Arrrrgh. I am going through an awful work situation. I am with a person who overreacts and catastrophizes pretty much everything, freaks out and does everything differently, then blames me for it going wrong. (she literally blames me - "this happened because YOU told me abc and so now I have to do xyz. I am only doing what YOU told me to do so this is YOUR fault.") Note - she's my boss. She is in charge of her own choices and behavior.
This freaks me out because... it triggers so much stuff. Her overreactions are waaaay over the top. When they happen (5,6,10 times a day) all I can do is freeze, unsure of what to do or say or how to react in a way that won't incur more wrath. When the attacks are personal and she is ranting at me I often now have full blown panic attacks. Today I only had 2 panic attacks which I managed to get under control. Tears I couldn't stop on several occasions.
We had a meeting with the big boss tonight. Everything I brought up she flat out denied. Lied directly in front of the boss, saying she has never said or done the things she has said and done. She cried and said she can't believe I am saying such awful things. She would never do that.
I am powerless. It mirrors an abuser's behavior in so many ways. I froze and was silent then. I freeze and am silent now. I have no power in the face of outright denial. Word against word.
I am struggling. I don't know how to proceed.