Ask Amy: Friend worries about pandemic’s toxic effect
Dear Amy: I am very concerned about a former co-worker.
I met "Gerry" two years ago when we were on the same project team.
Gerry was a funny person and has been very open about her mental health struggles.
After the project ended, we went our separate ways, but continued to follow each other on Instagram.
When the pandemic hit, Gerry would discuss how tough the lockdowns were, and we would share different recipes etc.
Now with the rise of the Omicron variant, I believe that she has completely spiraled into a dark rabbit hole.
On Instagram, she would constantly post photos and link the usernames of local politicians, calling them Nazis because of restrictions.
I reached out to Gerry to see if she needed someone to talk to, but I just got chewed out and called a "privileged b***h.” Additionally, there was an onslaught of insults aimed at my family, that I won't repeat here.
It has been a few weeks since then, and I have stopped following her Instagram account. However, another mutual friend mentioned to me that Gerry’s posts are getting worse – so much worse that she was written up at work for a particularly bad one.
I am not sure if I should reach out again and offer her a friendly shoulder to cry on, or if I should cut my losses and let her sit in the mess she is creating for herself.
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