Bullying colleagues

I have three coworkers who constantly criticise and belittle me. I can't 'fight' back because they shout me down. i go into a panic attack, my palms sweat and my adrenaline goes haywire. I hate going into the office as a result

SHRINKRAP

You are being bullied. You are showing signs of acute stress or anxiety reaction. Your company should be willing and able to offer to sponsor your treatment.

It is not your responsibility as an employee to deal with the bullying. It is the responsibility of your employers to ensure that the environment is safe and conducive so that everyone is able to perform optimally. The first step is to put the responsibility where it belongs by reporting it to your manager and to the HR people in your company.

Adults often behave like children in a playground. All that changes for most people is their level of sophistication and finesse, not the actual games they play.

The biting, grabbing, lying, sulking, and stealing or messing up other people's work continues in adulthood.

The child who wished to unseat the teacher and take power will try the same with a boss. Your manager is primarily the custodian of your work culture. When leadership avoids confronting abuse of power or tries to appease destructive elements, they create a moral vacuum that will be filled with conflict and exploitative self-interest. - Leonard Carr

SUPERNANNY

YOUR office sounds more like a primary school playground, filled with teenagers rather than professional adults. No one should have to tolerate such behaviour.

Our body does not differentiate between physical or emotional attack; either way it goes into a "fight or flight" response, hence you are experiencing all these physical symptoms.

However, you can empower yourself and make some choices:

• In each company a set of policy and procedures should be available for any employee in the HR department. Ask to see this document and read what the protocol is for lodging a formal complaint about a colleague's behaviour.
• You can seek personal coaching or counselling to find your inner voice and learn how to confront these people.
• Another alternative is to walk away, resign and source another job. Choose which action makes you feel the most comfortable. - Stephanie Dawson-Cosser