This too shall pass, is a very common mantra for those who work for a difficult boss.
While conditions may very from a nuance to sever, the effects are very similar. Day-after-day the situation with the boss occupies the majority of the workday, and for most of us most of waking hours.

Stress is difficult for scientists to define because it is a highly subjective phenomenon that differs for each of us. Things that are distressful for some individuals can be pleasurable for others. We also respond to stress differently. Some people blush, some eat more while others grow pale or eat less. There are numerous physical as well as emotional responses as illustrated by the following list of some 50 common signs and symptoms of stress.
http://www.stress.org/topic-effects.htm.

Aside from the physical effects of stress from working with a difficult boss, it can also have a demoralizing effect on careers and goals. Often we spend all of our energy dealing with a difficult boss, leaving little or none left to devote to our needs and goals. Overtime a difficult boss will rob you of initiative and turn a positive personality negative.

In his article Dealing with Difficult People By Nando Pelusi, Ph.D., published on September 01, 2006 – last reviewed on January 03, 2011 http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200609/dealing-difficult-people. Points out that: When dealing with difficult people, our immediate urge is to jump to our own defense. Today, there are smarter moves to make when dealing with a tyrant.
Some people go to extraordinary lengths to be difficult. Think of the diva actress whose on-set needs can never be met or the boss who keeps moving the goal posts. The difficult person elevates the deliberate provocation to an art form. The underlying message is often, “Unless you agree with me and go along, you’ll regret it.” This is often the tact taken by a difficult boss.

In dealing with a difficult boss your goals and objectives should be clear. There are several strategies depending on your situation to deal with a difficult boss, but none are helpful unless you have an objective in mind. No matter what the desired outcome of your strategy with a difficult boss, revenge should not be part of your goal. Often a boss will injure us in a way that revenge seems not only logical but also just. The problem with revenge is usually leads to more self-sabotage and destructive behavior than it’s worth.

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