Can bullying cause ptsd?
Many people think of PTSD from bullying as an issue rooted in childhood experiences. While this is often true, it’s also possible to experience bullying and develop PTSD for the first time as an adult. This can be particularly shocking when it happens in the workplace, revealing that such harmful behavior still exists in adult environments. This reality can lead to the dismissal of PTSD from workplace bullying, as both individuals and society may perceive 'hazing' and bullying as a normal part of work culture.
What is workplace bullying?
Workplace bullying was once known as ‘mobbing’ and is still a part of ‘hazing’ rituals. It includes any behavior that intimidates, offends, degrades or embarasses a worker. Unfortunately, these negative behaviors often operate within the confines of workplace rules and policies, making them technically legal, but harmful. They hurt work culture and can leave persistent psychological issues to the targeted worker. Bullies can be supervisors, subordinates, or colleagues who use intimidating tactics to exert power.
Examples of workplace bullying:
Unjustified blame
Taking credit for others' work
Exclusion from meetings or social events
Unwarranted threats to fire or reprimand
Constant unjustified criticism and snide remarks
Verbal abuse such as swearing or shouting
Physical threats or violence
Requiring you to do inappropriate things
Unfair denial of leave or training
How bullying is different from Harassment
Bullying can overlap with harassment, especially when there is a power hierarchy, such as a chain on command. Harassment and discrimination occur when the actions against a person are influenced by that person’s protected class, such as race, gender, or disability. For example, a supervisor shouting at an employee in front of others can be both bullying and harassment.
Do you have PTSD from workplace bullying?
Reflecting on the examples mentioned, you might realize you've experienced some of these situations without recognizing yourself as a victim or considering the possibility of having PTSD. However, you find yourself guarded and distrustful in a new work environment. Perhaps you're constantly anticipating sabotage or expect others to misuse privileged information. Regardless of your specific defenses, you might find yourself viewing others negatively at first glance, indicating you have undealt injuries in your work history. Just as an improperly healed bone forms scar tissue, creating future issues such as arthritis and bone degradation, unaddressed psychological wounds can lead to persistent emotional pain. Healing from trauma requires active effort; without it, the unresolved trauma can continue to impact your perceptions and interactions.
Symptoms of PTSD from workplace bullying
You have Complex PTSD if you meet the following criteria:
Re-experiencing the traumatic events
Avoidance of thoughts and activities that serve as reminders
Perceptions of heightened current threat
and by adding the following criteria:
Affective (emotion) dysregulation
Negative self-concept
Disturbed relationships
Conclusion
At Drip Training, Coach Dee specializes in helping those with PTSD through proven breathing techniques and strength and conditioning exercises. By training your physical response to stress, you can improve your trigger management. Exercise in a controlled setting teaches your body that it is safe and helps you regain control under stress.
Click here to read more on how training help reduce your PTSD symptoms from workplace bullying.
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About the Author: Coach Dee
Deborah Park, known as Coach Dee, is the owner of Drip Training LLC and an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Health Coach. With a background in architecture and kinesiology from the University of Virginia, she has extensive experience in personal training and athletic coaching in a clinical (physical therapy) setting. Coach Dee combines her scientific knowledge with years of hands-on experience to create programs that empower clients to regain control over their bodies and minds.
Her journey into personal training was deeply influenced by her personal struggles, including recovering from a life-changing car accident that led to PTSD and pain from scoliosis. This experience gave her a unique understanding of the connection between mental health and physical well-being. Coach Dee is committed to helping clients develop resilience, build strength, and rediscover their confidence—no matter the challenges they face.
