When you really hate your job, it can wreak havoc on your body. We published an article last week giving expert insights into the physical signs of chronic work stress, and we got an overwhelming response from our readers. People recognized themselves through symptoms of insomnia, pain, illness and mood changes and tagged friends and relatives in the comments on the story’s Facebook link. Hundreds of readers have shared their own experiences of the impact a bad boss, job, or coworker had on them mentally and physically.
Their story serves as a warning to others.
The one with nonstop headaches
“I suffered from debilitating migraines for three years due to the toxic work environment I was in. It took me a two-week vacation (which included the stress of my own wedding) with no migraines at all to finally realize the cause. I quit my job in June. Since then, I can count on one hand how many [migraines] I’ve had, and before I left, I was averaging about one a week.” —Niki, then in customer service Serve as a Returns and Refunds Supervisor
The one getting hives from a boss
“I love my job but hate coming to work every day because of [my supervisor]. I feel physically sick knowing when she shows up. Her emails give me severe anxiety and hives. If she asks to meet, I would get stressed out and break out in cold sweats. I would lie awake at night, worry about work all the time, and get sick frequently. I was admitted to the intensive care unit at age 36 and suffered from severe work-induced anxiety… I left the fight feeling better, 100 times happier, and able to give more to my family.” —Joan, a former state employee whose name has been changed
The one with stress-induced smells
“It was small, but fun. After my [research and development] job was eliminated, I was moved into a sales training program. I absolutely hated it. About two weeks later, I developed a strong foot odor. About six weeks later , when I quit smoking, the foot odor went away. Now, when my feet start to stink, I know it’s time to quit.” —Nicole, then a sales intern in the packaging industry
(Yes, foot odor caused by stress is real, according to the UK’s National Health Service.)
The one who ground her teeth
“I have a chronic illness but was doing well enough for me to work. However, after a year in a toxic environment, my symptoms became increasingly severe. I was unable to function normally. It increased my depression . I had teeth grinding problems. It was a terrible time.” — Britt Marie, then a mortgage analyst
The one with infertility stress
“I couldn’t get pregnant for years in my toxic old job. Failed everywhere. First time trying new wonderful job…boom, pregnant. She’s 5 now.” —Megan, then of a marketing agency account Manager
(2018 research shows that reducing psychological distress can significantly improve pregnancy rates.)
The one with aches and declining mental health
“I felt like my whole body was in pain. My mental health had declined so much. I remember being on vacation and worrying so much about work that I would check my phone instead of spending time with my family. A toxic workplace can destroy One person’s life.” —Emily, then an inside sales representative in the education sales industry
The one with crumbling self-esteem
“The other part is that feeling of worthlessness. I struggle with it every day and am always looking for another job. The problem is no one wants me, when the only job that needs me sees me as highly draining and useless, it makes me feel worse.” — Steve, works for a large cell phone provider
The one with hair loss
“Since retiring a year and a half ago, my hair has grown back and has some bounce. I also enjoy Sundays now, whereas before I would be frustrated about going back to work.” —Tony, ex Australian government employees
…And here’s how to get through it in the meantime.
Break out of the self-defeating pattern of thoughts. A dysfunctional workplace can destroy your confidence and make you lose yourself. As Ask the Manager’s Alison Green warns, “Practice that used to scare you may now start to feel normal.” In a toxic job, your brain may be telling you a no. True, unhelpful stories. Honor your feelings and accept that your physical symptoms are valid signs of stress. Recognize that your self-worth is not tied to any one job.
Salvage what you can. If you have a reasonable manager, raise your concerns with them. They may be able to address the root of the problem and make adjustments. Or, as the Harvard Business Review suggests, use your time outside of work to gain new skills and professional development that will help bolster your resume.
Move on. Don’t fall into the trap that you have to stick with a crappy job to do well in your career.
As Jeffrey Pfeffer, author of “Dying for a Paycheck,” told The Huffington Post, toxic bosses often play on employees’ egos to get them to stay. Employees “don’t want to admit they made a mistake in the job they took, or because their employer told them, ‘If you leave, you’re not good enough,'” he said. No matter what your toxic employer tells you, use the urgency of your situation as the push you need to leave. Ultimately, the best way to treat a toxic job is often to abandon it entirely.