I have a long, long way to go, but some things are much easier, like being made to wait for things, or being contradicted on important issues. Most of the chaotic places I've worked at, I must admit they lasted a lot longer than the amount of time I was willing to invest in them. All of that energy I put into pushing water uphill was appreciated by some of my peers and subordinates, occasionally by my boss, but not one bit by anyone else.

But what's downright alienating is not participating in the faux existential crises that often happen at work and that are pervasive in media.

A bad boss that is used to flogging people to action with mind games (whether they realize what they're doing or not) will simply label you as a problem for not freaking out when they want you to. For going home to your friends and family on Friday because you know the problem is still going to exist on Tuesday, at the earliest, no matter what you do.