I’m almost in tears as I read this! What a very timely email. Thank you so much for sharing. Both my daughters have experienced this to varying degrees and my youngest daughter who is late diagnosed autistic recently quit a job that was honestly almost perfect for her aside from the toxic boss. I have been so angry this past week over it all and your words are a balm for my soul! I can’t wait to share this with her. xo
Charlie, thanks to you providing a mirror to me, I realized my struggles, both personally and professionally, are likely due to ADD and autism. After hearing your story on YouTube I sought out professional help and I am now waiting for a diagnosis and treatment. The toxic work environment you talk abort is prevalent, even in a so-called welfare society as Denmark, where i live. Sure, we don't have 16 hour work days, but even so, the professional and social expectations and way too high - I'd say for most people, but especially for neurodivergent people. I do notice that the younger generations on the workforce are more aware, and I do think that toxic workplaces will be forced to change.
Thank you for sharing your journey - it has made all the difference to me!
I also have a history of gruelling, traumatising jobs because of undiagnosed AuDHD, so a lot of what you're saying rings true for me too. I'm lucky now that I have a job that works much better for me, and I'm really glad you're hearing of workplaces that are taking these things more seriously 👏
Charlie I have come back to this post every day since you sent it out and just wanted to thank you again! Partially because of this I decided to take a stand and write a letter to the board where our daughter was employed {a public library} to make them aware of issues. It may not make a difference but we have to at least try right?
Funny, I talked about this in my podcast this week and have been thinking about it a lot. I chose nursing and did a similar thing—just kept pushing and pushing until something broke. There is no getting the time back, obviously, but I'm glad to be where I am now. I'm glad you are too :)
"Being switched ‘on’, constantly on high-alert, was managed by my faith that, if I noticed, understood, pre-empted, and dealt with everything in my surroundings, pushing through would equate to success."
I was so sure I would get there if I just tried hard enough. Instead I ended up in anxiety so chronic that I no longer knew what it felt like to be reassured, safe, or valued. And I was only working part time. Those of you who dealt (deal) with this on a full-time or more basis have my awe and respect. And my regret and anger that you ever had to deal with it at all.
"couldn’t I have chosen something slightly less taxing?" - an almost daily thought about all of my previous choices that led to burnout, and sometimes the choices I still make now from not reconciling that I can't go back to 'before' - before burnout, before diagnosis, etc - as I now try live a low-demand life. Thank you for this 🤗
I’m almost in tears as I read this! What a very timely email. Thank you so much for sharing. Both my daughters have experienced this to varying degrees and my youngest daughter who is late diagnosed autistic recently quit a job that was honestly almost perfect for her aside from the toxic boss. I have been so angry this past week over it all and your words are a balm for my soul! I can’t wait to share this with her. xo
Charlie, thanks to you providing a mirror to me, I realized my struggles, both personally and professionally, are likely due to ADD and autism. After hearing your story on YouTube I sought out professional help and I am now waiting for a diagnosis and treatment. The toxic work environment you talk abort is prevalent, even in a so-called welfare society as Denmark, where i live. Sure, we don't have 16 hour work days, but even so, the professional and social expectations and way too high - I'd say for most people, but especially for neurodivergent people. I do notice that the younger generations on the workforce are more aware, and I do think that toxic workplaces will be forced to change.
Thank you for sharing your journey - it has made all the difference to me!
I also have a history of gruelling, traumatising jobs because of undiagnosed AuDHD, so a lot of what you're saying rings true for me too. I'm lucky now that I have a job that works much better for me, and I'm really glad you're hearing of workplaces that are taking these things more seriously 👏
Charlie I have come back to this post every day since you sent it out and just wanted to thank you again! Partially because of this I decided to take a stand and write a letter to the board where our daughter was employed {a public library} to make them aware of issues. It may not make a difference but we have to at least try right?
Funny, I talked about this in my podcast this week and have been thinking about it a lot. I chose nursing and did a similar thing—just kept pushing and pushing until something broke. There is no getting the time back, obviously, but I'm glad to be where I am now. I'm glad you are too :)
"Being switched ‘on’, constantly on high-alert, was managed by my faith that, if I noticed, understood, pre-empted, and dealt with everything in my surroundings, pushing through would equate to success."
I was so sure I would get there if I just tried hard enough. Instead I ended up in anxiety so chronic that I no longer knew what it felt like to be reassured, safe, or valued. And I was only working part time. Those of you who dealt (deal) with this on a full-time or more basis have my awe and respect. And my regret and anger that you ever had to deal with it at all.
"couldn’t I have chosen something slightly less taxing?" - an almost daily thought about all of my previous choices that led to burnout, and sometimes the choices I still make now from not reconciling that I can't go back to 'before' - before burnout, before diagnosis, etc - as I now try live a low-demand life. Thank you for this 🤗
I was a legal secretary/computer administrator rather than an attorney, otherwise this is me. I will never totally recover.