Episode 90: The Torment of Workplace Harassment in a Highly Toxic Workplace

Dare To Share Your Untold Story

Her untold story reveals the levels of toxicity and bullying Stephanie experienced as she entered the workforce in a professional capacity, the way in which she tolerated workplace harassment, and how she eventually learned to handle the distress she endured. Stephanie shared that while her work role was at an established organization and she was not doing any physical labour, she found that the emotional and mental toll she experienced because of the workplace toxicity and negative environment was a great deal of physical impact. She describes feeling extreme fatigue and burnout, headaches, stomach discomfort, high and low emotions, crying spells, all while not knowing how she was being treated at work was harassment and toxic and also not being able to recognize that what she was experiencing was a cause for concern. She assumed this is what work life was supposed to be like. With all the suffering that Stephanie underwent, she ended up requiring a medical leave, later being let go from her position. During the peak of her distress, she was affected by imposter syndrome, and it chipped away at her confidence and her inner resiliency. She noticed that her personal interactions were impacted, she was not able to stay present for conversations and events, Stephanie described feeling so low that it was difficult for her to feel joy. Overall, she explained that she felt completely isolated, alone, didn’t think that anyone else would understand, even her close friends, and she ended up staying in a negative feedback loop for some time. Her key message to the listeners is that: pay attention to your gut and the signals your body gives you; put healthy boundaries in place for yourself and speak up when you experience that something is not okay; if you are experiencing burnout, this is a red flag – so it needs to be addressed at its earliest; don’t ignore your internal experiences, because if you do, it will be detrimental to your health or life circumstances, instead – take action.