It's funny, because I thought about making a thread like this before, relating to mentally toxic environments. However I'm seeing physical reactions to actual toxic work environments...but I'm mostly referring to the mental bit.
So we've seen these before. Just having a job that pays the bills, that you dread going to. Or seeing jobs where you say to yourself "Man, I could never do what X is doing. That must suck major balls." or "I'll never work in fast food again."
And then there you are. Again.
The reason I find certain work environments to be toxic is because it ruins your mentality and your outlook on life either because of the pay, the work, or both, or other factors, like work-life balance or lack thereof. Just a quick back-story of mine, since I haven't been here for years, I graduated college and right after got a job with a promising company in sales and promotions. As an ESTP and a 7w8, this stuff excited me. Lots of opportunities for growth, traveling perks, fun team nights, etc. It was obviously biased, tailoring more energy to the stronger salespeople. I was the top salesperson in the nation for a few months when I had my spark, and mentored people nationwide. But then I got to see more of the company, and really thought about what they have said and promised, and because I was so far in I could really see the actual results, and they didn't match up. So I quit.
After that, I needed a job ASAP and just took one at a fast food place, because it was the only work I could get ASAP until I found something pertaining to my degree. Unfortunately to myself, friends, and family, my stay there has been long enough, and am always asked why am I still there? I can definitely find something better.
This is where the toxicity comes in. It might've carried over from my previous job and how fast paced and emotionally ruthless it was, or it developed recently, but working where I'm at now has left me so defeated I see myself getting another position elsewhere as nothing short of a miracle, whereas everyone else in my network would probably say "Finally!"
Because I usually work overtime where I'm at now, I'm mostly surrounded by my co-workers, all of which have their Bachelor's, some have their Master's, and their toxic mentality of "There's no way I could go anywhere else, everyone has a degree, etc." has become my mentality as well.
Also, the chemicals we use to clean at work cause a severe rash on my skin, and I know it. I haven't had a rash until I started working there and even when I have three days off in a row it completely vanishes. I need to get out of there.
So help me, TypeC, or share your story. What got you out of a toxic work environment? Can you really control it, or is it better just leaving and finding something new, even when in your mind where you have only worked menial jobs you don't believe you're good enough for anything better? Are you still in one now? What's your game plan for getting out?
