Thank you, thank you everyone, for your kind thoughts, sympathies and advice. Just reading your posts has been very heart-warming, and I am really thankful for all your support. Through these replies and PMs I know that others have had to suffer these circumstances and deal with the effect of them on their flying. I will go flying sooner rather than later, I think - indeed, two PPRuNers have, with great kindness, offered to fly with me in their aircraft, and it is through such support as this that I feel I will be able to return to the air in a well-balanced and 'right' way.
I feel that when we post on a forum such as this we are throwing ourselves on the mercy of other forum users, but when the chips are down there is no doubt that your online friends are rooting for you in a very real way: you guys have been wonderful and it has brought a tear to my eye to read your replies; and I hope to be there for anyone else who flags up trouble of their own, that needs a helping hand.