Just feel stressed a lot, can you relate? Is this GAD?

[Northcoast]

I just feel stressed a lot.  I catch a look of myself in a mirror as I walk past and am shocked at how my face SHOWS the stress to the world.  I hate that others can see the stress I feel.  Just the other day a guy at Lowe's asked if I needed help with something because I had this forelorn look on my face.  I can tell by the set of my jaw and just how my face feels tense.  I don't have panic attacks, never have.  But just this tense feeling a lot of the time. I've heard of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and wonder if I have it.  My MD put me on Klonopin, .5 ml. each night at bedtime.  But I've been splitting the pill in half and taking half at bedtime and half in the morning to keep a constant level in my body.  Don't think it's really helping too much, maybe the dosage is too low.  But can anyone else relate to just feeling stressed a lot, with no panic attacks?  What medication would be best for this?  I'd appreciate any advice.  Thanks.

[Northcoast]

I ended up going to see my MD to ask for a bump in my Klonopin dosage to .5 mg twice a day.  We talked a bit and then he wrote me a new prescription.  

But I still have a question about whether Klonopin is the best drug for me.  I don't have panic attacks at all.  Just this generalized sense of stress almost all the time.  I want to be sure I'm taking the correct drug for my condition.  And my doctor said that I could take the K as needed.  I asked him does that mean if I am feeling good I could not take it and he said yes.  That doesn't coincide with things I've read on this board though.  Is that .5 dosage a low dosage that wouldn't cause issues with stopping and starting intermittently?   Is Klonopin the best drug for someone without panic attacks but just a generalized sense of anxiety?  Any comments would be appreciated.  Thanks.  

[Northcoast]

Thanks for the advice.  I was prescribed the K by my MD to take just at nightime.  But from reading online I found that it is best to take 2x daily.  That's why, on my own, I started splitting the pills.  I'm kind of hesitant to contact my MD I find.  The nurse is like Nurse Ratchet and my doctor is winding down his practice and is only in one day a week.  So I find I am almost embarrassed to call in to discuss dosages and stuff.  Not exactly the best situation for me, I know. He'll be retiring soon so I'll hopefully find someone as competent but a bit more welcoming.  I haven't been to a psychiatrist since I was in my 20's and am kind of hesitant to start up with that again since mine was really into hypnosis and stuff that was kind of off the wall.  Question: do I have to go to the psychiatrist regularly, or can I just go for an initial visit, get the proper prescription and then follow up when needed.  I don't want to get into therapy again. Just want the proper meds and talk to someone who is more of an expert than my MD.  

[JSGeare]

You're suspicions about the K does being too loow may be correct. I don't know the particulars, but I beleive the stuff works best at a certain level in your blood, and that the level is best maintained by two doses a day. THAT is what I think I think. The actual answer will be best supplied by a psychiatrist -so why not schedule a consult soon both for a meds check and to chat a bit about your stress levels. Nip this in the bud, I say.