I would be extremely careful with telling this person directly or indirectly that she is suffering from a mental disorder
Thanks for the replies since I last reported. I really appreciate that some people do realise this problem is real and can cause real issues, especially for someone who is not in a position to just leave (luckily not a problem for me).
I like my job, I like my immediate boss and the other staff. I've given this a LOT of thought since posting and reading some of the helpful replies.
Warrioress, I would never mention to her or anyone else that I think she has a mental disorder, but I thank you for the advice.
I stood up to her this week when she gave me "the chat" for doing something that I am expected to do (read a newsletter for all staff to read). She approached me while I was reading it and told me I should be reading the newsletters so I know what is happening. I looked at her, looked down at the newsletter and said with obvious annoyance "I'm trying to read it RIGHT NOW." I felt like Basil Fawlty trying to hang up the moose head whilst Sybil keeps interupting him to tell him to hang up the moose head
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Anyway, thank you all for the helpful advice and support.
The most frustrating part for me is that I can come up with a good comeback, but because her outbursts come from so far out of left field, and are usually so unexpected, I am usually lost for words (unusual for me
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By the time I process "what the heck just happened" and get my reply ready, she has moved on to something else or harrassing someone else, or wiping stock off the bench onto the floor, or throwing stock around the stock room. It is one shock after another
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Those few times that she has got something so wrong that I have still been stewing overnight, I have quietly found a time alone with her and put my case. She usually doesn't bite back. I'm sure she is not used to someone doing that very often.
Mostly though, we use laughing about it when she is gone as therapy.
Once I know if she will be around more, I will make a decision. Right now I will just sit tight and see what happens.