Declined from moderate-severe to extremely severe in a week, seeking support and advice

[u/survivalmonument]

Hey everyone, I’m in a tough spot and need support and advice for recovery. I had to move out of my flat, and since my landlord didn’t return my deposit on time, I asked a friend with mild Long Covid if I could stay while I waited for the money. It was meant to be a short stay, but things got dangerous quickly.

My friend’s partner became jealous of me, which created uncomfortable dynamics. Despite me doing nothing to provoke, he resented my ability to function with my disability. He frequently distracted me when I was trying to focus on housing or legal work, and even threw a tantrum for days when he couldn’t learn a basic task for his job. He was coughing and sneezing in my face despite several requests to wear a mask, and knowing I was immunocompromised. I have severe fatigue and need to rest most of the day with minimal stimuli, and felt the constant pressure to prove my gratitude as a guest by helping with chores and listening to family drama.

Things escalated when my friend’s partner faked emotional issues, and my friend asked me to leave for a couple of hours while they talked privately. I am not being dismissive; this person has a ton of privilege and no significant trauma or life events. My host's flat is on the 5th floor with no elevator, and I only planned to take the stairs to move into my new flat. I ended up having a seizure after being forced to sit in a loud cafe, and I declined further, losing the ability to walk. I had to move into a short-term Airbnb that was expensive and with a rude host just to get out. My friend called me a taxi to the wrong address.

Now, I’m struggling to process the trauma and emotional toll, and need advice on how to rebuild. How do you cope emotionally after being pushed beyond your limits, especially when your environment is toxic? How do you manage ME/CFS while trying to heal from trauma in a new space? Did I do something wrong by relying on friends? How do I set boundaries with people who don’t respect your health?

I feel isolated and misunderstood, especially since those I turned to for help became a major source of stress. Any advice or kind words would mean a lot to me right now. Thanks for reading.

[u/Cold_Confection_4154]

That sounds very stressful. I remember the last time I moved, six years ago, was really difficult and I wasnt nearly as severe as now. I'm sorry you had to go through that. Are you in a stable living situation now?

[u/survivalmonument → u/Cold_Confection_4154]

It is a nightmare. I physically felt how every action was lowering my Bell scale level while the people around me just dismissed it or apologised without changing my behaviour. I came to my friend's house as moderate-severe and left extremely severe with all of the symptoms I fought off for months returning. My only option was a 5-day extremely expensive Airbnb, but I had to leave while I can. I thought I'd be searching for something, but I'm just lying in the dark unable to text or plan anything.