She had panic attacks just entering the office: Bengaluru woman reveals how toxic startup culture broke her

A 25-year-old woman from Bengaluru has shared her painful experience of workplace harassment that pushed her to resign from her job to protect her mental health. In a Reddit post titled “Quit to save my sanity”, she opened up about the toxic environment at a major startup where she worked as a Product Experience Manager.

Panic Attacks Before Work

The woman said the harassment was so severe that she would have panic attacks before even entering the office. Despite trying to cope, she said most of her team had already quit for similar reasons, and she finally decided to step away as well.

“I recently put in my papers after months of going through mental harassment at work,” she wrote, adding that she now wants to focus on her well-being and find a healthier work environment.



She has now given herself four months to find a new job. She is looking for opportunities in customer experience, operations, or product consulting, preferably remote or hybrid roles.

Sparking a Mental Health Conversation

Her post has started a wider conversation about mental health and toxic work cultures in Indian startups. Many readers praised her courage to prioritise her mental health, while others shared their own struggles.

“Same thing happened to me. I suffered for five straight months with food and sleep issues. Quitting felt like a huge relief,” one person commented.

Another added: “Looks like bad work culture is common in Indian startups. Founders spend investor money carelessly and expect one person to do the work of three.”

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.