"One of the reasons things got as bad as they did was that I didn't understand what was really going on."

Today, I’m pleased to share with you an interview with Colin Newlyn.

If you don’t know Colin, please check out his two newsletters, Decrapify Work and Surviving Corporate. Colin delivers robust and humorous analyses of everything that’s wrong with the modern workplace and where the solutions might lie on a weekly basis (his musical references are solid, too).

Colin is a rare breed in that he speaks with disarming honesty about the workplace trauma he experienced, the PTSD that ensued, and the knock-on effect it had on his life and career. This conversation is no exception.

There is so much in Colin’s message that I think more people need to hear. The bit that really stayed with me was when Colin spoke about the sudden fear of being alone in the office at night (48:35), and why trauma awareness can make such a big difference to people’s lives.

Other points we touched on in our chat:

• How insidious abuse adds up in time

• The myth of being free to quit an unhealthy job

• The difference between stress and trauma

• Cultures that don’t fit you vs cultures that don’t fit anyone

• The role played by gender, and why it’s particularly hard for men to get support

• And how going to the pub helps with productivity and well-being :).

“The message I really want to get across is, if people are sitting there thinking Yeah, that’s all very interesting, but it couldn’t happen to me, it definitely could happen to you. And it can happen to you without you even realising what is going on.”

If you find this newsletter valuable, consider joining the Trauma At Work community. Each month, we dissect one topic, starting with relationships in June. Behind the paywall, you’ll find exclusive content and tools, fortnightly community calls, and a private chat where we hang out, offer and ask for advice, and cheer each other on as we build the lives and work we choose.

Until next time,

Adina