Opinion
Did getting fired give me work-related PTSD?
Jonathan Rivett
Careers contributorSome time ago, I was let go by a public sector organisation, as part of a reform that had the effect of getting rid of most clerical staff who lacked a degree or were on the autism spectrum. I was involved in several stressful public contact positions during my employment in the sector.
Years later, in my dreams, I keep getting called back to work, or find that I have been working without pay for a period of time, hoping for a departmental change of heart that will get me back on the payroll. These dreams are occurring more frequently than weekly and have replaced the occasional “back at school, with no preparation done for today’s important test” type nightmares of my earlier years. Is what I’m suffering from a form of work-related PTSD?
If the ultimate decision to let you go came as a surprise or simply wasn’t explained well, it’s not surprising that it would still occupy your thoughts – conscious and unconscious – years later.Credit: John Shakespeare
As someone who has had recurring dreams, I really feel for you. That feeling that something important is unresolved can be so disconcerting. Even disturbing.
I spoke with Dr Katie Wood, who’s an associate professor and clinical psychologist at Swinburne University of Technology, and we began by discussing your question about post-traumatic stress.
“If someone has a query around whether they’ve had a post-traumatic reaction to an incident, I would suggest they visit their GP. A GP can provide a referral to a psychologist or psychiatrist who’s best placed to answer that question,” she says.
Wood made it clear that she would not attempt to make a diagnosis on written facts alone. She did, however, say that being let go can be a psychologically difficult experience for anyone.
If the ultimate decision to let you go came as a surprise, it’s not surprising that it would still occupy your thoughts years later.
“This sounds like a very stressful set of circumstances. What happens when you’re dismissed unexpectedly is that you can feel like you are in a sea of uncertainty. It’s natural to take refuge in your own head and to fill information gaps with questions about ‘what if’ and ‘what could have been’.
“That can be very distressing and anxiety provoking. And if you ruminate on it for a long time, it can be very impairing – mentally and physically.”
The anxiety can, in Wood’s words, “intrude on your sleep”.
“If the job was a key part of your identity and provided routine and connection, then this would have likely been a stressful experience. And we need to process such experiences. Sometimes we do it in real time, but many of us do it during sleep time or both.”
It sounds like you worked hard and faced some challenging tasks in this role. I’m sure you wanted to know that your hard work was appreciated. Instead, you were told that your services were no longer required.
If the ultimate decision to let you go came as a surprise or simply wasn’t explained well, it’s not surprising that it would still occupy your thoughts, conscious and unconscious, years later.
And I should be clear that this did take place some time ago. The optimist in me wants to believe that workplaces have improved the way they manage redundancies since then. Even still, I asked Wood what she would recommend to an organisation on the verge of cutting employees.
“I always say to organisations: ‘culture first’. That culture has to be underpinned by a humanistic or getting-to-know-your-people philosophy. When I say you should value your people, it doesn’t mean your decision to let someone go doesn’t happen, but it does mean you deliver that information from a position of compassion, empathy and kindness.”
Send your questions to Work Therapy by emailing jonathan@theinkbureau.com.au
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