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

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.