emotional issues

I have a coworker with Lymes. Recently, she became very agitated, then emotional, quite so. Crying, shaking, and making servered accusations about me and how horrible I am. She had no concern for customers who may have heard or saw her. She now does not seem to know how bizarre her behavior was, or how hurtful. Just blames it on the Lymes and says no one understands. Is this normal? Do people with emotional issues prior to contracting Lymes experience increased emotionality?

Hi, Birds, from reading, talking to doctors, this forum & my own experience, yes, lot's of folks with Lyme disease have periods of anxiety (which it sounds like you were describing) & other fluctuations in emotions. And while I can't addres the "prior emotional issues" & the impact that might have, I can tell you that a person without prior issues can have significant anxiety & panic attacks at times, which may go away permanently.
While I applaud your concern for the company you work for, this is a matter for her supervisor to address with her. Your co-worker is living in an unimaginable situation that she is coping with as best she can. If you read some of the posts on this site, you'll see how life-altering this disease is. It would be a great kindness to her for you to "look the other way" , even help her when you can if at all possible. Her boss knows what's happening unless they aren't in the same building with you; or perhaps in spite of being in another building. Kudos to you for trying to learn something about this awful disease. I have never read another post by a co-worker of a lyme patient. I am very impressed by you! Welcome!

the way lyme affects the mind is so horrible...completely changing the person at times.

It happened to my mom.. she was a beautiful artist before lyme...and like a raging devil after getting lyme.

my childhood was practically traumatic because of her mood swings...felt like I never knew what was gonna happen next. I'd be sleeping peacefully...and had to wake up to bone-chilling screams in the middle of the night. I think i'm still slightly messed up from all those experiences.....ughh.

my mom was kind of like this person, but 10 times worse - (i'm not kidding)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF0IhyAasWw

people like to butter things up, and say things like 'oh that's rare' or whatever...but I truly think it happens to a lot of people with lyme. neuro-lyme or whatever.

probably one of the worst illnesses ...in terms of mental affects.

Thank you all for your repsonses. It does help to read how the Lymes has an affect on emotions. While all illnesses can cause stress and cause us to be more emotional than usual, Lymes sounds like one of the deseases that go beyond other illnesses in affecting our feelings.

It helps me to read these comments. The "co-worker" (and I was in a supervisory position with her, more on that in a minute) quit the job.

The job was not a stressful job, although it could at times be a bit physical, but mostly not. What I meant by prior emotional issues is she exhited behavior demonstrating she had issues with me training her, or just having seniority over her. I was in communication with the director of the business, and was encouraged by the director to speak alone with the co-worker before the director stepped in (and was told to document behavior). I have years of experience working with special needs people, and training in counseling, so I do not feel that my behavior was threatening or accussatory, and in fact feel I was being very gentle and understanding. However, SHE, in her mind, heard all my statements as sly and ugly, and my efforts at compassion and gentleness were labeled as condescending and patronizing.

One communicaton with her since simply blamed the Lymes, no apology was offered, or acceptance for her behavior. Absolutely no remorse was shown. If once the flair up is over, it just seems the person would be embarrassed, or feel the need to apologize, and not just say "the public doesn't understand Lymes desease".

Frankly, I am relieved she quit. In our line of work, we should not be allowing our emotions or negative feelings for others to be shown to customers. It is probably best for her to not work, if that is possible for her, so she is not under any added stress, no matter how mild, and can get more rest and work on healing. But I do feel there were emotional issues there prior to the Lymes and that perhaps the Lymes has ambilfied them. I feel very bad for her, and had truly hoped we could work through whatever her issues were in regards to the job, but that did not happen. Thanks again, all of you, for helping me to understand Lymes better. I feel for each of you. Hang in there.

You may find a great deal of information about what we go through on this site: www.lymespouse.org/

I too commend you in trying to learn more, since these diseases are on the rise, chances are pretty high that you will be dealing with more and more people with these diseases - as either employees or as customers.

Understanding for diseases that aren't understood is a hard thing to come by - even if it is essential when dealing with us!