I had an annual doctor’s appointment recently with a physician I’ve come to admire and trust. During the exam, I asked him if he had ever experienced workplace bullying.
He told me about a medical director early in his career who belittled and mocked him, making him question his worth. “I lost all my self-esteem,” he said. “I started to think he was right.”
As he spoke, this memory clearly lived in his body and his voice, even though it happened decades ago.
He eventually left that hospital, found a mentor at another one, and went on to build a meaningful, successful career. But that wasn’t why he was telling me this story.
A magazine is currently profiling his life. When asked about his greatest accomplishment, his answer was surprising: the day he confronted his former boss and finally said everything he’d wanted to say during those years of torment.
After all his professional achievements, he still considers that moment a defining accomplishment.
Why This Story Matters
I want to be clear: I do not recommend confronting a boss or former boss. That can create real risk and is often not a wise career move.
What this story reveals is something more profound. Even after success, mentorship, and decades of meaningful work, the emotional imprint of workplace bullying remained powerful. And as my doctor and I talked further, something else became clear.
The imprint wasn’t just emotional. It was physical.
That is the long-lasting and often traumatic impact of workplace bullying. And it’s something most people don’t talk about: how deeply it lives in our bodies, not just our minds.
How Workplace Bullying Shows Up in Your Body
We know workplace bullying takes an emotional toll. Anxiety, depression, loss of confidence are the visible scars. But what about the invisible ones?
What about the symptoms that seem unrelated to work stress:
- Headaches that won’t go away
- Tight chest when you check your work email
- Sleep that never comes easily anymore
- Digestive issues that appeared out of nowhere
These aren’t just stress. They’re your body keeping score.
Research shows that workplace bullying doesn’t just hurt your feelings. It hurts your health. And the damage can be immediate, lasting, and in some cases, life-threatening.
The Immediate Physical Symptoms of Toxic Work Environments
When you’re in a toxic work environment, your body knows it before your mind fully processes it.
Studies document a range of immediate physical symptoms targets commonly experience:
- Persistent headaches
- Muscle tension and tightness
- Back and neck pain
- Digestive problems and stomach issues
- Chronic fatigue and exhaustion
- Sleep disturbances
Effects can still be measurable six months after exposure ends.
Why Your Body Reacts This Way
When stress becomes chronic, cortisol levels remain elevated, suppressing your immune system. People under chronic workplace stress experience more frequent colds, flu, and infections.
This isn’t about being “weak.” This is your body responding to a threat that never goes away.
Long-Term Health Consequences of Workplace Bullying
The physical toll doesn’t stop when you leave the office. It follows you home and can lead to serious, long-term health conditions.
The Cardiovascular Disease Connection
A large-scale European study following 79,201 workers for over 12 years, published in the European Heart Journal, found alarming results:
- 59% higher risk of cardiovascular disease for those experiencing workplace bullying
- 120% higher risk for those bullied frequently (almost daily)
- Significant increases in heart attack and stroke risk
Being bullied at work significantly increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Another study found victims of prolonged workplace bullying had more than double the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, even after adjusting for weight, income, and lifestyle.
Why Does This Happen?
Chronic stress from workplace bullying causes:
- Elevated blood pressure
- Increased inflammation in the body
- Disrupted sleep patterns
- Poor eating habits and potential substance use as coping mechanisms
- Cardiovascular strain that compounds over time
The researchers noted workplace bullying’s effect on cardiovascular health is comparable to major risk factors like diabetes and excessive alcohol consumption.
How Workplace Stress Weakens Your Immune System
Chronic workplace stress suppresses key immune cells, specifically T-cells and natural killer cells that are critical for fighting infections.
Studies show workers experiencing high workplace stress had:
- Measurably lower immune responses
- Greater vulnerability to illness
- Longer recovery times from infections
This is your body telling you something is wrong.
My Experience: When Your Body Remembers
For years, I worked in high-profile television production positions. I thought the pressure, the sleepless nights, the constant anxiety were just part of the job. I didn’t recognize it as workplace bullying.
The signs were everywhere, not just in my mind, but in my body:
- Recurring nightmares
- Unexplained digestive issues
- Hypervigilance that never turned off
My body was in constant alert, waiting for the next attack.
Even after leaving, my body remembered. It took years to unlearn those physical patterns of stress and fear.
You’re Not Alone
In my coaching work, I see the same patterns repeatedly:
- Chronic pain
- Autoimmune flare-ups
- Insomnia and sleep disorders
- Cardiovascular issues
These physical symptoms often appeared during or immediately after toxic work situations. The body keeps the score.
What You Can Do If You’re Experiencing Physical Symptoms
If you’ve been bullied at work and you’re experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, chest tightness, digestive problems, or frequent illness, you’re not imagining it. Your body is responding to a real threat.
This isn’t about resilience. This is biology. The good news? The body can heal. But healing requires recognition, removal from harm, and intentional recovery.
Immediate Steps to Take
1. Document everything
Keep a log of physical symptoms and when they occur. Your body is giving you information.
2. Talk to your doctor
Tell them what’s happening at work. A good physician will take this seriously.
3. Prioritize rest and self-care
Your body needs more support under chronic stress, not less.
4. Consider your options
If your health is deteriorating, staying may cost more than leaving.
5. Get professional support
Work with a coach or therapist who understands workplace trauma and can help you process what’s happened.
For Leaders: Understanding Your Responsibility
If you’re in leadership, understand that workplace bullying isn’t just a “personnel issue.” It’s a public health issue. When bullying is present, people are getting sick. Their health is declining.
The Real Cost of Workplace Bullying
According to the Workplace Bullying Coalition, workplace harassment costs U.S. businesses:
- Up to $56 billion annually in healthcare costs
- Significant turnover and replacement costs
- Lost productivity and absenteeism
- Legal fees and settlements
But beyond the numbers are human lives:
- Careers destroyed
- Health damaged
- Families affected
What Leaders Must Do
You have the power to change this:
- Create clear anti-bullying policies with real consequences
- Train managers to recognize and intervene early
- Build a culture where psychological safety is non-negotiable
- Take reports seriously and investigate thoroughly
- Measure and monitor workplace climate regularly
When you protect your people from bullying, you’re literally protecting their health.
You Deserve Better
If you’ve experienced workplace bullying, I want you to know something: what happened to you was real. The emotional pain was real. And the physical toll was real.
You didn’t imagine it. You weren’t overreacting. Your body was telling the truth.
And while the damage is real, so is the possibility of healing. With time, support, and distance from the source of harm, your body can recover:
- Your nervous system can calm
- Your health can improve
- Your sense of safety can return
But it starts with believing that you deserve better. Because you do.
Take the Next Step in Your Healing Journey
My soon-to-be-published book, Surviving Bully Culture: A Career Navigating Workplace Bullying And A Guide for Healing, goes deeper into the physical, emotional, and professional toll of toxic workplace dynamics. It provides a roadmap for recovery.
It shares my story, the stories of others, and practical strategies for rebuilding your life after workplace abuse.
Interested in learning more? Visit my website for updates and to pre-order the book.
Get Support Now
If you’re navigating workplace bullying right now and need support, I’m here. You don’t have to do this alone.
Schedule a confidential call with me. We’ll talk about where you’ve been, what you’re facing, and what healing can look like from here.
Book your free consultation here.
Your body has been carrying this burden long enough. It’s time to put it down.