Anonymous wrote: I just need to get this out. My heart goes out to anyone struggling and I applaud getting help, but I am processing this. I had a coworker make my life a living hell when we had to work on a project together. I was polite and professional and turned to email for any important communication so there were no misunderstandings and would have others check email to make sure it was kind and professional. She would make these paranoid accusations and even when I showed the emails, the boss (a family friend of coworker's mother) would gaslight me. She had scary mood swings and I was made to feel like I set it off even though I was making myself physically sick always trying to be calm and respectful. I got called into meetings over her dramatic meltdowns blaming me for things I didn't do. I asked to be put on a different project and I was told I had to learn to make it work. I ended up looking for other jobs, but I saw a therapist until I left and for the transition to a new job because it was so draining. I also consulted a lawyer about the situation both to keep things amicable until I left, and also to leave in the most professional way possible. So this woman cost me a lot of money as well as just completely draining me and the worst part was the gaslighting from above.

Well a former coworker clued me in that this woman was finally let go and publicly posts on social media somewhat of a diary of her mental health struggles. I read it for my own closure. She has experienced many psychiatric emergencies over the years. It has been a struggle to find the right anti-psychotic and antidepressant and she has been spiraling more often recently. I really do have empathy, but I also have resentment that she blamed me for her emotional struggles at work when I was not doing anything to her and our supervisor was useless and made me feel like I was somehow causing the problem even there was no evidence. I will get over it and I don't wish these kinds of struggles on anyone. Maybe I wish she had gone for help sooner and now I know it wasn't personal, but I felt like I was going to lose my mind if I didn't leave because there was this elephant in the room and you couldn't do anything. I know it's not something she chose.

I may take this down. Has anyone had a similar experience?

Anonymous wrote:Be grateful that this person isn't your spouse, or your parent or child or close family member. It has hopefully given you some empathy for how hard it is for the people who live with mental illness and the people around them. It sucks. No excuse for some of her behavior but recognize that some of this is mental illness.

Anonymous wrote:I had a boss with severe mental illness. I ended up leaving for another role as I was so traumatised from it. She is still there causing havoc. Still makes me feel upset how awful it was even though I left three years ago. I also really loved the job before she came my boss.