And the situation was handled so well and with so much consideration of its impact on the people left without jobs, wasn't it? Typical.

As Mrs. D and Silverlady said, do see if you can find something to help de-stress you for a while (even if it's only reading and writing here. ) Then you will hopefully be able to consider your future prospects in a more calm and deliberate fashion.

I'm so sorry. That really is a bummer!
Maybe you could see your doc, or call him up and relate the current problems and stresses you are going thru.
A Valium, or something, might be a good way to get
some calm at this time.
I usually don't think that chemical escapes are good emotionally,
because there is a tendency to let them act as a crutch.
But every once in a while, it can be of good value for you.

Alkamyst,

That really hurts. I hope you'll be financially OK until you find new work.

Don't beat yourself up over it. It doesn't mean you aren't good enough. The only meaning was "tag, you're out". Unless you were counseled and written up over some job issue, they didn't want to let you go. If you were written up and then fired in spite of your best efforts, learn what you can from the experience, accept responsibility, and move on...it was a bad match and you're better off out of there.

Managers often have to pick somebody to let go from a great team, even if they desperately don't want to. Who they pick can hang on trivialities...small differences in pay, a small error at the wrong time, being out the day before the decision of who is made, being on vacation so they don't have to face you, etc. Letting somebody go often hurts the manager emotionally as much as being let go. I walked into a supervisor's office once while she was pitifully sobbing because she had to fire a good person. Eventually she was let go. I bet her manager cried.

I was also laid off from that same company because the company was shrinking. The next morning I drove right through a stop sign into the path of a car going about 40 mph., my mind on the termination. I had two kids and a wife dependent on me, and had to look for work with a broken rib, my wife's car, and the guilt of having caused an accident that totaled two cars because I wasn't paying attention...

so keep calm, keep your mind on the task at hand and drive carefully! Things could be a lot worse.

So sorry to read this Alkamyst,, know body needs unexpected stress like that, I can't add much to the great suggestions already mentioned, but normally when one door closes a better one opens, i hope your flare up settles down real soon for you.
good luck in finding a better job too as i am sure you will.

I think for sure it can make things worse. I went to a support group on the weekend and we had to get intuned with our body through music to see how it was feeling. Also to learn to calm ourself down. I think anti anxiety meds can help with this too. Getting all tense does not help the nerves or muscles in my eyes but finding outlets to get destressed is important. Sorry for everyones pain mental and physical.

for your kind words, thoughts, and suggestions. I know other forum members have gone through the same experience so it is not unique to me - that said it's still bloody difficult - this was the 7th time in 17 years but one never gets used to them.

We do have some breathing room since my wife survived the same downsizing at the same time but we haven't decided yet what we are going to do.

Thank you all again.

Alkymst