Poor MrsB...and you. I used to suffer panic attacks some years ago and they are hugely debillitating. If her attacks are solely based on her work problems, then at least not having to go back will help enormously. If though, they have caused them to spill over in to everyday life, things will take a bit longer to settle down. I never thought I would get beyond mine, and found even simple tasks and journeys impossible to do...no matter how much I tried. I became so worried about anything and nothing, and imagined awful scenarios involving my children and family. I couldn't even cope with driving on a dual carriageway and there were weeks when I wouldn't step outside the door. Not a good time for anybody.
However, while I am and always will be I guess, one of lifes worriers, I now will quite happily zip along the motorways of France and drive back to the UK without batting an eyelid and can walk in to any situation quite confidently. Not much fazes me these days...and I never thought that would be the case!
I still tend to see the dangers before the fun in the things my children and grandchildren do, but having had an awful lot of knocks and tragedies in my life, I think that is probably only natural. We are shaped by events after all.
MrsB WILL recover...and all the quicker for having you there supporting her, and if the company who has treated her so badly can be brought to book in some legal way, then so much the better. She probably won't feel like fighting them (if that's an option) but the laws are a bit better these days with tribunals etc.
She maybe needs to sit back and smell the flowers for a while until she heals...we don't do enough of that anymore. It's one of the reasons we came to France...that little bit better pace of life, working to live and not living to work.
I wish her peace and a speedy recovery and you the strength for both of you as long as you need it.
Resa
PS. Some people find the little spray bottle of Bach's Rescue Remedy very helpful....I did. It's worth trying for the few pounds it costs. You can get it in the health shops.