I changed jobs. I thought it was going to improve my quality of life but now I massively regret it.

I used to work in Depaetment A. In department A, I would drive 500-600 miles a month in addition to my commute. I worked with underserved populations so I spent a lot of time in objectively unsafe places like back alleyways, railroad tracks, sleazy motels (a LOT of sleazy motels) and the likes. After a number of safety incidents, I got offered to transfer to a job that is mostly in an office with some driving and visits.

I really thought I was going to improve my quality of life by driving less and being safer. Common sense right? I even knew the people at my new job would be bitchy and rude but I knew I could handle it. Thought I could handle it. Also I thought I would spend more time with the underserved clients. I still looove homeless people, undocumented people, etc etc. I love those populations so much. But I see clients maybe once or twice a week.

The ladies I work with are soooooo mean and catty. I got used to my old job, where everyone was friends with each other and got along well. Everyone hates one another here. Everyone stabs each other in the back. I have been yelled at, embarassed, berated, and humiliated. The worst feeling isn't the bullying. It's that I had a good job before and that I am willing to go back to dangerous situations and destroying my car to escape this abuse.

I am deciding between going up the supervisor/ HR/ upper management ladder to get my old job back or straight up reapplying. I could also just wait a year and put myself back on the transfer list to see what happens in a year, but I really want to get out sooner. I don't trust my new boss and am scared she won't want to be a good reference or something.

I'm just venting. Also if anyone has experienced this, let me know. If I go through HR and whatnot, there's a chance I won't be able to leave but EVERYONE: my boss, my boss's boss, upper management will know I am leaving and need to approve. Maybe they won't approve and I'll be stuck. Maybe they will defame me if I decide to be a supervisor one day.