What Is Occupational PTSD? 3 Things Employers Need to Know

With occupational PTSD still in need of more visibility, employers must know that it can easily apply to some workers.

• By Mia Barnes
• Jul 26, 2024

Work is a high-stress environment in many fields, whether meeting deadlines, handling sensitive information or trying to save someone’s life. It’s such an integral part of everyday life that it can influence workers’ mental health. Some people get tired at the end of the week, while others experience burnout. 

However, this may extend to a different condition: occupational post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Generally speaking, PTSD is a condition that can develop in people who have undergone traumatic or anxiety-inducing events. But with occupational PTSD still in need of more visibility, it’s vital employers know that it can easily apply to some workers.

The Prominence of Occupational PTSD

Many people have PTSD, but employment and certain workplaces can profoundly impact the occurrence of such mental health conditions. The Mental Health Index in 2022 noted that one in four U.S. workers was at risk for PTSD. The figure increased by 121 percent compared to pre-pandemic years.

Trauma-exposed occupations can be one of the primary causes. For example, health care is a critical field in treating other people. Responsibility for people in life-or-death situations takes mental fortitude and compassion, but doing it every day can eventually take a toll on your body and mind. And in many cases, employers might not realize the effect it has their workforce.

Another trauma-exposed occupation is the military. About 7 percent of veterans will have PTSD during their lifetime. Training for those positions can be physically and mentally exhausting. Once deployed on missions, facing combat and other life-threatening experiences can be stressful. 

But workers don’t need to be within as intense an environment as this be affected. Work trauma can also come from more sedentary jobs. For example, workers in call centers and other customer service spaces must face long shifts, and it can be stressful when callers are rude and threatening. Hearing the phone ring can induce panic for those with such stressful jobs. 

Workplace conditions are also a contributing factor to occupational PTSD. Some offices have leaders who abuse their authority and overwork their employees. Team leads may also harass and take advantage of vulnerable workers. Long-term microaggressions and strict work policies are challenging to endure. Other people may not fit in with certain work operations and struggle to meet the time requirements or on-site arrangements.

Occupational PTSD doesn’t even necessarily mean you directly experienced stressful situations. Exposure to traumatic events involving coworkers or receiving adverse details about those incidents is associated with PTSD. So leaders need to understand the pervasiveness of occupational PTSD if they hope to provide the necessary care and attention to their workers.

The Impact of Occupational PTSD

So occupational PTSD can happen in a variety of different scenarios and is far more common than most companies realize. But what exactly are the signs that a worker is experiencing this condition? Actually, occupational PTSD can bring a variety of symptoms depending on the severity one has experienced, including mood swings, mental fatigue and poor concentration. People may also experience anxiety when they’re reminded of the traumatic events.

In fact, PTSD can even bring on panic attacks. These can happen out of nowhere, even while asleep. Most people feel disconnected from the real world as they constantly remember what traumatized them, making it especially hard to push through. Other effects go beyond one’s mental condition, such as chest pain and muscle tension. Some people may have these attacks for around 20 minutes, but for others, it can happen for an hour, feeling even longer than that.

PTSD symptoms may show up within three months of a traumatic occurrence. As it coincides with a variety of other mental health conditions, a person should have these indicators for longer than one month to qualify for a diagnosis.

Some people have to give up their occupations due to occupational PTSD. According to the Pew Research Center, 35 percent of American employees say feeling disrespected at work is one major reason they left a job in 2021. One-fifth note they worked too many hours.

As a result of exiting a job, some workers may have to face financial instability and cope with looking for a new place of work. Others stay within the same field if workplace conditions are the main reason behind the trauma. However, some have to shift their industry if the incidents are more related to the nature of their work.

Treatment of Occupational PTSD

People with occupational PTSD can seek treatment to recover. Although employers cannot be held accountable, they can make adjustments to the workplace to minimize the incidence for potential occupational PTSD. Particularly those within high-stress environments can reassess their processes, work environment and communication with workers to provide more attention, hopefully to identify instances of occupational PTSD early on and provide affected workers with the support they need.

As for treatment options, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is often viewed as the most effective treatment since it’s trauma-focused. Some focus on cognitive processing, which tackles restructuring a person’s viewpoint after trauma. One’s line of thinking can drastically change when they have PTSD, creating a negative view of themselves and the world around them. Others may prefer stress inoculation training to come up with coping strategies when triggered.

Every person’s journey is different, but mental health treatment can be a valuable way to grow. CBT treatments usually occur over 12 to 16 weeks, but it’s important to look out for signs of occupational PTSD to focus on prevention. Dangerous events can cause sudden detachment and sadness, and some workers struggle with distressing thoughts and flashbacks. Tackling occupational PTSD early is vital to recovery, and employers can play a key role in that journey.