In this solo episode, Dr. Debi shares 11 anonymized, real-world scenarios showing how unhealed betrayal quietly derails performance, leadership, health, and culture at work. From weight changes and gut issues to micromanagement, perfectionism, disengagement, and self-betrayal, you'll see how a personal rupture (even years old) can surface on the job—and what to do about it. You'll also hear research-backed prevalence stats (weight, gut, sleep) and a clear invitation to move from Stages 2–3 (shock and survival) into Stages 4–5 (healing and growth). 

Who this episode is for 

• Professionals, leaders, and founders who feel "off" at work and can't trace why 

• HR/people leaders noticing unexplained dips in performance, morale, or collaboration 

• Anyone who suspects an earlier betrayal might still be shaping today's choices, health, and capacity 

Key concepts & signals 

• Betrayal shows up at work physically (weight, gut, sleep), mentally (focus, overthinking), emotionally (hypervigilance, distrust). 

• Nervous system hijack: After broken trust, people often swing to micromanagement, second-guessing, isolation, or over-preparation. 

• Stages matter: Creativity, confidence, and connection typically reliably return as you move into Stages 4–5 of the 5-Stage model. 

• Research snapshots (from Debi's community data): 

• Weight/eating struggles: ~47% 

• Gut issues (IBS/Crohn's/constipation/diarrhea): ~45% 

• Sleep problems: ~68% 

Case snapshots (anonymized) 

1. Sarah — Weight & confidence spiral 
   Discovery of husband + best friend affair → stress eating → +40 lbs, pre-diabetes, energy crash. Missed two promotions; client-facing confidence plummeted. 

1. Marcus — Gut & career derailment 
   Brother's $50k "investment" betrayal (borrowed from 401k) → nausea → IBS, 30 missed days in 6 months, $12k out-of-pocket care → transfer to lower-paying support role. 

1. Jennifer — From empowering to micromanaging 
   Daughter's ad