Boundaries, Burnout and Breaking Free from Toxic Workplaces: How to Protect Yourself Against Narcissists

What happens when trying to protect yourself at work gets twisted into “not being a team player”? Or when being firm gets labelled as “aggressive”?

In Episode 7 of Narcissism At Work, Leyya and Dr. Daksha Hirani unpack how to set boundaries in environments where narcissistic dynamics thrive. From subtle manipulation to outright sabotage, we explore the tactics that leave people feeling unsafe, hypervigilant, or scared to speak up, and what you can do about it.

Dr. Daksha outlines how to spot narcissistic behaviour at the peer level, how to deal with emotional baiting and boundary violations, and why guilt, self-doubt, and trauma bonding keep us stuck. We also discuss practical ways to protect your mental health when the people around you won’t respect your limits and how to get clear on what is, and isn’t, your responsibility.

Whether you’re being isolated, undermined, or constantly made to question yourself, this episode is for anyone who’s had their empathy exploited in a workplace built on power games.

Key Themes:

• Boundary Violations: Why narcissistic colleagues push limits and how to hold your ground.
• Guilt and Trauma Bonding: The emotional traps that keep you compliant, over-functioning, and quiet.
• Gaslighting and Undermining: How narcissists create confusion and destroy confidence.
• Protective Tools: How to document patterns, detach your identity from abuse, and set limits with clarity.
• The Body Knows: Listening to anxiety, dread, and physical cues as warning signals.

Quote Highlights

“The key here is knowing yourself. What do you need to look after yourself? Anything that comes in the way of this would require a boundary.” – Dr Daksha Hirani

“So many of us end up staying for years, clinging onto the hope that things will get better. We gaslight ourselves. We justify the chaos.” – Leyya Sattar

Why it matters:

Workplace abuse is often subtle, systemic, and dismissed as “just a clash of personalities.” But when manipulation, gaslighting, and boundary violations become the norm, the impact on our mental health, identity, and ability to trust again runs deep. This episode unpacks the insidious nature of narcissistic behaviour at work, how it operates, why it’s so hard to leave, and what recovery actually requires.

Whether you're feeling emotionally drained, questioning your reality, or stuck in a cycle of self-blame, this episode offers both clarity and compassion. With expert insight from clinical psychologist Dr. Daksha Hirani, we explore trauma bonding, DARVO, boundary setting, and the role of systems (like HR and legal) in upholding or dismantling abuse.

This isn’t just about identifying bad bosses, it’s about reclaiming your power, trusting your body’s signals, and learning how to heal without hardening. It’s for anyone who’s been silenced, second-guessed, or simply wants to build healthier, safer workplaces.

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