Hi, I've never felt hugely low or anything. I'm the most placid bends backwards (probably too much) calm blokes. Quite shy until I really develop relationships etc. So worked in a place for a couple of years and we've a small team of 5 that works within a "bigger" team/dept. Two of the guys worked longer so have their kinda "area" away from our office/workshop floor etc, which is fine, but had (I thought) worked into the circle etc and as a team we'd had a great two years, and started going out socially etc.

One of the guys though is very private about his private life, which is fine etc, the other guy i've met his wife etc and he's joined us on nights out but at a party/night out late spring my pints of bitter occasional confidence spark pryed abit, nothing crazy added the priviate guy's wife on social media perhaps thinking we'd all do something one day probably was thinking, nothing too heavy I'd suspect to 9/10 would be fine or politely decline. Despite a social/out of work issue the following week he went straight to my boss (who kinda batted it off as out of work) and was stormy talking about some huge privacy invasion. Okay can hold hands up, however wasn't exactly axe murderer stuff.

Had a few weeks holiday to take, so had them and came back and thought I'd would blow over. Ever since that incident a frowned stare or active avoidation of eye contact/stare. I left a note to say have a chat/work something out. Nothing. My head is wanting to say lots of stuff and in a calm nice but firm manner but it's been a few weeks so now it's just a bottle crasher. Other colleague is in the middle saying it'll blow over still.

The wider factory department haven't cottoned on yet and with him being all private isn't telling anyone, which almost makes it my obligation I can't now make a complaint as I'm avoiding his part of the factory and tactically taking my cigarette breaks when he's not to avoid. I'm so thankful I am off on the day we usually have our mini team meetings with management. I'm struggling to get up to go to work and I'm literally in tears with fear and so dark thoughts. I have had 1 or 2 panic attacks in the car etc at end of day when he's been chatting to everyone and obviously ignoring me. He's totally shut down on me. No thoughts are sinister and nothing like oh I need tablets for or anything ( I don't think), As I know if he calmed down and said look it's fine and/or could say some words/chat feel normal going to talk work then he'd be sound about it. How long do I be nice say hi to be ignored trying to be all apologetic when some point I'm going to be full of rage and hate because it was something so little...

I said to the middle guy i'd quit but he said no. Problem is i'm a specialist in my area and It would cos so much upheaval (then more people would have to know) and not too many jobs like mine elsewhere and can't afford to have even 6-8 weeks without work really or the mortgage is gone.

I'm awful and hate conflict, avoid it all the time. My partner jokes we've had about 2 arguments in our whole time! This is just so uncomfortable and her words are great and I know she's right - ignore, smile raise above, but the most simple of things/little issues at work I'm trying to do himself as I am petrifed to even try and make conversation. Trying but I have that dark cloud when he appears or when I've several lone hours at home or trying to sleep. I just don't know what/where/how to go forward. Sorry if this is a bit of a ramble.