Karendee,
I got my Crohns break through because of a boss like yours. She was as terrible, but she only talked (yelled etc.) in a negative manner when I was alone with her and nobody heard. In my country we can never get fired because we are sick, If they do that they have to give you your job back and all the paying that you've lost during out of that job.
But crazy bosses it's hard to handle. Keep telling yourself that this is not your problem, this problem belongs to her. Don't let anyone turn you down. Walk tall, be proud and keep your selfconfidence on top. Strive for that. Please, don't lose your focus!
We have to tell other to stop doing this to us. How do we do this?
Is there any place you can make a call to ask for advice? I am sure there are some self helping groups in your place or near ..that you can make a phone call to and tell them what's up and ask what to do.
I have learned that communication always is between a sender and a receiver. If the sender gets a response that says: Hey, don't talk to me like this, I won't allow you! The sender may understand that this is far beyond common behavior. If the receiver says nothing at all but show by all her body that she's sad and confused, the sender (if the person is seeking for power in a negative way), will continue. Because the sender finds out that this works. For me, I have promised myself that I will never ever let a person doing this to me again. It was terrible, it took years to get better from the depression and I still have Crohn's.
A lot of us that had to deal with a person like this are strong and often clever people. WE are often a threat to the powerseekers (which actually wants, but don't feel having power, I think).
All science that excists about this issue tells the same: it's often a devoted and hard-working person from the staff that is the one being "pecked at". And "the pecker" is often a group leader.
For me the biggest sorrow was that I never told anybody at my work about this, I felt so ashamed and confused, and couldn't understand what I did wrong. A year after I stopped working there I understood: I should have stopped her by telling her at once: I don't accept your behavior. I am an adult and a colleague, I suggest that you stop this immediately.
Good luck, take care!
Ingrid