If my internal bullies are taking a siesta, I love my own company. Socialising is fine and necessary I admit to some extent, but always look forward to “me time”. Having said that, I would be lost without my partner and dog. By “socialising”, I meant, other people.

He’s good Anita. I want to see more. One thing was, something like this: “don’t beat yourself up ‘ I should’ve stood up to them and told them off’ You did the best you could. Give yourself a break”.
This is one of my main areas of concern. The actual event was bad but Ruminator turns it into a daily boxing round of recriminations. ‘ what a wimp I was, why didn’t I say the right thing?’ I fear the external bully only because I know the internal bully will be absolutely relentless!

About the party in your head with the Inner Selves, problem being the bullying Inner Selves. The bullying Inner Selves work hand in hand with the bullying you listed in the workplace. Bully with Bully unite, kind of a thing. This is why it is so important to work to shrink the those bullying inner selves. The safer you are from them, the less distressed you will be with at least some of the bullying in the workplace and elsewhere.

I was thinking about this very thing you mentioned here, on my long walk this morning. Those with low self-esteem tend to have more and stronger inner bullies to deal with so when they have to confront an external bully, it is just too much. That is why someone with high self-esteem can manage external bullies better; because they manage to quieten the negative internal voices(bullies) so they only have to deal with the external bully.
Mm, I made that sound more complicated than it actually is.. 🙂