Can you get PTSD from work?

Flickr user bark

(MoneyWatch) COMMENTARY Years ago, I had a lunatic for a CEO. He once called me an incompetent loser, except he used far more colorful language and went on about it for some time. That wouldn't be so bad, except he said it to my peers while I was standing right there. That was surreal.

For weeks he would only refer to me in the third person during executive staff meetings, and not in a good way, either. Six months later, it was like nothing had ever happened. What a nut. He was a founder who built a great company who, for whatever reason, went off the rails. The board eventually canned him -- not soon enough.

I've got loads of stories just like that one. I bet some of my employees have a few about me, as well. The point is that when it comes to dysfunctional bosses from hell, I've been there, and on both sides of the equation, I'm afraid.

Here's another point. In my experience, and I've got an awful lot of it, I'm not unique. I'm not even unusual. I bet about half of you can tell one or two stories of your own, even if you haven't been around for decades like I have.

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I probably handled it better than most because I grew up on the streets of Brooklyn, New York. My family was also dysfunctional so you wouldn't be too far off if you said I grew up more or less in a war zone. I'm sure that contributed to me being too hard on people -- on myself, too.

Now, I know that children who grow up with trauma come up with some pretty creative coping mechanisms, not all of which serve them well in adulthood. I also know that soldiers and others who've been through traumatic events can develop post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

What any of that has to do with adults who've experienced consistent abuse from dysfunctional bosses, I honestly have no idea. I'm not qualified to say if they're related or not.

But I do know one thing: When I was in the middle of that bizarre stretch with the lunatic CEO, executive staff meetings were pretty darn stressful for me. And I know it was the same for others, especially the engineering folks who were regularly ripped apart by the guy in monthly operations reviews.

Why am I writing about this now? Well, I've written quite a bit about the practical side of how to handle a bad boss and I wanted to sort of round out that advice with some commentary on the more emotional side: The stress, anxiety and burnout that abusive bosses and dysfunctional workplaces can cause.

In fact, the most common emails I get from readers are on that very subject. I particularly empathize with all the overachievers or folks with a strong work ethic who rack their brains in a vain attempt to understand and attempt to fix a situation they really can't. While there are nuanced paths you can take, which I describe here, at the end of the day, there really are only two ways out.

The first is well articulated by an old Japanese proverb that goes something like, "If you stand by the river long enough, you'll see the body of your enemy float by." That of course means be patient, hang in there, and in the long run, something will change and all will be well.

In the case with the nutty CEO, that's exactly what happened and I'm glad I stuck around. But you and I both know that the "stand by the river" strategy is at best a roll of the dice. You never know.

And that just leaves the other alternative: Cut and run. Of course, you'd be well advised to make up your mind that you're going to leave, which relieves quite a bit of stress in itself, and then settle into what I like to call "maintenance mode" while you start to network and shop around for a new job.

Interestingly, most of you don't find that alternative very attractive. Again, it's always the overachievers and those with a strong work ethic who hate the idea of quitting. Also, a lot of people do wonder if maybe it's them. Then there's the tough job market. I'm sure there are loads of reasons why people stick around longer than they should.

In any case, I did want to provide this perspective because it is a real issue, it happens all the time, and even though I think some folks whine and complain about their bosses way too much and maybe feel entitled to more than they should, I also realize that a lot of you are good, honest, smart, hard-working people who don't deserve to be treated the way bosses sometimes treat you.

Image courtesy of Flickr user bark

[Mimijohns]

Unfortunately, dysfunctional people are all over the workplace, from the top to the bottom. They come in many guises from board president to CEO to administrative assistant. My experience has been that if a company is able to offer good benefits, a healthy atmosphere and decent compensation, it will also attract healthy, professional workers. It really starts there. Know how to attract and hire the best. That's still no guaranty you won't have a few dysfunctional people on board.

After 40 years in the workplace, I'm happy to be retired but my last job was so awful that I'm having trouble sleeping at night and nightmares. Yes, you can experience PTSD without serving in a war. The workplace is often a battleground.

[justwaiting2012]

I am in a similar boat. I am a veteran teacher, 15 years, and I am currently working in a district that is known throughout the region as being terrible to teachers. My current, new principal, has targeted me, not to mention that a para in my class has it out for me, because at the beginning of school I went to her supervisor with a complaint from a student about her. She has been feeding the principal information out of context. He has taken me into the conference room with my department head and lamb-basted me, not even allowing me to answer to the charges. The first time he said it was not going into my file, now he has decided I need an official improvement plan, even though I have tried to watch what I say and do. I have proof that the majority of what he claimed is false. We all have bad days, so I admit I am not always perfect, but I can see this as being a terrible year. He even yelled at me because my LinkedIn profile doesn't show my current job in the first slot. That is because, working toward my masters we were required for a class to do inter work and add that to our profile. He didn't even let me explain that. I am going to leave after this year is over, but I am scared he will try and get rid of me before that. I have even considered giving my letter of intent to not seek a contract next year, in hopes he would leave me alone, but I think that would make it worse. I am getting headaches, I don't sleep well, and whenever I do anything related to my job I get sick to my stomach, I am terrible to live with right now. this post helped a little, but I don't know if I can handle the next 7 months.

[realtimecoffee]

And a new light bulb just lit up for those wondering how to get on the disability gravy train.

[Transatlantique]

I know for a fact that retail can cause a permanent PTSD. I worked for years in retail and was left with sleep disorders including insomnia, severe depression, an aversion to public places and anything stressful. Corporations should be forced to adhere to strict codes of ethics concerning retail workers which would include at least 1 hour meal breaks with two 30 minute paid breaks. Additionally, those at the registers should be allowed to perch on chairs and to be relieved of no more than 2 hour register shifts at the holidays. Work schedules should be set depending on the needs of the employee, and not the store. Backups could be employed specifically to fill in for breaks and absentees.

[elliesamericana]

PTSD is a cluster of symptoms. If you have enough of the symptoms then you get a diagnosis of PTSD. It is not just a disorder of combat veterans, although anecdotally they do seem to be the majority of cases. Abusive supervisors were a real factor in the PTSD cases I saw while in the Army. There is a move to call it Post Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) and award soldiers who have it a purple heart. I concur with that. The psychic injuries I saw with some soldiers was far greater than those who only took a piece of shrapnel in a flesh wound. Upon retirement from active duty, and seeing the effects of psychological warfare on civilian employees, I can attest PTSD can be a real result of toxic work environments. Respectfully, retired US Army Medical Officer.

[rpiny82]

That wouldn't be so bad, except he said it to my peers while I was standing right there.

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Sounds like you missed an excellent opportunity here.

People like you describe aren't placated by a passive nature and timidity.

While you had an audience, turn the tables on him. Make a friend out of him. Offer to do him a favor.

Like some fast and free dental work.

All in the most professional manner of course.

[hypnotoad72]

Technically, under the right sort of conditions and stressors, and the extreme amount endured, it is possible.

Kids who are abused constantly at school and/or home end up with PTSD as well...

[nazcap]

Yes, you can get PTSD from a job. I once worked for a self-identified Christian company for about a year. I am of a different religion, and I was treated with open loathing and penalized for imagined violations. Finally, I left, and was stalked and harrassed after I went to another job. Didn't stop until I moved to another state, and it took me years to get over it. No, I didn't sue. I just wanted it behind me.

[KristenLambTX]

I used to work in such a dysfunctional workplace that I would have to stop and throw up on the way to work, EVERY TIME. I would get to within 5 miles and have to pull over. I had an admin who was just a lunatic and she was openly abusive and there WAS NO GETTING RID OF HER. I eventually just quit and decided to become a writer. I was fed up with corporate life and there was NO paycheck worth that crap.