I was laid off in July 2025 after spending 21 years at the same company. Before the layoff, I was subjected to a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) and faced some extremely abusive treatment that I never anticipated. The trauma from that experience was so intense that I had to take FMLA leave during my final month. I felt trapped, knowing that resigning would mean losing my chance at unemployment benefits. The PIP started in January and dragged on for months without any clear communication from management, which felt like gaslighting. Eventually, the entire department was informed about the shutdown, and a WARN notice was issued in early April. By the end of May, the situation had deteriorated to the point where management was pressuring us to quit. I consulted an attorney and went on FMLA to cope. In the end, I received severance and unemployment benefits, but it took me a whole year to process that nightmare and apply for hundreds of jobs. Recently, I secured a similar job with comparable pay and benefits, but I'm struggling with the psychological aftermath of my previous experience. I find myself in a constant state of hypervigilance, feeling like every minor issue at work could be a threat. My new boss is different, and I know they hired me for my skills, not to set me up for failure, but I can't shake the anxiety. Even innocuous requests for a chat send my heart racing. Now, I view everything as temporary, focusing on the next six months to a year while I rebuild my savings. I haven't shared my new job news with many people because I'm afraid of another layoff or firing. I feel like I'm still healing and have a long way to go. A former colleague who faced a similar situation reassured me that it does get better. I'm looking for advice on how to move past this constant fear and live in the moment without expecting the worst.