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Ask the therapist: I feel mistreated in my current job

Dubai - If your job environment has remained toxic despite your efforts, quitting your job is an option.

I have been a careerist for as long as I can remember. But I feel particularly mistreated in my current job. I do seek counselling, but that has not helped. I have even wondered if I should quit, without a job in hand (it’s difficult to get one in the middle of a pandemic) but I am often advised against it. Is there wisdom in continuing with a job that is so mentally corrosive? Name withheld

Dear Writer, I am sorry to hear you feel mistreated in your current job, and when you use the word “corrosive”, it makes clear how it is wearing you down. I would imagine that your counsellor would have advised you to speak to your manager about your concerns and how the two of you can work together to improve your work environment. I would also imagine that you would have been advised on how apply basic CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) skills. The best way for me to explain the concept is: if you change how you think, it changes how you feel. Lastly, if your situation still has not improved, a meeting with HR to discuss matters further would be advised.

If your job environment has remained toxic despite your efforts, quitting your job is an option. However, you need to carefully weigh the financial implications, because facing financial hardship can be even more difficult to manage than a toxic workplace. During the pandemic, there is a great deal of uncertainty, and it is possible that you might not be able to get a new job quickly. The better scenario is that you find a new job and then quit.

Research findings have made clear that corrosive work environments have a negative physical and mental impact on workers. Problems that can arise can include back aches, stomach pains, depression, anxiety and panic attacks. When making a decision about quitting your job, you also need to consider the physical and mental health implications of remaining in your toxic job.