Bullying is a terrible thing. I see it in younger people, middle aged people and shockingly enough, even in the elderly. I worked in an aged care facility and couldn't believe what I was witnessing on occasions. I've never been able to tolerate it and have only been bullied once in the work place in my forties. It was a most unpleasant and stressful situation but I certainly wasn't prepared to put up with it. I come across as a shy (believe it or not) but easy going sort of person but the person who tried to grind me down with relentless bullying didn't know I had a short threshold for that sort of behaviour. I couldn't afford to loose my job but I can't stand injustice whether it be directed to me or to anyone else, and after going through the correct channels to have it dealt with the perpetrator ended up leaving the job because many other victims found the strength to speak up too. This is a great post to get us thinking about this subject. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
I worked with the elderly too and have seen mean elderly people - probably in some stage of dementia, but they've hurt other residents and nurses. But, I have also seen mean and abusive family members and staff hurting them.
In my last workplace, I was stalked by a female bully. No one believed me that she was doing it to me. She was finally caught hurting someone else and was fired. It's hard not being believed. It does something to your soul.
Thanks for your great response @trudeehunter!
It is definitely hard when others do not believe you are in situation where someone is just tormenting you. I'm very glad your perpetrator was found out. It does do something to you when you are not believed. Hits something deep inside (soul good word) or your core being.
It truly does @seareader1. Invalidation makes me crazy. Being minimalized or marginalized, the same. It causes self doubt and scrambles the truth.
Good point.