Navigating PTSD in the workplace

In this episode of the PTSD Bytes podcast, host Dr. Colleen Becket-Davenport discusses the relationship between PTSD and workplace environments with Dr. Elissa McCarthy, a clinical psychologist and consultant at the National Center for PTSD's Consultation Program and the national lead for the VA's Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Program.

Challenges of PTSD in professional settings

People who have PTSD symptoms that severely impact their lives tend to experience greater difficulty finding a job and unique challenges in navigating the workplace. For instance, you may have a physical reaction to loud noises in a warehouse or a delivery driver might avoid certain routes due to discomfort with crowded environments.

PTSD may also affect relationships at work. For example, you may find it difficult to trust people if your trust was broken during a past trauma. This can make it difficult to build trust in work relationships and some people with PTSD prefer to work alone for this reason.

Misinformation surrounding PTSD perpetuated by the media can contribute to stigma. Taken together, these factors all may impact the ability to gain more opportunities or advance in the workplace.

Stigma and advocating for accommodations in the workplace

Many people do not request potential accommodations at work due to fear of judgement. However, accommodations may improve your job performance and overall well-being. Examples of beneficial accommodations include a more flexible work schedule to maintain your PTSD treatment appointments or remote and hybrid options.

Be careful when considering any alternatives to a traditional work setting. Flexibility can be helpful, but remote work may also worsen feelings of isolation.

Supporting employees in high-stress professions

Certain professions-such as health care, law enforcement and military roles-by definition increase the likelihood of experiencing traumatic or high-stress situations. For Veterans transitioning to civilian roles, it is important to recognize the value you bring to the workplace with your specialized training and skills, and to find employment that you are truly passionate about.

Self-care is crucial for success in the workplace, and one tool that the National Center for PTSD has developed is an online Police Officer Toolkit that provides resources to help individuals identify sources of stress and manage them in a productive way for a high-stress position.

National Center for PTSD also offers a host of free digital apps, such as PTSD Coach, COVID Coach and Mindfulness Coach, with coping tools and mindfulness exercises that can help users decompress after challenging days or if they need a break in the work environment.

Recommendations for managers and supervisors

Managers play an essential role in fostering a supportive workplace environment by providing resources to help employees cope with stress and connect with their teams and leadership. One model is Stress First Aid which is a recovery framework that can be adapted to various work settings and types of incidents.

Managers can access handouts, workbooks, manuals and tip sheets about Stress First Aid and related topics on the National Center for PTSD's website.

Additional links

If you are a Veteran who is experiencing a crisis or supporting a loved one who is, call 988 and press 1 for immediate assistance or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/chat.

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