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Working in employment that is the same area as the original trauma. is this actually possible?

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Dolphin Lady

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Hi I am working in the NHS in the same area that is related very much to my original trauma. Not the same place, or people but the same area of practice. This is through personal choice as I feel that I have a great deal to offer having been through the same experiences as the clients I work with. I am really struggling with terrible triggers that cause extreme overwhelming emotions but I so desperately want to work in this area. What I am asking is if it will be possible, with the help of therapy to get back to working in this area that I am passionate about?
 
The desperate wanting to work in that area might be trying to work through your own unresolved trauma, and gain mastery over it, by continuing to work in the same area of practice. It could be a type of trauma re-enactment compulsion, in addition to a healthy drive and passion.

If you are aware of it, and how it could impact the work you do, and you have people you trust able be a check and balance to things getting out of hand (like getting super destabilized), then it might be ok, even really good and helpful in the long run for yourself and others. It could be incredibly healing to make a difference in such a place for yourself and others. It might also not be possible to work in that area long term, and there may be other ways you can make a difference in the same field that better maximize on your skill sets without having to spend so much time fighting what’s dragging you down.

Let’s imagine a rape trauma survivor who become an attorney to help represent victims, but gets super triggered by the injustice in the system when representing rape victims, and instead goes into teaching law and writing books or using their abilities to help raise funds for those that can provide direct represention. They could have limped along directly representing victims, but been actually quite held back on the overall difference they could make and been a miserable triggered mess... but when they stepped back and went a different route, they actually could make a bigger difference systemically because in a less triggering environment more of their efforts and skills can be poured into the cause. (This is a mostly hypoethical example, but I personally know someone who followed a path somewhat like this.)

Some of the best folks I have run into have been wounded healers of sorts, where they undertake an issue and can help others with it because they have been there too. A common example: addiction counselors have often been addicts themselves. They can speak into addiction at a different level. The best cancer doctors have often been oncology patients themselves.

My own therapist had to switch types of practice because one type was too much.

Sometimes people have to leave an environment to process the past trauma, and then go back when they are ready. Sometimes trauma from the past can’t be worked through if it’s still a risk because someone is still in the traumatic environment.

For now, becoming so destabilized just to work in that area may be setting you back from reaching that point where you can do that type of work.

But it could be possible you are able to work in that practice someday, or otherwise make a huge difference in another way.
 
I am really struggling with terrible triggers that cause extreme overwhelming emotions but I so desperately want to work in this area.

I think its entirely possible AFTER you get your ptsd under control. But trying to do it while you are in therapy may be problematic. You can't concentrate on both getting better and fighting triggers at the same time. Well, I take that back. you can, but it will be a huge challenge.

What if you switch to something completely different while you are in therapy? Then when you come back to the career you want you will bring a better mental health state and additional training from another profession.
 
I also think it’s possible, but agree that it’s vital to work through the trauma completely First. If it’s not worked through or only partially worked through I think it’s setting yourself up to fail, because eventually something will stir it back up and then it’s worse.

I also think you would have to have an incredible employer to realistically accommodate the amount of time that could take.
 
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It’s worrisome as you haven’t started treatment yet, correct? It’s possible to work in that kind of environment, but if you haven’t healed, you will undoubtedly just be making your trauma worse. And you could actually force it to the point where you don’t ever go into remission. Seriously not worth even considering until you’ve done a bit of healing.
 
Thank you for your replies. They are all really helpful and make a great deal of sense. I have decided to work in another area as a temporary thing with a very gradual return to my original area of work.This not something I want to do but realise I have too in order to cope. You are all correct, I need to heal my unresoved issues BEFORE I return but it feels so sad that I have to do this. It just adds to my sense of failure and deep sadness.
 
I did this too. I got a Psych degree, and decided I wanted to work with kids. And when I got to working with them, I saw a very sick social system, much like my family of origin. I realized one day I was trying to save myself! Then I quit beating up on myself for finding other types of work.

It’s worrisome as you haven’t started treatment yet, correct? It’s possible to work in that...
I'm confused is there really a "remission" in this stuff?
 
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I have decided to work in a different area for a short while whilst I work on recovery of my PTSD. I do want to go back to my area of work as I love it and feel that I do make a difference but I understand that I cant at the moment and that this would not be good for my mental health and possibly cause another breakdown like the one I experienced several weeks ago. My manager is so understanding and is accommodating this plan and I know that I am very lucky. I am feeling better and am aiming to go back to work before Christmas hopefully even though I haven't started therapy yet.
 
I have returned to work but am not able to work with my original team for the time being as it is deemed too harmful to my mental health. Whilst I know this is the correct thing to do, to have a complete break from the area of work that is triggering me, it is still very difficult for me as I love my work and I love the team of people I work with. It feels like such a loss and a failure...
 
I'm going to disagree with the prevailing opinion on this one. The majority of my trauma is childhood trauma relating to extensive abusive. I've worked in child protection for over 20 years and while I've worked hard on my recovery and am doing really well, that's been a relatively recent thing.

It's entirely possible to work in the area of your original trauma, you need to be very self aware and have supports and strategies in place, I'd suggest the following:-
A) know yourself well, know the impact your trauma has on you and identify where your work impacts on you and what that impact looks like. For example, if I find myself being really picky about policy and legislation I know I'm triggered by something.
B) have good, independent consultation - often referred to as supervision. Find someone you trust, not in your line management who is able to meet regularly and talk about the impact your work has on you. This isn't therapy, the focus of the meeting is how you work with your caseload and how you feel about it.
C) be in therapy - not necessarily processing trauma stuff but to help you understand yourself and your reactions better
D) have a couple of colleagues who you utterly trust to tell you if they see signs that you're struggling. If they tell you, believe them and take steps to get support whether you agree with them or not.
E) be meticulous about self care, build in time to actively look after yourself and if you see that slipping, take a step back at work.

Working in the area of your trauma can be both healing and growthful, if you look after yourself well. you'll have an understanding that someone who hasn't had your experience could never have, that goes beyond training and you can empathise in a pretty unique way. It's tricky ground but with safeguards in place it can be good for you and the people using your service.

I remember someone telling me that my experience gave me great strengths to bring to the work I do, with huge potential for healing. It meant the world to me that he recognised that and I'd offer you the same words, there's huge potential for healing and great strength in your experience even if you feel you've a way to go in your own healing.
 
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