understand Your Triggers
Once you’re aware of what’s triggering you, an EMDR therapist can help you understand why those things are triggering you. This helps you see how your past experiences and trauma are affecting you in the present. For example, you may be triggered by your boss expecting you to complete an unreasonable task. If so, it might be because you’ve experienced similar situations in the past.
This can be helpful for situations where you are feeling overloaded or burnout but you still feel like you can’t say “no”. Take a minute to understand what it is about the situation that’s causing you stress. Doing so can help you to understand why you feel like you can’t say “no”. It can also help you to start working on setting boundaries and healthily asserting yourself.
Manage Your Reactions
After understanding your triggers, it can be helpful to respond to them in different ways. Especially in a more healthy way. Something may be a trigger for you, but this doesn’t mean you have to respond to it in a negative way. EMDR therapy can help you to learn healthy coping mechanisms for when you’re faced with a trigger. For instance, if you have a trigger that’s associated with a hard work assignment, you can engage in some deep breathing or even visualization exercises. These can help you stay calm and focused.
By managing your reactions, you can deal with your feelings of distress in a more healthy way than avoidance. Or, spiraling into a panic attack. Which we have all been guilty of at one point or another. EMDR therapy can help you to learn how to respond to your triggers in a more healthy and productive way.
It doesn’t have to be this way forever.
EMDR therapy can be a helpful solution to overcoming trauma triggers in the workplace. It can also help you let go of negative thoughts and emotions that are keeping you stuck. But, it’s important to remember that everyone’s experience is different. And, not everyone will benefit from EMDR therapy in the same way. But, know that in your place of work, you have the right to feel safe, respected, and supported.
Begin Working with an EMDR Therapist in Tustin, CA
You don’t have to learn how to manage or identify your triggers alone. Our specialized therapists at Moxie Family Therapy can help you to be less reactive to triggers. Together, you can develop healthy coping mechanisms, and feel more in control of your reactions. If you’re ready to begin counseling in Orange County, CA please follow these simple steps:
- Fill out the form below to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION.
- Meet one of our caring therapists.
- Begin EMDR and trauma therapy to make work feel manageable again.
Other Counseling Services at Moxie Family Therapy
EMDR therapy is not the only therapy service that we offer at Moxie Family Therapy. Our Orange County Counseling Clinic has a variety of other mental health services offered both in-person and online. These therapy services include counseling for women, counseling for young adults, counseling for college students, couples counseling, counseling for teen girls, counseling for children, play therapy, art therapy, therapy for therapists, and family therapy. Contact our counseling clinic to learn about adoption counseling as well. Our team is here to support you and help you get your moxie back!