Imposter Syndrome in Business: When Work Triggers Something Deeper
Why Does Work Sometimes Hit Harder Than It Should?
Have you ever had a reaction at work that felt far bigger than the moment called for? A client's offhand comment, a supervisor's tone, a stranger's reply under your post, and suddenly your heart is racing, your jaw is tight, and all you want to do is leave the room.
If so, you may have been experiencing an emotional trigger at work. The American Psychological Association describes a trigger as a stimulus that elicits a reaction, such as an event that brings back a memory of a past experience along with a rush of emotional arousal. In other words, the present moment touches something much older.
I know this one personally.
A Story From a Bathroom Renovation
Picture a small bathroom in the middle of a renovation. The contractor is asking where I want the lights placed and listing everything to consider: the studs, the wiring, the mirror. I'm thinking out loud, very aware that the client is standing right behind me. The room feels like it's shrinking and my heart is pounding.
Then the contractor nearly shouts, "Starre, you are going to have to learn this some time!"
The client lets out a low whistle, the kind that says Oh boy, that stings, and walks out. I managed to say, "I know the answer. I just needed a second," and then I left for another part of the house, eyes burning with embarrassment and shame.
I was in my early thirties, working as both designer and project manager on a large home renovation, often the only woman on a crew of men twenty to thirty years older than me. Feeling small was a constant companion, and imposter syndrome whispered to me even when the work was going well.
In that bathroom, it felt like I had been found out. The client was happy, and the project was on track, but none of that mattered. The fear I had been quietly carrying seemed to have come true. At the time, I did what many of us do: I wiped my tears and got back to work.
That moment stayed with me because it shows how an old trigger can shape our experience and our relationships at work.
What Is an Emotional Trigger at Work?
The contractor had no idea he had touched something that ran so deep. This happens constantly in workplaces and in businesses. You may recognize a time you responded to a client, colleague, or boss with far more intensity than the situation seemed to deserve. If you have an online presence, you may also have felt triggered by comments, posts, or the crowd of invisible judges on the internet.
A trigger is more than simply disliking something. It sets off an almost involuntary, patterned emotional response, followed by a cascade of neurochemicals that floods your system. It can happen so fast that you feel the effects before you even realize what set it off.
Why you can't just "suck it up"
In professional settings, we often have to hold it together in the moment. Some people shove the feeling down and never look at it again, like an overstuffed utility closet. For some, that works for a while, and some people are truly gifted at compartmentalizing.
But when the thoughts, feelings, and body sensations are never fully processed, they can leave a lingering imprint on your system, like a sleeper cell waiting for the next trigger.
Triggers aren't a sign you're doing something wrong
Here's the part I find most hopeful: being triggered doesn't mean you've failed. It's information, and it can be a real resource for growth.
It's tempting to make the person or situation the villain. But when we do, we hand our power to someone else and leave the driver's seat. Getting curious about the reaction puts you back in it.
Imposter Syndrome in Business: Why It Shows Up as a Trigger
For many business owners, imposter syndrome is the old story sitting underneath the trigger. In that bathroom, what hurt wasn't the question about lights. It was the feeling of being found out. That fear can follow you into client calls, pricing decisions, and public posts, especially if you've often been the only woman in the room, as I was on that job site.
When a comment lands on that fear, your reaction can look like self-sabotage: overgiving, defending, or going quiet. Recognizing the pattern is the first step toward choosing a different response.
How to Handle Being Triggered at Work
This is a lifelong practice, and it works best with curiosity and self-compassion. Beating yourself up as you grow more self-aware only makes the process more miserable.
In the moment
If you can't leave the situation but feel yourself getting activated, try this:
Slow down and take a deep breath.
Move your body a little, even if it's just a swivel of your chair or pressing your feet into the floor.
Later, when you have space to reflect
Once you're somewhere you can think, get curious:
What did the situation bring up in me? Does it remind me of something from the past?
What was my go-to response? Did I want to please or overgive, bolt from the room, argue and defend, or did my words and thoughts go fuzzy?
What stories am I telling about the situation, the people involved, and myself? Are they true? Do they feel old?
Just notice. We all have patterned responses, and knowing yours helps you understand the internal charge. A simple notes app can be a great place to track patterns over time.
The goal is to stay with your body and your response, build awareness, and then, the next time you're in a similar situation, find your way back to center more easily.
When the environment is the problem
Sometimes you understand your triggers well, but the workplace itself isn't healthy. In that case, this work may also mean setting boundaries, communicating your needs, or making bigger changes.
When Support Makes the Difference
There is so much we can learn on our own, and tools are more accessible than ever through Substack, YouTube, and other online spaces. Reaching out for help, whether through therapy, executive coaching, life coaching, or energy healing, is also far less stigmatized than it used to be. More companies and business owners now see that supporting people's inner lives is good for business.
Still, blind spots are hard to see precisely because they sit outside our awareness. Having someone gently reflect your patterns back to you can open up a new level of awareness and choice. It can also save you time, money, and heartache.
If hiring support isn't possible right now, or you're wary of bringing in outside help, the work is still possible. It may just take longer.
Work With Me: Business Alchemy Sessions
I'm Starre, an energy healer, intuitive, and coach. I work with spiritually open business owners to explore the deeper patterns influencing their businesses, including imposter syndrome and self-sabotage. In my Business Alchemy Sessions, I combine pattern recognition, energy work, intuitive guidance, and coaching to help you see what's happening beneath the surface, uncover blind spots, and open up new possibilities.
Sometimes what we need isn't another strategy. It's a deeper understanding of what has been getting in the way.
[Explore Business Alchemy Sessions]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an emotional trigger at work?
An emotional trigger at work is a situation, comment, or event that sets off a strong, often automatic emotional reaction, usually because it touches an old experience or belief. The reaction can feel bigger than the moment itself.
Why do I get triggered at work over small things?
A reaction that feels out of proportion is often a sign that something older is being activated, such as past criticism, feeling unseen, or imposter syndrome. Your body responds to the old memory as if it is happening now.
Is imposter syndrome a trigger?
Imposter syndrome can be the story underneath a trigger. A comment or criticism lands on the fear of being found out, and the reaction follows. Noticing that link is a useful first step.
Why do I self-sabotage in my business?
Self-sabotage is often an old, patterned response to a trigger, such as overgiving, avoiding, or defending. Getting curious about the pattern and the story behind it is where change starts. Support from a coach can help you see blind spots you can't see alone.
How do I calm down when I'm triggered at work?
If you can't step away, slow your breathing and add gentle movement, like pressing your feet into the floor. Save the deeper reflection for later, when you have space.
Can emotional triggers be healed?
Many people find that noticing their patterns, tracking where reactions show up in the body, and questioning the stories attached to them gradually creates more choice in how they respond. Support from a coach, therapist, or other practitioner can speed this up, and an old trigger returning doesn't mean you've failed. It may be pointing to a deeper layer.
Is this the same as therapy?
My work is coaching and energy-based. It isn’t therapy or medical care and isn’t a substitute for either. If you’re dealing with a mental health condition or in crisis, please reach out to a licensed professional.
If you try any of these tools, I'd love to hear how they're working for you. Are you noticing patterns? Responding differently to situations that used to trigger you? Leave a comment or reach out.
I'm rooting for you.
This piece grew out of my Substack, Under These Conditions. Subscribe for new posts: https://starretearney.substack.com/p/when-work-triggers-something-deeper