STORY 63

As part of my hiring agreement, in working for a health care authority, I was told that I could not talk publicly about the verbal and emotional abuse that I was put through by senior clinicians.

When I went to my supervisor for support I was told that it was up to me to resolve the situation with this person. My only recourse was to allow this person to continue and ignore this person who was known to be narcissistic, but as I was a junior person in the environment, he made me the target of his actions.

The end result for me was trying to push through the days (over 3 years). Eventually my mind would not take it and I spent 3 weeks in a local hospital as I had non epileptic seizures. This was 10 years ago and I am still not able to work, according to my psychiatrist and neurologist.

There were other abuse situations that I and others in my work place "lived with". But in an environment that is funded by the government, the practice was to keep a "proper" image. I am on long-term benefits and CPP disability and still suffer the effects of the seizures. I would rather be working and living a fulfilling life. At the age of 57 now, it does not seem possible, as I am still broken.