To not be able to get over what happened at work

Take it further and see a solicitor - you could look at constructive dismissal and get a pay out so you can be out of there while you look for a new job

Definitely do a SAR immediately and ask to have all the Teams messages (or whatever is used).

Go to the doctor and get signed off for mental health. Use that time to search for other jobs. I’m sorry that sounds like a bloody awful situation.

I'm afraid I don't have any practical advice, OP, but just wanted to say I'm sorry you went through all this and I echo what other people have said about getting signed off and thinking seriously about taking it further. I absolutely wouldn't be able to forget about it just like that either! 💐

Terrible!! My friend had this happen. He raised a grievance and did a subject access request to his company for any mentions of him sent via Teams/our online channels from the worst offenders and told HR he wanted financial settlement or will go to employment tribunal. The SAR had some vile things said about him and he got a few grand pay out and a new job somewhere else.
I'd be doing the same if I were you

This is horrible for you OP, but I have no advice for you just well done for getting as far as you have in surviving their shit.

What I did want to say was that I'm not in the least surprised that the man who advertises himself as 'I'm so lovely & kind' is a leading light in all this. I'd have put money on that being the case.

Be aware your union may not be able to help with this, they often have a rule that they can only help if you were in the union when the problem started (otherwise everyone would just join when they have a problem which would cripple the union financially).
but even if they can’t represent you this time they can give you some advice and you’ll have them if anything new arises

Just glad that you’re joining the union and you’re going to see your GP with their support you will find the strength to take their advice. Good luck.

I was bullied 17 years ago in the workplace and still remember the terrible detrimental effects on my mental health. Similar to you, this was by a manager and two deputies, they were like the three witches. I wasn't even sleeping I was so stressed. At the time, I kept going until I got a new job. BUT I was young O.P, 26 years old and looking back now I wished I had gone off on sick leave. At the time I thought it would look like they had 'won' and I was determined to show them that I didn't care what they did to me. However, with wisdom I realised I should have gone off on sick leave as I needed it with the stress. I ended up on antidepressants and sleeping tablets. I would tell my younger self to get signed off and you should too. How awful that even now you are going to work feeling anxious. They have caused that. Put yourself first. They started this. Get signed off work and look for another job whilst also resting and taking care of yourself. Call in sick tomorrow, get a doctor's cert and hopefully you never have to even walk back into that place again. Sending love and strength and remember you are a better person than all of them.

If they are bullying you and making things up about you, can’t you lodge formal grievances about them? That way, if they are found to have done these things, there will be disciplinary action taken. Good luck

I would go the grievance route as suggested and look for a financial settlement while looking quietly for another role.

You should definitely have a period of rest before you do anything else. Go on sick leave and let your nervous system reset. No wonder you're exhausted.

Dear OP, just wanted to say I've been somewhere similar to where you are, and it felt as if it would kill me. I was a nervous wreck, and couldn't enjoy anything. I went to a counsellor, who was very well-meaning but wasted ages digging into my childhood to see what long-forgotten grief this situation was bringing up! I finally realised I just had to get away from those toxic people. And when I did, I could hardly believe I had stayed so long in hell, thinking I could soldier on and somehow put it right.

I hope you can find a suitable job, but I wouldn't hold out for the job of your dreams at this stage. Just get to a place where you're breathing non-poisonous air among decent human beings, so you can rebuild your inner resources. Then if you wish, when you've recovered from the hellish time you had, you can start looking around for a job that would suit you better.

I went through something similar a couple of years ago (civilian role within the police). It still affects me to this day and I have started numerous threads wanting to discuss it, but never hit "post". Until I experienced work place bullying I couldn't have imagined it.

So, you have my sincere sympathy. I got out, took the first job I was offered and placed on gardening leave. Those four weeks were wonderful, so I second people suggesting you take some sick leave to help your nervous system take a break from being in fight or flight.

Do you work in the NHS?

Please go as far as you can with your union/ACAS and take as much leave as you feel you need. I had a bullying manager, seemed not to like successful females, he pushed one out then started on me, treated me very differently to the other heads of teams, despite my outstanding outcomes. I got out as soon as I could, I said I’d go quietly if I got great references. My next employer said my references were ‘blinding’, quite rightly given I’d doubled positive outcomes within a year.

Trouble is, it wrecks your confidence. I’d been in the same role at different places for 20 years when this happened and it’s taken years for my confidence to recover, despite equally excellent outcomes year upon year. I strongly recommend you get out asap for the sake of your mental health.

I'm so sorry. I'd try to distance myself outside work-time, eg don't look at their socials. Understandably, someone writing the "Be kind inspire etc" stuff would upset you if he's being hypocritical, but it's amazing how often socials do not reflect reality, so unless you have to look at his socials as part of your job (unlikely), don't put yourself through it. You said you're looking for another job-until you have it, plan something specific for after work everyday. A coffee with a friend, a walk with your kids/partner, a gym session-anything, for that to be your focus to get you through the day to what actually matters, what you want.

@Ereerenownow After all you've been through I think you should get signed off. You might feel better about things when you go back.
On the other hand, probably not. But being off would help you gain strength physically and mentally. or ask for a financial settlement and leave. Be kind to yourself.

Staying to yourself and not bothering people, seems to bother people! They don't know you so make up a narrative that's they think fits. I really hope you're okay. Grown adults bullying others will never make sense to me! Its them, not you. I'd agree with looking for a new job, also if you can afford to, get on the sick and start looking. You owe them nothing. Especially not your mental health! If you do go off sick make sure you site the reason as mental health due to that toxic work environment! I feel so angry for you! People are just rotten!

hi im sorry you are going through this and i fully sympathise as i have been through something similar in the school i work in. I trusted someone at work and they completely stabbed me in the back so i no longer trust anyone (they eventuallly had to leave though its unclear why but HR were involved). I do my job, im professional and i go home, thats it and its how i cope with the toxic environment. always be careful of those like your colleagute who loudly claim to be kind and compassionate, i have found these are the worst and they hide behind inspirational quotes and memes whilst perpetuatingt the worst kind of bullying, they'll probably talk about self care and use this as an excuse to exclude you and to try and make you feel like shit. i hope things get better for you

I had a similar situation two years ago but I was the manager and the bully was one of my newly hired staff. The more I ignored it, the worse it became. She went to my supervisors and my supervisors supervisor to complain the she didn't like way I ran my department. Because of HR secrecy, I was never allowed to know what she actually said so I really could not defend myself. I may have seemed unfazed to others but the situation was causing lost sleep, anxiety and the stress was overwhelming. She was talking about me to everyone who would listen and trashing the reputation I have taken many years to build. I was devastated. Never in my 28 years of work have I ever had one complaint. Nor have I since.

She left after several months and the whole department breathed a sigh of relief. I am certain that I would have had to leave if she had remained. I could not have stood the stress.

I'm sorry you are going through this.

I desperately wanted to take some sick leave but I knew that nobody would pick up
my work and it would be worse when I got back.
I don’t know how I got through those days. I was just putting one foot in front of the other.
The original bully taught her replacement and she picked up where the other left off, though to a lesser degree - sure she feels emboldened by what the original did.
The whole culture is toxic.

I can’t wait to leave.

Omg, what you have been through is ABSALUTELY HORRENDOUS.

No wonder you are exhausted, you have have been through a multitude of horrendous experiences because you were targeted.

You are a survivor

If any one starts on you, inform HR right away and report them for harassment.

it takes longer for prejudice to subside for some people but from now on you need to protect your MH and warn anyone who tries to push you too far they will be reported for harassment.

Its natural to be angry.

Cover yourself with your workload, so they can't use it against you and remember you are past the worst of it and you have done amazingly well to have got this far and to still be holding it together.

Am so sorry you were a victim of such a nasty bullying campaign. I do hope you get out of there, the trust has gone for you. Hold your head up high tho, you're worth a million more than these people who took part. I totally get your anger, I would be too, but it will pass, esp when you get out of there and never look back. Sending hugs.