Update:

Things at the office have gotten better. I stood my ground with these women and never backed down. I also refused to hide in my office or at home (that is a big one for me).

I made the pact with my T that no matter how bad I felt, I would go to work. The first day back after my appt was hard...I was miserable and dreading going in. I felt as if I were still "fighting" them. They were just not listening to a word I said, and they were just not communicating information at all (it's as if they were hording information or trying to sabotage me. Ridiculous. We all work on the same team. They also were trying to pull power plays with me. Which is absurd.).

Meantime, I had a MAJOR incident that triggered me fully into a panic. But this time instead of staying quiet and not saying anything, I just blurted out to my T, over the phone, my true fear. My major fear. My deep down fear that I've been carrying all along (all these years) that I've never said outloud to anyone that ever validated me.

And for as embarrassed as I felt, I suddenly felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. And I felt like I'd been released from a horrible prison or something. I found my voice. Again. After 25 years.

Back to the work witches...yesterday, I just had enough and confronted two of them. I was actually angry again...(not depressed anymore).

*The thing is, when I get angry like that, and I have to conduct business, I never shout or scream or fight or raise my arms and throw a fit.

I get laser-beam focused, lower my voice, look them straight in the eye and pay attention to every single word they say. Then, I repeat their words back to them and continue to do it until they wear down...they were not being honest from the start and their behavior was based on nothing but ego, so they have no where to go.

It's a horrible thing for me to get to that point and to subject someone else to that, and I cannot stand when I have to do that, but when pushed enough, I will go there.

Result: All of them totally backed down. And backed off.

If they ever confront me, question me, lie to me, use dirty tricks against me again, I will be really surprised.

I am so relieved. I think I actually may sleep this weekend. Thank you guys so much. Truly. I don't think I would have been able to do it without you.