Dealing with PTSD at work can be challenging. Navigating flashbacks, anxiety attacks, and hypervigilance is difficult in any environment, but managing these symptoms at work can feel impossible.

When your coworkers and colleagues judge you based on your trauma history, it can be hard not to worry about how they’ll react to what you say next. You may find yourself avoiding certain situations altogether because you know you won’t be able to cope if something goes wrong.

PTSD is never easy

By its very nature, PTSD makes being among others difficult. Unless you work remotely, it’s nearly impossible to avoid interacting with others in your daily life. You may feel like everyone is watching you, and that can make it hard to relax. It can also be challenging to find a quiet space when you need to calm down or ground yourself after an episode.

Being near coworkers can be stressful for anyone with PTSD for a variety of reasons. While others may not mind cramming into an office breakroom or meeting room for lunch, many people with PTSD do not enjoy having their personal space invaded. The average worker may find loud conversations and background noise in the office to be annoying, but these kinds of distractions could be difficult for someone with PTSD to deal with.

A final thought

Dealing with PTSD in your workplace can be very challenging. There have been times where someone may wonder whether they can handle it. However, having PTSD forces people into thinking about career and personal life balance.

Remember, there’s always people who can help you, no matter how hard it seems.