Sarah had always been a diligent and dedicated employee, admired for her work ethic and attention to detail. However, when a new manager, Mr. Thompson, was assigned to oversee her team, everything changed. Mr. Thompson quickly made it clear that he had little regard for Sarah’s boundaries or personal life. He would send her late-night emails demanding immediate responses, insist that she stay late to complete trivial tasks, and frequently asked her to undertake projects that diverted her attention from her primary responsibilities.
As the weeks went by, Sarah found herself increasingly overwhelmed. The stress mounted as she struggled to meet Mr. Thompson’s relentless expectations, leaving her feeling anxious and inadequate. She began losing sleep, feeling irritable and withdrawn, and dreaded each morning as she prepared to face her boss. Despite her strong work history, Sarah felt her confidence erode under the weight of his demands. There were moments when she would find herself on the verge of tears, longing for the supportive environment she once enjoyed.
It wasn’t until a friend encouraged her to try therapy that Sarah began to see a glimmer of hope. Through EMDR Therapy, she was able to uncover the roots of her distress, which were intertwined with past experiences of feeling undervalued and overlooked. Processing these memories suing EMDR allowed her to gain perspective on her situation and recognise that Mr. Thompson’s behavior was a reflection of his own insecurities, not a reflection of her worth as an employee or a person.
Feeling empowered, Sarah took a brave step forward and approached her HR department to discuss her experiences. With newfound clarity and strength, she was able to advocate for herself without feeling shame or guilt. By sharing her story, Sarah not only sought assistance but also hoped to inspire others facing similar challenges to stand up for themselves in the workplace.