Anxiety and anticipation

I'm back to work on Monday after a week off, and already I am anxious. I hate this. 'puh' is actually on holiday, so I won't see her for a few days even when I do go back, yet still I am already worrying enough that it is affecting my sleeping.

Why am I worrying ? I feel like I have to script every encounter with this bully, is the main reason. I am angry about the amount of my personal resources that behaviour takes up. 'puh' is able to bully me even when she is not around !

This makes me contemplate the nature of bullying. When you are being bullied at work you can't simply avoid the bully, which might be an option in other circumstances; you are required to encounter the bully in the course of your normal work. I think this is what I find most disturbing about being bullied at work - the emotional stress of anticipating the next episode. I feel 'caught out' when I am bullied.