The Best Way to Treat PTSD in The Workplace

Last week I received a call from Irish Rail who were keen to explore our help in developing their employee wellbeing strategy.

During the conversation, I was told that in July 2024 there had been 7 suicides. These suicides had tragically been members of the public who’d jumped in front of a moving train.

It's not my intention to traumatise you when reading this post but to highlight the importance of having a strategy in place to address trauma. 

As you can imagine, the result of these incidents on the train drivers is one of trauma and PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and during the conversation with Irish Rail, my heart went out to these drivers.

I'm reminded of the extraordinary people who do incredible work within their roles and face traumatic events regularly.

I'm aware from my time as an HR Business Partner for Brighton and Sussex University Hospital of the experiences staff had, which did have an impact on their mental health.

I also recall how frustrated I was sitting in front of the Strategy Board each month being questioned on what was being done to reduce absence in my division - which consisted of no less than 2,000 people.   I felt like we were doing everything possible given the resources we had to reduce the cost of absence, but underneath I thought there had to be a better way.

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Trauma affects our mind and body in complex ways, leaving deep-rooted imprints on both aspects of ourselves. Our brain plays an integral role in processing traumatic experiences by activating the fight or flight response – causing heightened levels of stress hormones and triggering a cascade of physical and emotional reactions. These reactions can manifest as nightmares, flashbacks, insomnia, anxiety, and a variety of other symptoms that profoundly impact our well-being.

The impact of trauma on our lives can be far-reaching. It affects our thoughts, emotions, behaviours, and our physical well-being. 

When we experience a traumatic event, our bodies go into the fight-or-flight response. This is an automatic survival mechanism that prepares us to respond to danger by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels (a stress hormone). This helps us either confront the threat or flee from it.

In moments of intense fear or helplessness, our brains may also release endorphins and other chemicals that numb pain and induce feelings of detachment. These biological responses are adaptive in the short term, allowing us to cope with the immediate danger. However, if they persist over time, they can contribute to the development of trauma and its associated symptoms.

The scars left by trauma are not always visible to the naked eye, but their impact on our daily lives is undeniable. They can shape our beliefs about ourselves and the world around us, leading to negative patterns of thinking and behaviour. For example, in the case of the train drivers, they can develop a fear of driving the train.

In the video I talk to Laura, who had experienced years of anxiety. Within minutes of talking to her, I spotted she had PTSD - something that had never been identified by her G.P.

As Laura shares in the video, understanding the science of the mind and body and how trauma is created resulted in an immediate wave of relief and the realisation that what she was experiencing wasn't personal - and that she could be helped. 

When people understand trauma shame is replaced with understanding, acceptance and compassion.

The Best Approach To Treating Trauma and PTSD

Having worked with hundreds of clients I know that trauma can be processed effectively and gently without the need to unpack it or rake over the past. 

The mind blurs the line between reality and imagination. Approaches like counseling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) primarily involve verbal communication. However, when it comes to trauma, these talking therapies can potentially lead to re-traumatisation.

It’s important to recognise that trauma can be deeply ingrained in a person’s psyche, and discussing the traumatic event might trigger intense emotional reactions, making the person feel as if the trauma is happening all over again. This is where the potential for re-traumatisation comes into play.

However, when it comes to treating trauma, many organisations only provide access to talking therapies via Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or Private Medical.

In situations where PTSD stems from a single incident, trauma can treated and and processed in one session.

Yes, that’s right!

In fact, that’s the BEST way to treat trauma – no talking!

Addressing Trauma in Organisations | A Mini Case Study

Amidst the challenges of Covid and lockdown, we conducted mental health training for Sofology’s management team, engaging with more than 200 managers. Throughout the training, we identified five instances of PTSD among the attending managers.

These individuals hadn't known they had PTSD but did recognise they were struggling with their mental health.  During the mental health for managers training, we cover trauma and help managers understand the cause and effect of trauma.  Several of the managers mentioned incidents, some of which had taken place at work, which were still very 'real' to them. 

We reached out to these managers and offered to work with them. We could see that they were struggling and needed help, so we offered this help as a gesture of goodwill.

In each of these sessions, we used a combination of The MAP Method, hypnotherapy and emotional freedom technique AKA EFT Tapping.

After only one session, every manager experienced a significant transformation. The individuals were able to reflect on the event without being overwhelmed by negative emotions. Furthermore, emotions tied to guilt, blame, and shame were effectively released, leading to a noticeable shift in their mental and emotional well-being.

🌟 Thank you very much for taking the time to meet with me yesterday. I found the session very moving. I am feeling good today, still processing the session but I do feel like a weight has been lifted, I know that sounds cliche but I do generally feel lighter. – Manager, Sofology

🌟 I really want to thank you, because I’ve had a really rough couple of days and normally I would have been all over the show with how I’m feeling and what’s going on and I would have deffo have had multiple panic attacks… but I haven’t.
It’s like I reached the point of where I would have a panic attack but it just doesn’t happen – it feels a relief. Thank you so much! Manager, Sofology

How to Support Your Employees With Trauma and PTSD

Where organisations are investing in new systems and technology, it strikes me this is the perfect time to renew how we support employees with PTSD and CPTSD. 

Amidst the current wave of organisational technological advancements, there’s a golden opportunity to revolutionise how we aid employees dealing with PTSD and CPTSD.

In essence, adopting these leading-edge approaches signifies a win-win scenario where individuals find healing and employers cultivate a more compassionate and thriving work environment.