Dealing with PTLD (Post Traumatic Layoff Disorder)
Every time my work email signs me out I panic
I can vividly remember the feeling of getting that 6 am email about a meeting happening in 30 minutes. My optimistic self brushed it off as a possible time zone confusion. But then, looking at my manager’s back-to-back meetings with my co-workers, I knew something was up.
It was a short and scripted call. The usual "sorry this is happening" spiel that sounds eerily similar to the “it’s not you, it’s me” breakup line. I was told that day would be my last, but I would have access to my email for another 24 hours to save anything I needed. On the bright side, I was getting severance—not a lot, but better than nothing.
Time seemed to stand still. A job I had poured so much energy into for years was suddenly over. I felt anger, sadness, relief, optimism, and everything else. This was my first layoff, and I had no idea what to do.
Here to share my story a bit more.
