Quiz Results

Stress Source: Triggered Emotional Reactions

Triggered (wound up, hooked, activated) emotional reactions are intense responses such as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn (people pleasing) that occur when you feel upset at work. These reactions, known as hyperarousal or the acute stress response, happen when you perceive a threat or harmful event. This physiological reaction is rooted in past traumas and stored in the limbic system of your brain, which processes memories of emotions without a sense of time.


You may experience the following:

Pouring energy into not disappointing anyone, especially authority figures.

Constant people-pleasing, never feeling like you are enough.

Striving for perfection or procrastinating until the last minute (perfectionism).

Sacrificing work/life balance to prove your dedication.

Avoiding trouble at all costs, feeling the weight of stress, anxiety, fear, and worry as you advance in your career.


How It Can Impact Your Career

When upset by something that happened at work (e.g., fear of getting into trouble, disappointing someone, or losing your job), it’s common to respond with fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. This is your brain’s
way of trying to keep you safe. 

Ignoring the impact of past trauma on your stress responses can be risky. Many executives and professionals underestimate how past experiences affect their stress, anxiety, and interactions at work. Initially, your strategies for managing stress may lead to promotions and increased compensation. However, when these strategies stop working, you might feel like your career has stalled, and the stress has become unmanageable. Comparing yourself to others and feeling inadequate is common.


When the “formula” you relied on no longer works, it’s possible to feel exhausted and isolated. The higher you go in your career, the more stressful it can feel. You may find yourself stuck in a cycle of self-criticism, exhaustion, and repetition.

Past trauma and dysfunctional childhood experiences can significantly impact your stress responses at work. This connection often leads to self-limiting beliefs, triggers, and response patterns like perfectionism and people-pleasing. Understanding and addressing these issues is the first step to effectively managing your stress and improving your workplace experiences.

Questions to Reflect On

Recognizing the impact of past trauma and understanding how it affects your career stress is crucial. Nearly two-thirds of people experience at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) before the age of 18. Ignoring this connection can lead to painful emotions and hinder your career progress.


Are you worried that the strategies that worked in the past are now backfiring?

Do you feel exhausted from trying to prove yourself, only to push others away?

Does advancing in your career feel increasingly stressful and burdensome?

Do you often feel stuck in a cycle of self-criticism and exhaustion?

Have you noticed increased levels of stress, anxiety, and worry?

Next Steps

Unlock a Healthier, High-Performance Workplace

You’ve just taken a crucial step by identifying your personal source of workplace stress. But what if you could turn this insight into a catalyst for positive change, not just for yourself, but for your entire organization?

Here's how we can work together to make your job easier and elevate your organization:

Personalized Strategies: Get customized solutions to tackle stress and improve workplace well-being.

Leadership Development: Empower your leaders with innovative management techniques.

Performance Optimization: Align employee strengths with organizational goals for peak efficiency.


The Results

I Help Your Organization Thrive

Minimize Employee Turnover

Create an irresistible work culture that not only attracts, but also keeps top talent.

Enhance Leader Capability

Equip leaders with required tools for empathetic and effective management.

Optimize Employee Performance

Match employee skill to roles that maximize potential and drive organizational success.


Schedule a Free

Ready to Transform Your Workplace?

By scheduling a free consultation call, you will:

Gain personalized insights into managing stress effectively in the workplace.

Explore tailored strategies to improve employee performance and well-being.

Learn how to foster a resilient, engaged, and high-performing workforce.

Take the next step towards a stress-free, productive, and thriving workplace. I look forward to partnering with you to achieve extraordinary results.