> How can i get back to normality? Im thinking i can go back to an older
> project file when they were connected and drag the bins over but then will
> my timelines readjust to those new bins and clips? What's the process here?
No, your timelines won't update on their own.
Do you have illegal file names in your media? It could also be a project-file corruption. Try moving everything to a new project file.
Whenever you have an illogical media disconnect (for example, the drive is still connected, the files are present), it's very important that you don't save the project file after opening it. First thing to always try is to shut down the application, relaunch, and then re-open the project file.
If you don't have a regular backup process, you need to start one. I never go more than three or four hours without a manual backup to multiple locations (including an external medium), because Autosave is not reliable.