do. How would you like me to proceed?" I said in a tone of voice that indicated I was tired and overwhelmed. Which was true, I was tired and overwhelmed. Because my tone was not threatening or antagonizing the boss could see I was genuinely in a bad spot. It might sound passive-aggressive, perhaps you can find a way to communicate that you sincerely want to help and do a good job but you are concerned because ___________. (Fill in an immediate concern.) As long as you keep your tone of voice and body language under control- you might gain some ground. Sometimes you can baby step through a large problem by handling one concern at a time. For ex: In step one of your new project what is your biggest concern? See if you can get help with step one. Then when you move to step two, target the largest concern and ask about that. I have had this help me somewhat. It is a painful process, I know. I hope you find a new job soon! But -- do not hesitate to tell HR in your exit interview what happened. And, when you do give your two-week notice, indicate the rug-pulling in your resignation letter. Hand it to your manager. Gauge the reaction. No manager wants to be called on the carpet for what's happened to you. Unless, it's "de rigeur" for the site. One thing -- if it does come down to a terminal moment -- and