Workplace abusers tend to follow predictable patterns of behavior:

1. The abuser initially repeatedly reprimands the better than average target for trivial matters and those that would be described completely differently by the target. The bully repeatedly puts the target down.
2. The abuser convinces others that the target is incompetent, so others can begin to shun the target and unwittingly participate in the emotional abuse.
3. The abuser drives the target to report the problem to the bully’s boss or to Human Resources and then escalates the bully behavior.
4. The abuser makes their tactics so outrageous that the target’s support system (family and friends) doesn’t believe the target and can’t offer advice. Then these family and friends become tired of hearing the target obsessively repeat issues that can’t be resolved.
5. The target is now very much alone and increasingly vulnerable to suicide. Targets try everything...