bullied at work – now what?
Yep. It happened to me, and it may have happened, or be happening to you right now.
If it has, (or is), I am very sorry. I know exactly how you feel.
While we’re at it lets make a list of those feelings…
• shocked
• horrified
• devastated
• humiliated
• angry
• sad
• more sad…
Does that sound about right? Of course, that list could go on, however, I’d rather focus on how to overcome these feelings rather than dwelling on them.
As a side note, and before we really get into how we beat this bullying thing and the damage it causes, I’d just like to say that I have not overcome anything yet. I am right. bang. smack. in the middle of it. So, my hope is that by creating this blog and telling this story of mine, we might overcome this together.
The effects of being a victim of workplace bullying are horrendous. For me, the effects bundled themselves up into a ball of ANXIETY or to be more precise, an anxiety disorder, officially diagnosed, (thank you DSM IV).
So the question remains… what now? and that very question prompted this blog. I looked everywhere for the answer – I even Googled it (many times)…
“I got bullied at work, now what?”…
“I got bullied at work, what do I do now?”…
etc, etc…
I’ve never received an answer to that question from any source. I’m not even sure there is ONE answer. I think there are many answers and, if somewhere in this blog lies an answer for you, then YOU will have made my day.
So, here’s my blog, my story… a journey if you like – not so much all the gruesome details but more of what I have learned so far… about people – all the why’s, all the personality traits, the motives and tactics bullies use that have the ability to turn a perfectly functioning individual into a mere shell of themselves.
This story is brutally honest and it is by no means finished. I do, however, look forward to that day when it is all over – when I have recovered and suffering from anxiety is a thing of the past. When I can look back and maybe even thank those bullies, (yes, there was more than one) for making me stronger, smarter and wiser to any future bullies I may encounter – and how when that day comes, (because it will) – I will not allow myself to fall victim again. I will be equipped – armed and ready – to deal with, and squash those bullying tactics right there on the spot.
end. of. story. My first learning of all the lessons I have learned so far is that I will never allow this to happen to me again. ever.
So, read on if you like and let’s see where this journey goes and how this story ends…
What now?
August 19, 2018 @ 11:06 pm
I have also been the victim of bullying in the workplace and what you describe sounds very similar to what I experienced. I wasn’t diagnosed with an anxiety disorder but felt all the feelings you described and then some. I was totally unsupported when I made a complaint and I ended up being the one investigated by HR! The bully (my boss) ended up getting a promotion! Go figure?!