Cannot take it

Today, I walked out of work. I had just returned this past Wednesday after being out for six weeks due to anxiety and depression—both brought on by a hostile work environment and toxic workplace relationships.

From the moment I came back, I was met with an icy reception from my new supervisor. Almost immediately, I was accused of faking my disability and told that I was pretending not to hear certain things. Every small task I did was picked apart, monitored, and questioned. I was repeatedly told I couldn’t make my own decisions and that everything I did required approval.

Then this morning, there was an incident in my classroom. Because of my hearing loss, I didn’t catch everything that was said. My disability is well-documented—I wear hearing aids—but they don’t completely restore my hearing, especially when there’s background noise. Despite this, I was disciplined for not hearing what was happening. I was told they were tired of making “excuses” for me and that I needed to “take responsibility” for things that occur.

That was the final straw. I can’t keep subjecting myself to such a cruel and unsupportive environment. My supervisor is cold and inhumane, and I feel utterly alone. I’ve tried everything—applying for other jobs for over a year, seeking help from the ADA and EEOC—but there seems to be no recourse left for me.

So today, I left. I came home in tears. I don’t have any time off left, so I’ll just have to take the pay cut. But the thought of going back on Tuesday fills me with dread. This situation is destroying my mental and physical health, and I’m running out of strength to keep fighting it.