I understand your worries. From a distance, you see how she is attacking herself although objectively it would all have been so easy to solve. She is standing in her own way. She wants, she tries, she would succeed but this doesn’t seem to be the right way for her. Maybe it is THE time for her that something in her now gets the chance to break free. Only when everything stopped running like clockwork was this “something” triggered. As crazy as it may sound, those anxiety attacks may help lead her to that thorn that needs to be pulled out. After that, she will be ready to start her new life.
So, she needs to find the trigger for the anxiety attacks. I would imagine it’s the same denominator that’s the reason she keeps backing away from opportunities that come her way. How old is she? Are there changes in her hormones? At least that was a big issue for me having heavy panic attacks several times a day. Is she afraid of failing or change or making decisions? This would go along with the new situation. To tell from your lines, she was in that job for a long time. So she is loyal, was used to everything and everyone. She would have never left (maybe, as I said, because she is afraid of change). She knew that she did her job well and that gave her security.
I would say, she needs a break and needs to get away from all that stress of making a decision that overwhelms her. She needs distance and room to clear her mind. That way she can calm down, energize and maybe find the strength and clarity of what she wants. I don’t know if that is possible but maybe you could invite her to your place – different environment, sun, warmth, light. Someone to talk to whom she trusts. Maybe there are things hidden she had no idea of but can release them due to the different situation. This all can do wonders. And if it only results in the insight that she will ask for professional help. However, it will have an impact.
I wrote this in one flow and won’t edit it anymore. I hope it makes a bit sense for you, Gail 💖

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