I've terrified my cat :(

So, I found a stray cat in my backyard months ago and she was super unfriendly. The vet said she would be put down because no one would want to adopt a cat that hisses 24/7. So I adopted her and called her Shyloh.

It has been going really well! She did run away for a week but then came back and now she will let me pat and brush her and hangs out pretty much exclusively in the house. A real improvement.

Yesterday though I think I really broke her trust. I was on a phone call receiving some awful personal news when I heard a smash. I hung up and went to see what it was. Shy had knocked off my Waterford crystal bell that my grandmother had given me before she passed. It was smashed all over the ground and I started crying and screamed at Shy. She freaked out and ran away but I followed her yelling. I was so angry and overwhelmed. I wanted to pick her up and put her outside because she was flying around the house and she obviously needed some space. I think I made it worse by trying to catch her. :/ she ended up hiding in a cupboard and was sort of catatonic. I could touch her and everything, she just wasn't really responding. Then I freaked out that maybe she had hit her head when she was panicking or something!!

She got better quickly though and went to hide in the garage. She came into the house last night and ate some chicken from my hand but hissed a lot and kept bolting every time I moved. I feel so bad and guilty. I really shouldn't have yelled and chased her, it was so mean. I was just so upset by the phone call and the crystal bell. But the poor thing doesn't understand that.

She was probably abused by her previous owners and I feel so so bad that I scared her like that. She probably thought I was going to hurt her and will never like me again. How do I fix this? It's set back months of working with her. I'm such an idiot.

It may not take as long as you think, since she did eat the chicken out of your hand so soon after the incident.   It sounds to me like you already have a fairly good idea of what works with her so I would go back to what you did in the first place to bring her out of her shell.  Since she bolts when you move, you might have to resign yourself to sitting very still with her for extended periods of time and speaking softly to her.  I would definitely let her come to you, though, and let her set the pace as she regains her sense of security.  Hopefully this is not a permanent set back. 

Oh, no! I know you feel awful. You won her trust once, you'll regain it again. Hugs.

And, THANK YOU for saving what others saw as an unlovable, unsavable cat.

Yes, it was a set back, but in time she will recover okay, but I would make sure never to yell at her again, she didn't intentionally knock the bell off, my solution to this is museum putty!

I use it all over the house for things I want to stay put!  Works amazingly well.

I LOVE that you have taken this poor girl in and given her a home where she feels she belongs.

Give yourself a break. Cat's have short memories & she will forget about the incident and & start seeing you as her Knight (Knightess?) in Shining Armor again soon so dont stress. You are clearly a good person.

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm glad to know it probably isn't irreprable. She's been hanging around the house a bit more today, just on edge. I'm going to try and just sit still near her like suggested, when I can and maybe read to her.
Museum putty is a great idea too! I'll definitely invest in some of that.

She's the first cat I've owned. All my pets have been large boisterous dogs, so adjusting my behaviour to suit a cat is a steep learning curve.

My Oliver is terribly skittish. I call him my scaredy-cat because seriously, he's a scaredy-cat that gets spooked by absolutely nothing. There are days he will absolutely RUN from me - terrified, with a poofed-out tail and all - for reasons that I have never figured out. And then every time he sees me, he'll run.

Until he wants something. Then he's fine.

I wouldn't stress yourself out too much.  I was in your shoes once... I finally gave in to my husband's requests to bring Coco into our home (she was living with his family but being bullied by the other three male kitties), and she caused some trouble at first.  I did lose my temper with her in the beginning, but we managed to settle our differences in the end.  I also think that I am her favorite human/servant now.  It is perfectly understandable that you got upset -- you seem to have a lot on your shoulders at the moment.  While your kitty may never understand what upset you, I am sure they know that you aren't a cruel or mean person, and will warm up to you again.