It isn’t always easy to tell whether your workplace is genuinely toxic or simply misaligned with who you are. The difference matters, because it changes what we should do next.
Persistent bullying, harassment, inappropriate remarks about gender or ethnicity, being deliberately humiliated in meetings, and unsafe staffing levels create genuine threat responses in our nervous system. This can leave us with intrusive thoughts, difficulty sleeping, a constant sense of hypervigilance, and a feeling of dread at going back to work.
On the other hand, a workplace doesn’t need to be toxic to drain your energy. You might find yourself in a practice that doesn’t share your values. These aren’t about being kind or safe – those are universal – but about what makes your heart sing: fun, freedom, quality work, connection, achievement.
Staying in environments that are harmful or misaligned can damage our mental health, relationships, and career. We might leave jobs that could be fixed with better alignment. Or we might carry unresolved trauma into new roles, repeating patterns that keep us stuck.
One way to check if you’re in a toxic workplace is simply to notice how your body responds when you think about Monday morning. That physical response tells you something important about safety vs alignment. And Claire offers lots more practical questions you can ask yourself, a friend or a colleague to help you make an assessment.
