# The Psychological Toll of Working in Cybersecurity - When You Can't Unsee What You've Seen

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/razorwire-cyber-security-infosec-insights-5584923/the-psychological-toll-of-working-in-cybersecurity-when-you-can-t-unsee-what-you-ve-seen
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/razorwire-cyber-security-infosec-insights-5584923/the-psychological-toll-of-working-in-cybersecurity-when-you-can-t-unsee-what-you-ve-seen.md
Podcast: [Razorwire Cyber Security & InfoSec Insights](https://stenobird.com/podcast/razorwire-cyber-security-infosec-insights-5584923)
Published: 2025-09-17T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://razorwire.captivate.fm/episode/the-psychological-toll-of-working-in-cybersecurity-when-you-cant-unsee-what-youve-seen
Audio file: https://op3.dev/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/51f9eb30-f6d0-4356-b723-d03e207bdd19.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3440

## Resource

Are you prepared for the psychological toll that comes with handling disturbing content in the cybersecurity world? Welcome to Razorwire, where today we’re exploring into the realities behind a career in cyber, from technical warfare to the often-overlooked human cost.  In this episode, I’m joined by therapist and consultant Eve Parmiter to examine the real psychological impact of repeated exposure to distressing material that many of us face during incident investigations, content moderation and threat research. Eve draws on her background in trauma therapy and real-world experiences both inside and outside of cybersecurity. Together, we discuss why even seasoned professionals struggle to talk about their experiences, how secondary trauma manifests in our daily lives and what can actually help in environments that don’t provide enough support. If you've ever had to investigate colleagues, review disturbing material, or make impossible decisions under pressure, this conversation will resonate. We don't shy away from hard truths, but we do focus on practical ways to build resilience and find some measure of satisfaction in doing the right thing - even when it's difficult. In this episode: 1. Understand the true impact of secondary trauma in cyber roles. We break down the difference between stress, burnout and trauma specific to cybersecurity professions, exploring how exposure to disturbing content changes your outlook - and why it’s not a personal weakness. 2. Learn why most pros don’t talk about their struggles and how to break the silence. Eve explains why lacking the right language keeps many from processing what they experience and offers insight into building peer support systems and practical organisational responses. 3. Discover tested strategies for coping…

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