How to Cope with Emotional Abuse Occurring at your Job
Emotional abuse arises from the words and actions of others in the workplace. A clear interpretation and accurate response to the behaviors of others is the key to successfully coping with emotional abuse occurring on the job. Workplace bullies are often the main perpetrators of psychological maltreatment within an organization; identifying their tactics and strategies, managing your response to their words and action and protecting your emotional center, will ensure that you are garrisoned against the trauma caused by emotional abuse.
Mental torment by co-workers can be top-down or bottom-up. A manager may tamper with a subordinate’s psyche solely by abusing the authority given by the job title. Your manager or a subordinate may choose to usurp your authority, undermine you, defame you, or even recommend your termination. Psychological turmoil arising on the job can be short-circuited by finding your emotional center and reconstituting positive emotions to diffuse negative ones.
The negative words and actions of a co-worker have the power to infect your emotional center causing negative thinking which can promote counterproductive workplace behaviors, physical ill health, unhealthy workplace relationships, perceived lack of productivity and emotional outbursts. Beware of these staining responses to emotional workplace abuse.
Once the abusive tactics and strategies are activated it is imperative that you emit positive emotions that are in direct opposition to a psychological attack. Should a co-worker shout at you, respond in a soft tone; if they criticize your work, thank them for the feedback; if they demote you, use your imagination and maintain a self image of promotion and upward mobility. To allow negative external factors to penetrate your emotional center is self-sabotage.
It is important to clearly interpret the behaviors of others to generate a right response to their actions. Why did your boss shout at you? Is he/she frustrated, lacking emotional self-control, lacking awareness of others, mentally ill, or a damaged emotional center that can only release venom and bitterness?
Why is there is a need to defame you? Is your boss or subordinate plagued by low self-esteem, envy, jealousy, malice and pride? Before you respond in anger, fear, intimidation or frustration recognize your co-worker’s emotional posture and do not be infected by the same virus. Even if a faction rises up against you in the workplace do not succumb to emotional abuse, use your imagination and visualize yourself as the victor and not the victim, this will protect your emotional core and eventually plummet the plot against you.
Inoculate your emotional center against negative intrusion; take an oppositional stance by releasing positivity. Read inspirational books and quotes continuously to keep your emotional core full of optimism. Maintain a healthy self image by consistently making affirmations about who you are. Know your worth, recognize your purpose, stay focused on your personal and professional goals and do not allow yourself to be beaten down, or broken down by persons in the workplace who are emotionally abused themselves. If you do not cope with emotional abuse occurring at your job you are a prime target to become infected with the deadening virus of psychological trauma.
