How Trauma Shows Up at Work: Signs, Burnout, and Healing

This blog is adapted from one of our recent podcast episodes.  You can take a listen at the button above

Workplace stress and burnout are familiar topics, but what’s often overlooked is how unresolved trauma shows up in professional settings. When someone has experienced chronic trauma (especially relational trauma in childhood) it doesn’t just stay in the past. It impacts how they respond to pressure, conflict, and expectations at work.

Understanding trauma in the workplace isn’t just about recognizing burnout. It’s about seeing the deeper patterns that drive employees to overcommit, withdraw, or spiral into perfectionism.

People-Pleasing at Work

One of the most common trauma responses in the workplace is people-pleasing. Employees who grew up learning that keeping others happy was a way to stay safe often carry that habit into adulthood.

At work, this looks like:

• Always saying yes

• Overcommitting to tasks

• Struggling to set boundaries

• Feeling guilty for saying no

On the surface, these employees may appear to be star performers. But the hidden cost is mounting stress. Eventually, the pressure becomes too much, and performance drops off suddenly - confusing supervisors who didn’t see the overwhelm building behind the scenes.

Conflict and Trauma Responses

Trauma also shapes how people engage in conflict. Some employees avoid it at all costs, shutting down when disagreements arise. Others react with surprising intensity, seeking out arguments or pushing back in ways that feel out of character.

Both patterns often come from early experiences: either not feeling safe to speak up, or promising themselves never to be silenced again. These reactions can puzzle supervisors if they don’t understand the deeper trauma at play.

Perfectionism and Hypervigilance

Employees with unresolved trauma are often hypervigilant, constantly scanning for danger. In the workplace, this hyper-awareness can show up as perfectionism.

Signs include:

• Checking emails late at night

• Redoing tasks multiple times

• Holding themselves to impossible standards

• Struggling to ever feel “finished” with work

What’s confusing is that these expectations aren’t coming from management, they’re self-imposed. Supervisors may wonder why employees are running themselves ragged on projects that were already complete. Over time, this cycle of stress and overwork leads to exhaustion and disengagement.

Burnout Beyond Busy Schedules

When trauma-driven behaviors pile up, burnout often follows. Unlike typical overwork, trauma-related burnout may look like:

• Irritability or snapping at coworkers

• Conflict spilling from home life into the office

• Emotional numbness and disengagement

• Dread about going to work each day

This isn’t just about being too busy, it’s about a nervous system stuck in survival mode, constantly sounding alarms that drain energy and motivation.

How Therapy Helps Employees Heal

Trauma-informed therapy, including EMDR trauma therapy, helps reset the nervous system so old experiences stop fueling current reactions. With support, employees often find they can:

• Set boundaries without guilt

• Speak up more confidently

• Let go of perfectionism

• Relax and recharge outside of work

For those not yet in therapy, simple tools can still make a difference. Practices like body scans (checking in with the body for tension and releasing it) can help catch stress reactions before they spiral into burnout.

Why Employers Should Care

Workplaces that don’t recognize trauma often misinterpret employee struggles as laziness, poor performance, or lack of motivation. In reality, a significant portion of the workforce is impacted by unresolved trauma. Studies suggest about one in three Americans have experienced relational trauma in childhood, and a sizable percentage of them will later meet criteria for PTSD.

By understanding how trauma shows up at work, employers can:

• Support employees more effectively

• Reduce burnout and turnover

• Build healthier, more resilient teams

Moving Forward

Recognizing trauma at work isn’t about excusing poor performance, it’s about addressing the real root causes of burnout and disengagement. When employees receive the trauma care they need, both they and their workplaces benefit.

If you see yourself in these patterns (or notice them in your team) therapy can help you reset, recharge, and move forward.

 Learn more at SeenTherapy.org and explore how trauma-informed support can change the way you work and live.