Hyper-sensitive at work - anyone else?

[tvod2244]

A few years ago (with a previous employer) I was subject to work-place bullying. This included unfounded allegations which amounted to misconduct proceedings (which after a lengthy investigation were all found to be un-proven) and subsequent horrific stress and anxiety. I lost all my trust and confidence in my employer and the work that I did (which at the time I enjoyed).

Fast forward a few years, and I am still incredibly uber-anxious and sensitive at work. I have a new job (I left said previous employer as soon as I could) which I really enjoy, in a field that I have studied long and hard to work in. However, I feel like I am always on-edge. Whenever I receive feedback on my work, positive or constructive, my default train of thought is "am I going to be sacked???" and I feel like I am relying on pep-talks from my seniors to assure me that no, I am not going to be sacked. The rational side of me puts this down to what I went through with my previous employer, and I have sought counselling in the past to help me deal with these thoughts. I am frustrated that almost 4 years on I still feel traumatised by what I went through, to the point where I feel weak and vulnerable at work in what I do 😔

Has anyone else experienced similar and if so, what helped you? Will this get better? I am tired of feeling so on-edge 😔

I don't have much to say in the way of help, but this is very relatable for me. I'm paranoid anyway but after trauma, more so and I struggle to rationalise and apply perspective. One thing which sticks in my mind is my DH saying to me, unless anyone gives me a tangible reason to worry, as in says something, then don't, ie don't second guess, overanalyse etc.

I think you need trauma therapy as it seems you are stuck in the horror of the past experience. There is a therapy called EMDR which is brilliant for this. There is also something called trauma sensitive yoga which is amazing.

I can totally relate to this. I've been bullied horrendously in previous jobs and my confidence and self worth was completely eroded. There is literally not one day that goes by where I still don't have a memory triggered about something nasty a colleague said to me, being shouted at, meetings where I'm crying, etc. It's a daily thing that I have to struggle not to engage with.
It took me nearly 10 years to find a job that I really like, I get on with all the colleagues and managers, and is paid well. I know I'm good at it and have been rebuilding my confidence. I've been here 4 years now and have absolutely no intention of leaving, despite having moved over an hour away.
I recommend counselling, it helped me realise the bullying was a problem with "them" and not "me".

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to drop your comments, thoughts and suggestions. I am sorry to hear that others have been through this awful experience (I genuinely wouldn't wish it on anyone). But on the flip-side it is good to know that there are people out there who have gone through this and come out the other side. It just gets very frustrating when you feel like because X time has passed you want to feel "over it" by now. I feel angry that the bullies have still won, because they have had a lasting impact on my mental health and self-confidence.
I will certainly look into your suggestions.
Thank you again x

Can totally relate. I have same issue from bullying 7 years ago. I was told everyday how crap I am and never get anywhere and kept deliberately in an entrylevel position. I applied for promotion after promotion and they turned me down every time. Even though i could do the job with my eyes closed. One time I walked in the office to find these bullies laughing about me getting rejected.

I am now in a really senior job. I even triple what the bullies did. However, I still get flashbacks and triggered by thoughts from the bullies years ago saying I'm not good enough. I keep wondering if I should get counselling cos I feel worried at work too.

Yep this resonates with me as well. I am currently in a job that I'm looking to leave asap. I'm senior to what I was previously but I've totally lost my confidence because I've been treated really badly. I don't feel that anything I do at this point will be good enough for the people I work with.

Due to the nature of the job, if I leave in the next six months it is going to royally screw over the team I'm in and some days that thought is all that's getting me through.

I think I will need some form of therapy when I come out of this.

Sorry, I don't think any of that is helpful to you OP, but you're definitely not alone.