Trauma from previous job, what to do?

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ColleGKid

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Ford
ColleGKid
May 31, 2021 14 Comments

I got a traumatic experience from the my previous job in parallel with my personal circumstances around 6 years ago, and I got some sort of PTSD (not clearly diagnosed, but having continuous anxiety on the work), and I am still in the process of healing. Due to this trauma, I have to spent almost 5 years for psychotherapy. I have to max out my HSA contribution for my medical expenses as well. It is still ruminating time to time.

I would not disclose the name of the automotive company, which is big. That company is having occasional history of workplace bullying especially toward women and minorities. I am still witnessing the news with huge compensation and settlements.

I might not be a good fit into that department (with lots of Trump supporters) and that specific job, but I was not given enough information (through job posting from college mailing list) or misleading information when I applied the job as a third-party contractor. I told what is true while on the interview. I spoke slowly because I am not a native speaker of English during the interview. My resume was including small college projects (one is little bit relevant to automotive.) and small biomedical backgrounds.
What can they expect new grad with Master’s degree without any industry experience, just with small research projects in university labs, who is having minimal background knowledge from automotive field except some coursework? I am not sure about of intention when the company hired me.
I was surprised that the job role and task assigned were so different than expected. I am still not clear why I was not terminated during first three-month period. I was not able to easily quit because of OPT rules, pressure from my parents, and my financial circumstances.

I tried to share every experience I got, but those were too immense and enthralling to go through at here, and it might lead some bigger problem later. They include some unidentified shadowers outside, verbal harassment behind the cubicle, passive-agressive treatment, sarcastic weird puns during meetings, unexpected weird comments (about honesty and ethics) out of context on conversations, puns about other cultures (especially about Asians), dirts on my vehicle (bought while I am on college, but with other Japanese brand), treated as a corporate spy, and isolation from young peers.

My mental health issue with my personal circumstances were contributed to make me slower and to worsen my anxiety symptoms. I was so slow and struggled to do something. I frequently suffered unexplainable frequent drowsiness while I am working at the job as time goes.
I am also regretting that I was not able to collect evidences of this covert bullying. Although I cannot start the lawsuit, but it could bring some attention of HR, higher management, or even chairman.

The job 'contract' was done after a year. The agency company promised a transfer, but it was not fulfilled immediately. The company did (or cannot) give estimated timeline and schedule properly. It was offered after a month, and I told that the alternative position might not be a good fit during the interview, and there was no further interviews with other positions.

In addition, even in my current job, I faced some incompetent managers with passive-aggressive treatments or tantrums and unrealistic expectations. The attitude of managers were changed after I was burnt out by prolonged period of overtime. (due to those events, my mental health, which was little bit improved while job search, was deteriorated again more)
I am thinking about changing my jobs, but I am just giving last chance to my company if they finally start to PR process as the benefit of doubt. The company delayed the Green Card process for around 4-6 months in the undisclosed approval chain to face Trump’s Green Card Suspension Executive Order. They resumed this on last 3 months ago, but it is still pending way before sending ‘PWD Application’. The HR told me that they are facing some ‘problem’ without the detail. I would feel something suspicious that the company deceives me (‘to throw me under the bus’) or wants me to send (transfer) outside of US.

I am not sure, but my psychiatrist told me that I am showing ADHD symptoms at work. I am not sure how to navigate the career if those symptoms are impacting my productivity. I was told that I was inattentive when I was at elementary school. Those symptoms were worsened while I am undergoing those horrible treatments. I am prone to minor mistakes time to time, and it worsened now.
I need medications to sleep, and I sometimes suffer heighten heartbeat while I am trying to sleep. (especially without medication)

Backgrounds are above, and below are my questions.

1. Although I cannot do the lawsuit (even reporting to local media) because the evidence is not enough and I cannot handle this effectively, is there any way to get some kind of apologies or give a feedback for better workplace environment?

2. How I can recover from this trauma? The impact is still continuing.

3. How to navigate my career with some sort of ADHD symptoms?

4. As an alternative of Green Card in US, is it a good choice to enroll in Canadian Express Entry? (I don't have enough score to get automatic invitation.)

#mentalhealth #trauma #PTSD

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TOP 14 Comments
  • I’m so sorry ! This experience of being bullied and psychologically manipulated is very common and women are not being given enough coaching before entering the workplace. Melinda Gates also describes how she experienced aggression and overpowering bullies at the workplace in MS when she first joined. Stay strong, don’t give up on USA yet, try to remove yourself from the toxic environment into an easier role for a short period of time, The ADHD is typically exacerbated by bullying - see if moving away from all types of bullies helps with your symptoms, see if you can take sick leave. Be very clear that there is nothing wrong with you.
    May 31, 2021 2
  • I also have horrible experience from my previous job, my manager was a bully, sleazy and pervert.
    He constantly abused developers who were not his favorite and cribbed everyday to higher management.
    Never took the blame for any mess ups and always threw developers under the bus.
    Shouting and saying cuss words in daily huddles was a norm.
    Once I called him for getting some cclarification on a task, he may have been supposedly with male colleagues, I overheard him saying "who will have fun with her, I am getting call from x".
    He always talked in a lustful manner and in sleazy way on personal calls.
    Even when I was leaving he personally called me and said in a very lustful voice " How are we gonna enjoy work now that you are leaving", he was atleast 7-8 yrs older than me and was married, just thinking about it makes me sick.
    Sometimes I feel to come out and publically name and shame him.

    Even after about a year I still feel traumatized, be strong buddy that's the only way to move on.

    P. S. Sending good wishes to you!
    May 31, 2021 1
    • ZF
      ColleGKid

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      Ford
      ColleGKid
      OP
      I am also feeling sorry about your traumatic incidents from that horrible boss. Thank you for your sympathy.
      May 31, 2021
  • You gotta learn really fast that the world don't care about you. I am Asian too and I feel I am quite woke to our plight. The truth is American absolutely consider us to be of a lower class. I haven't had PTSD but I definitely have bad jobs before. And like you I feel like I didn't quit soon enough. The fact is, there always is a choice. Even now my Asian parents alwys tell me to stay stable at my current job although I change job like once every 2 years and I wouldn't have it any other way. That's just how the older generation talk. But you gotta realize we are "model" minorities, it's not because we are doing better, that's bullshit PR that, we are "model" because we are docile, unlike the blacks who would had rioted long time ago. My advice to you is don't be afraid of moving on, quitting, or taking care of yourself, there always is a choice, and you are the only one who can/will take care of yourself.
    May 31, 2021 1
    • ZF
      ColleGKid

      Go to company page ZF

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      Ford
      ColleGKid
      OP
      Due to the my status, it is more difficult to move on other jobs. In addition, my coursework history was massed up due to several mishaps and failures, so my situation was little bit complicated.
      If I was having some sort of Green Card, I would change jobs more easily to escape the hell.
      May 31, 2021
  • Facebook
    олюфче

    Go to company page Facebook

    олюфче
    Sorry all of this happened to you but to be honest, you self admit to being slow and incompetent for the role you were hired for, so while it’s recruiting and whoever interviewed you’s fault for hiring you, I can imagine why your managers are being passively aggressive (not a good approach but an explainable one) because you don’t sound like a good employee and you work for businesses, not for families, so you have a responsibility of doing your job well. Maybe it’s time to stop seeing yourself as victimized and move on to doing something you are good at and motivated to do.
    May 31, 2021 3
    • Facebook
      олюфче

      Go to company page Facebook

      олюфче
      I hear you but the thing is that you aren’t in college and while in a perfect world they would spend time to train you, in many companies there aren’t enough resources to be able to afford having people that require training. So, if you need more time and more support just go to a company that has programs for that (internships, associate programs, etc). Otherwise, don’t be mad at someone for not having the time or resources to train you.
      May 31, 2021
    • ZF
      ColleGKid

      Go to company page ZF

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      Ford
      ColleGKid
      OP
      I hear you, too. I know the reality is not perfect. My regret is from some difference in 'available resources.' I saw others are getting more detailed trainings that I did not get.
      Furthermore, my supervisor and manager are ignorant although I told that I am not able to solve the problem on my own. Some senior engineers at other department at least said some apologies and excuses though.
      I know what is happened is already happened and is irreversible, but it is so difficult to move on easily.

      One good news is current temporary team lead on alternative project is more supportive, but the resource is still limited though. I think there is something going on.
      Jun 1, 2021
  • New
    euyd48

    New

    euyd48
    I'm sorry you're going through this. I have no advice but I wish you the best.
    May 31, 2021 1