topic Re: Triggered by Supervisor at work.. in PTSD and trauma

Triggered by Supervisor at work..

Tripletail — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:51:24 GMT

It has been years...

But recently a supervisor off night shift..

Has returned to dayshift...

I lasted 4 days with his behaviour.

I'm a senior fifo construction worker, I know my stuff, I enjoy the detail and pressure.

His return, or for myself new exposure.

I was warned He will throw you under the bus etc...

So until these 4 days, I was happy loving my job.

Since , I'm actually avoiding work, sending text messages drunk to my other supervisor.

I am actually aware I have been triggered, but I Don't have total control.

It's like an inner part of me is threatened, and yeah I'm doing the fight or flee response.

Not happy..

Don't want to quit job, Made a formal complaint, but that just triggered me more..

How do I navigate, the Hr stuff, whilst triggered as, supervisor has a history and knows exactly how to abuse or behave without actually invoking an obvious misuse of power or authority...

It's been 8 yrs since I was last on here...

This 1 has me rattled, like a narcissistic professional supervisor....

Any ideas?

I'll quit my job, but why should I ?

Not my Fault...

??????

Re: Triggered by Supervisor at work..

Croix — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:13:40 GMT

Dear TripleTail~

It has been a fair number of years since you were here last. If I remember things started to go better for you. I hope time has been kind.

You were injured in the mind when young and trust broken. That is a huge thing and can come back in later years when triggered as you have been now.

You are pretty insightful, knowing what has happened and even describing your fight or flight response. You are also fighting back making that complaint, which I know seems a large worry however you made the complaint anyway.

To help you see it though is there anyone who can be with you as an advocate? I find I get confused, leave things out and generally do not explain things well under stress. As a result having someone with you who can set the matter out clearly and lend you moral support is a pretty good thing.

I've done both, complained by myself, whch did not realy go anywhere, and complained on another occasion with an advocate beside me (not a lawyer, an advocate) which I paid for and the process went like a dream.

I'm very glad you see it as not your fault and are not going to quit.

Do you have anyone in your life to give you support? I hope so.

If you would like to say how you go that would be great

Croix

Re: Triggered by Supervisor at work..

Tripletail — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:52:45 GMT

Thanks Croix,

I'll take your advice, it's difficult to understand how much this sort of stuff may affect you until after it has affected you....

Re: Triggered by Supervisor at work..

Croix — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:47:29 GMT

Dear Tripletail~

I'm glad you are going to get someone to advocate, it certainly made my life a lot easier, I did not even worry as much at night.

These sort of things do have a surprisingly hard to predict result on how you feel. I think nowadays you can regard yourself as not being a pushover -and that helps.

Croix