Can you get post traumatic stress from work?

[Morningstar66]

Iv'e just started a part time job in my field after more then 3 years out of work having my kids. So far its been lovely, everyone has been kind and reasonable, no raised voices, work isn't overly stressful or busy and its in an area i've worked in before so it enjoyable and something i'm good at (fairly niche) so what do i do about the stomach dropping feeling, fear and sudden defensiveness as soon as i'm asked (innocent) questions or minor, understandable mistakes are pointed out?

To explain, some years ago i was in a very similar working environment and to be frank they were shit to me, not just me, but i did seem to get it worse then others. They were casually sexist, questioned my skills CONSTANTLY 'don't you have a degree in XX', at one point actually laughed at me for suggesting i might be valuable to the company (all i had asked for was a job title change not a raise'). I had three managers who were each uniquely awful, one borderline sexual harasser, narc, One who desperately tried to sound good but would undermine my confidence constantly so i (suspect) didn't ask for a raise and the third was your basic angry man who would fire people on a whim. I could go on and on but moral was horrible so it wasn't just me being young and anxious.

This was literally years ago, i have had a 3 year job in between in a different area (local authority vs private company) which had a lovely working environment, and have just been getting to the point where i had even started to look back with a degree of fondness (the work was great and i learned an awful lot) and while i was desperately job hunting i even considered going back!

Why am i reacting like this then? Last time i was in my new office we have a massive delivery show up and my boss came to me and said very nicely that it shouldn't have been ordered at all yet and it should have been sent elsewhere. I had the paperwork to hand to show that i had in fact done the correct thing and it was the other company's screw up but when i returned to my desk my heart was hammering and i felt sick.

Can anyone tell me their stories and advice about how to get over this? I honestly came away that day wondering if I needed therapy!

That sounds more like anxiety than PTSD. Do you think medication or a CBT course would be something you’d consider?

Sounds like anxiety to me too. Also a case for Imposter Syndrome? I get this too, so much compassion from me.

But i was absolutely fine in my last job, 3 years of really an easy time emotionally, but conducting important meetings, public consultation etc.

I think it could be the similarity of the two roles that i'm finding triggering. A small team *only 3/4 people, working closely with the owners of the company, quite a lot of responsibility to produce.

PTSD usually involved a fear that you may actually die so it's more like anxiety really, still sounds dreadful

I had similar; what I found helpful if you think it may be possible is speaking to your direct boss at work about it. I found that having conversations and a bit of extra reassurance really helped to build my confidence up and then it stopped being a problem.

Thanks, I am due to have a casual review type thing soon so perhaps i can bring it up. Good to know that it likely wont get worse. hopefully once i and they get used to each other we can start assuming better of each other.

Not ptsd but you have good reasons to be anxious. Working through it in therapy could be a great idea.

The fact you have been out the workplace for a few years may also be contributing to it. That in a lot of people would make them question themselves and their ability.

PTSD is a specific diagnosis, not a general term for all MH issues that can arise after difficult or traumatic events.

It is not something that should be self diagnosed.

So if you think you may have it (the almost invariably present symptom being flashbacks) you need to seek medical advice and a proper diagnosis