Struggling to cope in a toxic workplace
Hi everyone,
I am just over 1 year out in practice, and have been really struggling lately with one of the other vets at work. She has been my mentor, and has taught me a huge amount which I am incredibly grateful for - when she is in a good mood we get along great. On the other hand, she tends to run either very hot or cold and you never know what you are going to get with her. If she is stressed she will absolutely take it out on everyone in the practice, including me. I will be told off one day for doing things we have always done, and the next day I’ll be praised. I feel that I am fairly competent at what I do, and the other members of staff are lovely. The whole practice becomes very tense when she is angry, and I absolutely cannot take it anymore. It has gotten to the point where I feel this huge level of anxiety the evenings before I see her at work - I cannot stomach breakfast, my hands are shaking when I arrive, I can’t bring myself to joke/laugh with others because I am anxiously anticipating her mood.
I have always struggled with a level of anxiety, but I guess I just wanted to know whether this feeling is normal and whether I am being overly sensitive? Is this something everyone has to deal with and I should just get on with it? Any advice would be appreciated, I have been close to quitting vet med as a whole multiple times.