Perceptions are the hard part

Things have escalated between 'puh' and myself. Her line manager is now involved in the situation, because eventually the pressure became too much for me. Presently I have been asked to go away and 'think about what you want', with a view to starting grievance procedure after the holidays. Great Christmas present eh ?

I can't say I am optimistic. I've read the literature and it doesn't inspire faith in such processes. I am feeling very isolated and that I lack information on what to expect of the grievance procedure at the moment.

One colleague who has experienced workplace bullying herself in the past thinks I was very 'brave' to get puh's line manager involved. In truth I was just beyond the point where I could communicate with her successfully and felt horribly anxious, pressured and unheard.

I feel I should mention that this colleague only became involved because she had been the one who picked me up and stuck me back together from an earlier incident on the same day - I haven't spoken to anyone other than her and my counsellor since it happened. I don't want the rumour mill to pick up on what is my personal business. Of course it will, but not through anything I say or do.

The 'perceptions' I speak of in the title of this entry are mine compared with 'puh's'. I know I am being bullied. My bully does not perceive what she does as in any way being bullying. How do you resolve that ?

Ah well, I hope you all have a merry Christmas and a happy new year.