LeeAnne,

I can certainly sympathize and understand your unhappiness and challenges working with a difficult boss. I had the very same experience at my last job. In fact, no one who worked with her was able to last longer than 6 months. I worked with her for 5 years! When we parted ways, I found that I received a real education in lasting as long as I did. I looked upon everything she threw at me as a lesson and came out the better for it when I found my current job. The biggest lesson I learned - always respect yourself and never allow anyone to treat you in a manner you are not worthy of and deserve. Upon making it clear to your boss that you are not paid enough to be treated in the way she treats you, she will have more respect for your feelings. I have found speaking up for yourself does squelch a lot of the nonsense.

When you play the "victim," people with personalities such as your boss' capitalize and abuse that "victim." Don't play the willing participant any more.

Make yourself understood, very clearly, that you are to be respected, by your current employer. In turn, your self-esteem and self-worth will begin to rebuild itself.

Continue to look for another job. Don't stress over it or jump at anything that comes your way, as errors in judgement are made when jumping into another job haphazardly. There is something down the road for you when you least expect it.

Good luck to you!