9 Ways Your Old Toxic Job Is Preventing You From Succeeding in Your New One

Toxic workplaces are, unfortunately, not all that uncommon. An American Psychological Association poll found that around 22% of workers felt their mental health had been harmed on the job. 

So it’s no shock that some people might be feeling some trauma as they transition from an old toxic job to a new one where they can move beyond living paycheck to paycheck, making it hard to feel successful in their current role.

Here are nine ways bad feelings from an old job may prevent you from doing the best you can right now.

Ideally, the only time you need to worry about checking messages from your boss is when you’re on the clock, but toxic cultures often glorify encouraging work over well-being.

Management may have expected the employees to stay late or respond to messages at all hours. It can be hard to shake the habit even after you’ve left such a gig, so it’s up to you to start your new gig with clear boundaries.

If there’s something in the new job that’s setting you off in the same way as what you experienced in the old job, it probably requires some reflection.

Identifying emotional triggers helps you plan so you can figure out a way to deal with them and move forward.

If you’ve had a bullying boss in the past, you may feel on edge before chatting with a new manager.

Recognizing that you’ve found yourself in a loop is key. It may only take a few deep breaths to calm yourself down.

You can assess the current relationship objectively, without projecting past experiences onto it, and respond more appropriately to the present situation.

If you’ve felt like you were under constant attack in previous jobs, it makes sense to be defensive in those situations — but these are instincts you don’t want to take to a new job.

Remind yourself that the people at your new job are not the same people who mistreated you at your old job and aren’t deserving of such ire. Take a breath and reexamine the situation.

A common trauma response is self-blaming. After leaving a toxic job, you might wish you'd acted differently.

Maybe you wish you’d spoken up more, been more agreeable, or worked harder. Don’t blame yourself for situations beyond your control. Workplace trauma is rarely your fault. Instead, view any regrets as valuable lessons learned.

If your last role required you to always be on, don’t blame yourself for being a "pushover” — your previous employer created that overwhelming environment.

Instead, focus on developing assertiveness skills. Use your experience to communicate boundaries and expectations clearly in your new role.

This way, you can speak up when a project seems unsustainable, putting what you learned into action for a healthier work environment.

Our mind often tells stories based on past experiences, but we should ask, "Are these feelings legit?" Ground yourself in the facts of what is truly happening.

Remind yourself that past events don’t define your abilities today — you are capable. Awareness and focusing on the truth provide clarity, giving yourself a better chance to respond to the situation.

Having the right support system can help tremendously in healing from workplace trauma — specifically people who've had similar experiences.

These people are well-positioned to guide your recovery journey because they understand firsthand what you’re going through, making the healing process more effective and meaningful.

Closure is an important part of moving on. You can be angry at former bosses or coworkers, but you need to move beyond waiting for an apology that may never come.

Consider a releasing ritual, like writing a goodbye letter or discarding old work files to finally close that chapter of your life.

Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings to recognize when you're reacting based on past experiences. Focus on the facts — what's actually happening now. Make choices based on those facts, and allow your thoughts and feelings to exist without judgment.

Over time, they'll probably shift, leading to more balanced responses. As the saying goes, time heals all wounds and there are brighter things ahead that might boost your bank account — and your mental health.