Overwhelming anxiety

[Doc80]

Hi all,

just reaching out for some support. For the last 8 weeks I've had terrible anxiety, it's become so bad I'm not sure if I can survive it. I've been so anxious I find myself in places and I can't remember how I got there.

It's work related. My boss is a bully who always criticises and gaslights me - and tells my colleaugues her mistakes are mine. She's really disorganised but also a micro manager which makes it incredibly hard. I'll send her a document to review and she'll send it back to me with a heap of negative feedback but she'll give the feedback on the wrong document. This happens all the time. Or she'll tell

me to do something, which I do, but she later tells me that it was wrong and why did I do it like that. When I point out her mistakes she just gets more angry.

I don't trust HR, another staff member went to HR to make a complaint and they never even responded to her email.

I'm lost. I need the job as I have young children - but how can I get through this?

[Bob_22]

Hi Doc80,

I'm sorry to hear about what you're going through. Having a poor boss who is a bully can be the worst and I have been there unfortunately. It is a shame that your HR is not supportive. They should however document the incident/report as a bare minimum. If you find they are not addressing or at least acknowledging your concerns I might defer to Safework NSW. Here is a good place to start: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/safety-starts-here/mental-health-at-work-the-basics/bullying 

Hope that helps.

Bob

[Karen0901]

1) Definitely report it. Make sure everything is via email because then you have an official record if you get ignored. 

2) Start looking around for a new job. You may feel you are stuck in your job but there are always other opportunities. 

3) Keep correspondence with your boss via email as much as possible so you have a record of the interactions. 

4) Remember that your boss has no real power over you. If you are a permanent employee. You have rights and as long as you are following your obligations, her attitude has nothing to do with you. The best way to beat a bully, is to shrug off their attempts to bring you down.