Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response. It occurs when hostages or abuse victims bond with their captors or abusers. This psychological connection develops over the course of the days, weeks, months, or even years of captivity or abuse.
Sound familiar? I spent almost a decade trapped in this sort of symbiosis. Truth be told I’d still be there probably if greater powers hadn’t stepped in and kicked me out, I’ll have to tell you guys that story another time. But it’s been almost a year exactly since I stepped out the employee entrance and vowed to never support that company ever again.
What I want to say is those of you who are struggling with leaving, think about yourself completely. It doesn’t matter how many times you stayed late, came in early, missed a lunch to cover someone else’s, or worked yourself sick.... you are just another cog in the wheel. Associate, manager, regional, all the way to the top, everyone is replaceable and you can guaranGODDAMNtee you will be replaced.
I know firsthand how scary it is to start over, especially in the current economic climate. But I assure you, you’ll figure it out. You’ll pull through, you’ll overcome the doubt and the misguided guilt of leaving that forsaken company. If you can’t financially do it now, make plans, real solid actionable plans to do it as soon as you can. For the first time in 8 years I will get to spend the holiday with my family. I’ll get to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner without scarfing it down and rushing to take a nap before a ridiculous shift. I’ll put up a Christmas tree and actually see it for more than an hour a day. I’ll get to actually be a human that isn’t shackled to the whims of a regional or a store manager that couldn’t care less about me as an individual.
The thing is you don’t realize you have Stockholm Syndrome until you’re out of it, so use this a cosmic nudge in the right direction. I left the company on terrible terms, but I will tell you wholeheartedly, firing me was the best thing Belk ever did for me.