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Sufferer Ptsd After Bullying At Work

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BrokenTwill

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I've just been diagnosed with PTSD after seeking help when I got a new, better job with great people but the anxiety and panic from the old toxic job with the abusive ex-boss didn't go away. I've always thought of PTSD as something you get after major trauma like war, so to have it because of a couple of crap managers and jerk co-workers makes me feel guilty and pathetic. I also have generalised anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and attention deficit disorder. Despite all that I have a good reputation at my new job but I feel like an imposter and that one day I'll be found out. I'm in the US so taking time off from work isn't an option...I'm trying to learn how to deal with all of this and still be productive at work. Thanks for reading.
 
I've always thought of PTSD as something you get after major trauma.
PTSD is something you get after major trauma (although not necessarily war). I'm not for a second saying that bullying can't be traumatic, but if you don't feel your trauma meets Criterion A, then if it was me, I would be asking the person who diagnosed me for more clarification on why they thought that was the appropriate diagnosis for me.

Glad you got out of the job you were in and found a better position :)
 
This is a really useful article about PTSD which may help you understand why you were diagnosed, or may throw up some questions which you want to discuss with your diagnoser. Either way, worth a read :)

[DLMURL]https://www.myptsd.com/c/thevault/posttraumatic-stress-disorder.17/[/DLMURL]
From the article...
"Criterion A outlines events that are considered traumatic enough for a PTSD diagnosis,"
"A. Exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:

  1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s),
  2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others,
  3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent and accidental.
  4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains; police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse)."
Hope this helps.
 
There is a lot of information here about symptom management that you might find helpful. Your counselor should also be a good resource of information in this regard. You are your own best advocate and don't hesitate to ask for clarificaton, iformation and assistance as you need it.
 
I'm new here as well but I can tell you that you've found the right place to get help and support. Welcome to the forum.

I was also traumatized by severe bullying in my past and it's certainly no easy thing to get over. Most ppl here and everywhere really, have several types of trauma happen in their lives and the great thing about this forum is that by not "comparing" with each other as to who was more or less traumatized and by what, we are all able to just focus on what's most important, which of course is healing and moving forward. Best of luck on your journey.
 
Hello and welcome! I hear exactly where you are coming from!!!! EXACTLY!!!

I have and still do have an extremely hard time understanding how my last job brought me to my knees and produced my PTSD. My therapist explained that I have lived with trauma throughout my life in many forms and that the daily abusive and toxic environment at the last job were the final blows for me mentally. Don't know if it's the same for you or not in that regard, but I am continually shocked that the flashbacks, nightmares and intrusive thoughts are ALWAYS about the last job and not anything else I ever experienced in my life. I avoid all contact with those people except for those who had my back through the ridiculous situations but were powerless to help other than to comfort and listen. I can't even hear or watch the stupid commercials without being majorly set off.

My therapist said that working there was like being in the trenches of a daily war, never knowing where the next bomb would explode, who would shoot their proverbial guns at me and who I would be trying to save next. I watched daily as people broke down and I worked hard to lift their spirits. I would have meetings where people were visibly shaking, flushed faces, profusely sweating and unable to speak or form coherent sentences, and everyone was experiencing memory and word loss while those in power continually fought against each other, ripping their partners apart and then taking it out on everyone else with conflicting and impossible orders.

Even writing and recalling this is bringing emotions back and I'm shaking, but I am hoping to give you an idea that trauma can come from many places and each looks different. I would further question the person who diagnosed you about why and read up on PTSD to see if it seems to even ring true for you. For me personally, when I finally read the DSM-V and other sources, the light finally went off. "Hey, that's me nearly to a T!"

Wishing you the best in your journey, and again welcome!
 
As @digger says, for a diagnosis of PTSD you need a Criterion A trauma. What happened with me was that very bullying behaviour at work triggered a reaction to a number of historical traumas which has resulted in my current difficulties. If you don't feel the bullying behaviour represents a Criterion A trauma (eg threat to life) then look elsewhere - it may be you're having a reaction to something else.

Are you in therapy or treatment for your symptoms?
 
Thanks for the responses...my psychiatrist's explanation for the Criteria A trauma was that the toxic job, bullying boss, scapegoating, and ultimate firing that happened was a threat to my livilihood and my life as I knew it, and my ability to continue my career, which up until toxic boss had been successful and I had an excellent reputation with former co-workers in my small industry. (It was those co-workers that were instrumental in getting me my new job.) Sorry for the long answer but in short, I think the diagnosis fits. I found out yesterday that friends at work who have known me for a long time have been wondering why I haven't been myself lately (but didn't ask, just gossip) so what I really want is to be myself again.
 
There is a really good book about workplace bullying called Bully on Site by Tim Fields. I also believe he has a web site chock full of useful information to let you know that you are perfectly normal for having survived workplace bullying. It sure has helped me as I was bullied by a toxic church when I left.

I am so happy that you found this forum. People here are safe and really get what you are going through right now. Congratulations on the new job and so very sorry that happened to you. Hugs.
 
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