Workplace harassment and bullying can leave deep emotional scars that challenge the ability to heal. The trauma experienced can manifest in various ways, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, with the right coping strategies and support, it is possible to overcome the trauma and regain a sense of control over your life.
What is Workplace Bullying & how Does it Impact Your Life?
Workplace bullying refers to repeated, persistent, and aggressive behavior intended to intimidate, discredit, or undermine your work performance or well-being. It can take many forms, such as verbal abuse, social exclusion, withholding information, or sabotaging your efforts. The impact of this toxic behavior can be devastating, leading to emotional distress, physical health problems, and even long-term psychological issues.
Victims of workplace bullying often experience a range of negative emotions, including fear, anxiety, shame, and low self-esteem. These feelings can contribute to the development of mental health conditions as depression, panic attacks, and PTSD. The constant stress and lack of control can also lead to physical symptoms of headaches, digestive issues, and sleep disturbances.
How can Professional Support Help After Workplace Bullying?
Seeking professional help from a qualified therapist or counselor is often an essential step in the recovery process after experiencing workplace bullying. These trained professionals can provide a safe and non-judgmental space to process emotions, work through the trauma, and develop effective coping strategies.
Through counseling or therapy, individuals can learn techniques to manage anxiety, challenge negative thought patterns, and rebuild their self-confidence. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in helping individuals identify and change unhelpful thought processes and behaviors that may contribute to their distress.
Therapists can provide guidance on navigating legal or workplace processes related to reporting the bullying and advocating for themselves. They can also help individuals develop strategies for setting healthy boundaries and assertiveness skills to prevent future instances of harassment or bullying.
Reclaim Your Power After Workplace Bullying
Workplace bullying can leave you feeling powerless and stripped of your self-worth. It is important to understand that the abuse experienced is not a reflection of your character or capabilities. It represents weaknesses by the abuser. Reclaiming personal power and regaining a sense of control is an essential step in the healing process.
Coping Strategies & Self-Care After Bullying
One of the most effective coping strategies is building a strong support system. Surrounding oneself with understanding friends, family members, or support groups can provide a sense of validation. Supportive relationships offer a safe space to express emotions without judgment. Sharing experiences with others who have gone through similar situations can help reduce feelings of isolation and remind individuals they are not alone.
Practicing self-care is important in managing the emotional and psychological effects of workplace bullying. This can include engaging in activities that promote relaxation and mindfulness, such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. Regular exercise is beneficial as it releases endorphins to improve mood and overall well-being.
As noted earlier, professional counseling or therapy to develop healthy coping mechanisms and process the trauma. Another self-care resource is a hypnotherapist with experience helping in abuse situations. They are helpful with their ability to build confidence and remove the impacts of prior traumas so you can proceed without carrying emotional baggage from the past.
Restoring Self-Worth After Bullying
Workplace bullying often targets your self-worth, leaving you feeling incompetent and undeserving of respect. Again, these are weaknesses of the abuser and they don’t define you. Rebuilding self-confidence and challenging negative thought patterns is a crucial step in the healing process.
How to Restore Confidence & Negative Thoughts After Bullying
Your self-confidence is based on the thoughts and beliefs that live within your subconscious mind. Working with a trained hypnotherapist is a natural way to clear up the false beliefs about your capabilities and worth as an individual. Once addressed, your confidence places you in a stronger place when abusers attempt to make you doubt yourself. By doing the confidence work, the abuser’s words lack power over you.
With confidence, you can focus on your strengths, talents, and accomplishments. This could involve revisiting past successes, pursuing new hobbies or interests, or seeking opportunities for personal growth and development.
Practicing positive self-talk and challenging any negative thought patterns are incredibly powerful. With confidence, you can actively identify and counter negative or self-critical thoughts with the realistic truths of the valuable person you are.
Celebrating small wins and accomplishments, no matter how minor they may seem, helps boost your self-confidence and counteracts the negative self-talk during bullying.
Rebuilding Trust, Boundaries & Assertiveness
Workplace bullying can leave you feeling violated and distrustful, making it challenging to establish healthy boundaries. Yet, rebuilding these essential interpersonal skills for your personal and professional growth.
Establishing clear boundaries is important to protect yourself from bullying or harassment situations. This involves learning to say “no” when necessary, communicating needs and expectations clearly. These establish limits on which behaviors or actions are acceptable.
Assertiveness training helps develop the skills needed to set and maintain healthy boundaries. This includes learning techniques for effective communication, expressing yourself confidently, and standing up for your rights without becoming aggressive or passive.
It’s important to recognize and respect the boundaries of others. Building a supportive network provides a sense of community, a safe space to discuss concerns, and maintain safe workplace dynamics.
How to Rebuild Trust & Relationships After Workplace Bullying
Rebuilding trust after workplace bullying can be a challenging and slow process. It’s important to be patient and allow time for healing and rebuilding to occur.
When rebuilding trust, it’s important to approach people with an open mind and be aware of potential red flags or concerning behaviors. Building trust slowly and setting clear expectations from the beginning can help create a foundation for healthy, respectful interactions.
Sometimes, it may be necessary to sever ties with those directly involved in bullying. While it can be a tough decision, it may be necessary for self-preservation and healing.
A Path to Emotional Healing
The journey to emotional healing after workplace bullying can be long and challenging. Yet, it’s possible to gain strength and resilience. Focus on personal growth with a positive mindset and you can move forward with new purpose and determination.
How to Move Forward with Resilience After Workplace Bullying
Reframe your experience as an opportunity for personal growth and resilience. While we should never downplay the trauma of workplace bullying, acknowledging it helps you to overcome it with strength and courage.
If you don’t have certainty that the environment will not return to one of toxicity, exploring new career opportunities or educational opportunities can help you create fresh beginnings. You deserve better than an abusive environment.
Final Thoughts
Recovering from the trauma of workplace bullying is a complex and deeply personal journey that requires courage, resilience, and a commitment to self-care and healing. Consider professional support, applying coping strategies, focus on self-confidence, trust, and personal growth. With these approaches, you can break free from bullying and trauma and overcome the toxic effects of a bullying environment.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Center for Personal Leadership and Development is hosting a national survey to help employees that have suffered the effects of a toxic workplace. The survey is completely ANONYMOUS (Unless you specifically ask to be contacted). Still, no one will be identified in any way. This is an opportunity for you to help make a difference in our national work environment.
Click HERE to Participate in the Survey.
About the Author
Anthony M. Davis is a Certified Leadership, Success and Stress Coach. He is a clinically trained Board Certified Hypnotherapist.
He has earned a national reputation for his Transformative Life Centering work with clients from across the nation. His unique approach helps clients remove underlying fears and triggers, and then, through coaching, helps them pursue and accomplish life and career goals.
He provides Coaching and Hypnotherapy sessions remotely through Zoom. If you have challenges and are ready to move past them, Contact him Here to create the life change you want.
