u/James-Harlow

I recently joined a very small company where there were only 4 people in the office, including the boss.

From the very first day, I felt extremely uncomfortable there. The environment made me feel like I was trapped in a jail. I would start getting headaches, and whenever my boss called me, I felt a sudden sense of anxiety, like I had gotten myself into a situation I didn’t want to be in.

It wasn’t that anyone was rude to me. I just felt mentally suffocated and constantly stressed. The office atmosphere felt heavy, and I was counting the hours until I could leave.

I’ve worked before and never experienced this kind of reaction, so I’m trying to understand what might have caused it.

Has anyone else felt this way in a very small office or with a certain work environment?

What could be the reason behind this?

Anxiety?

Toxic atmosphere?

Feeling isolated?

Claustrophobia?

Something else?

I’d appreciate hearing if others have had a similar experience and what you think might be happening.