If you are someone who has suffered humiliation through discrimination or sexual harassment at work, you may need more than a path to justice, you may also need a path to healing. A way to reset your fight or flight neurological response which is likely working overtime in response to the trauma you suffered. It is not healthy to allow this system to remain revved up for extended periods of time. It can lead you to anxiety, depression, and exhaustion making reclaiming your life difficult even if you succeed in litigation.
Neglecting how workplace (or personal) trauma is effecting you while at the same time enduring the stressors of litigation is a recipe for failure - whether you win your lawsuit or not. Our civil legal system allows for little outside of the recovery of money damages. Likely the wrong-doer will not be fired, you definitely will not receive an apology or a glowing letter of recommendation admitting that every nasty thing your employer accused you of, prior to termination or during litigation, was false. So, many workers can end up feeling like even a substantial money recovery is a somewhat empty victory. Arguably, some of this reaction is because the person has not addressed the emotional, psychological and neurological toll the unlawful action took on them in the first place. So, I encourage all of my clients, even those who think they are "handling everything fine" to seek out emotional and psychological support even as they are looking for the right attorney to take their case.
Nothing in this post is an substitute for a doctor's evaluation and advice. If you are suffering from PTSD, Anxiety, Depression or exhaustion please consult your primary care provider right away. If you do not have a primary care provider you can get help at:
Medical Doctors / Clinics
Varies Mental Health and Substance Use Resources
Specific Recommendations for people who are generally healthy, but are struggling through litigation or other acutely stressful situation:
I have personally found much relief from professional stress and anxiety by utilizing EFT (emotional freedom technique). EFT is a guided combination of tapping on acupuncture points, while working with a recounting of emotions related to stressful events or negative beliefs, combined with positive affirmations. That is probably a gross over simplification, but you don't need to understand EFT for EFT to work. Not all EFT practitioners or offerings are equally effective. One EFT guide that greatly helped me is Miranda Maher. She is located in Brooklyn, New York but thanks to zoom you can practice with her no matter where you are. She is also an experienced instructor, and offers (remote) classes, in Qigong, Neidan and Tao Meditation.
For more information, visit her website. Or request a free consultation with Miranda, here, or book your first 75 minute session here. As a chronically stressed out employment and public defense attorney I was amazed by how effective her version of EFT is. I had also tried a cheapo version on Daily Om which did not work and actually made me feel worse. As I relate below, when it comes to my mental health I am a firm believer in working with people live (or on zoom) and not via prerecordings or A.I. versions. However if you want a great arm workout I do like this pre-recorded 14-day program by Daily OM.
Apps and AI
Some Apps I have personally worked with or have been recommended include:
Headspace - the very popular guided meditation App which has expanded to include music for focusing, and meditations to lull you back to sleep when you are suffering insomnia and frankly so much more than I have room to list. This app helped me meditate on a regular basis throughout the Covid Pandemic lock down and come out the other side a lot better off than I might have otherwise.
Calm - a lot like headspace but without the accents and cute cartoon characters. I like them both, but admit I used headspace a lot more often for the meditation and music and calm just for their music.
Woebot - I have to admit this one freaks me out. Skynet anyone? I don't love the thought of sharing my emotions with the cloud. That said, though I am a fan, a lot of people don't love the thought of sharing their emotions with a stranger they pay to listen to them either. Woebot claims to be grounded in clinical research and powered by AI, easy to talk to and fit into your life. "Your personal mental health ally that helps you get back to feeling like yourself." It is inexpensive, so not a big financial risk, but if you are really feeling depressed or anxious I recommend a live human person.
Our mental health is an important part of who we are and it needs attention and care. Find what works for you and use it. I wish you all the best on your path to healing and justice.
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