DEAR HARRIETTE: A few weeks ago, I had a really embarrassing accident at work. I tripped in the office and split my pants right in front of my colleagues.

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On top of that, I sprained my ankle in the fall, so I had to take some time off to recover.

While I was out, I kept imagining everyone replaying that moment in their minds, and I worried about what they thought of me.

Now that I’m finally cleared to return to the office, I feel a mix of anxiety, dread and self-consciousness. I keep picturing co-workers whispering or laughing behind my back, even though most of them probably don’t even think about it anymore.

The thought of walking back into the office makes me physically tense, and I’ve been considering asking to work from home longer just to avoid facing everyone.

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