anxiety or stress? / Male & crying

[alexlakeman]

I am trying to self diagnose myself based on what I am reading online... I used to think what I had was stress, then recently doing some reading I thought it was anxiety... now? I am more confused.

Symptoms? All could be great, no issues, fantastic, productive day... then one thing happens and everything goes to sh..t . and I start crying, after reading the signs for anxiety I noticed I feel the tingling in my body when I am in that situation and it's about to hit me... I usually just wait to the very end to take the .5 of xanax as I am terrified to get addicted (the most i take per week is three days at .5 ea day), the other days I get anxiety I have to take alcohol, so I don't take too much xanax.

Example? A week ago, I came back from 2 weeks vacation in Europe... couldn't be happier... there was an email I had to read from my ex wife / court / kids, etc... I got so anxious for two days before reading the email... I took it out on my g/f... finally Sunday I read the email... and start crying... Yesterday? On the way to my kid's therapist and ex wife calls to say it was cancelled... there went my evening, started crying.....start thinking of upcoming court / ex wife issues.. crying again...

I was on effexor xr(?) last year for depression... I don't think it's depression now b/c I could be the happiest person for days, then one thing comes and it just destroys me...

Another ex? Boss calls me to the office asking questions about a travel advance for a business trip... i am stressing out over it for days later , yeah and cryed ...

so is it stress or anxiety.. reading the description on xanax it's for anxiety and I definitely feel better when I take it, so I think it's anxiety (plus the tingling).

thoughts?

[cj29]

Stress and anxiety can often go hand in hand in my opinion.  You are obviously nervous about what is going on, and I would call that anxiousness, but I am not a doctor so I cannot really diagnose.  Regardless, though it is affecting your life; do you have access to a counselor that you could talk this through with?  I am always amazed at how much progress one can make when one learns about the source of their stress and anxiety.  Please keep us posted and be careful about trying to self diagnose over the internet...while there is a lot of information out there, it can really get you going in the wrong directions sometimes.  Please continue to feel free to express as many questions/concerns that you have!

[Paxiled]

Doesn't matter what you call it, you have it, and need to see a therapist to deal with it.  You also suffer from depression -- depression tends to be episodic, not necessarily all the time.  And listen to cj -- you really can't diagnose over the internet.  Too many fools on the internet (like me).  

[alexlakeman]

I am almost embarrased going back to the doctor... I have been to my primary doctor more times the last 24 months than I had my whole life, like every 90-120 days I am back in:( ...

I had been pondering going to theraipist or not.. but knowing what is driving my "issue", I know the solution, it's the ex, pressure for $, and all that... so I figured a therapist would just say "fix the problem"...which isn't as easy as it sounds and could follow me for ever :( ....I finally made an appointment with a therapist, so we'll see in 2 wks when I see him. I just want to continue getting info etc... yeah, I agree I shouldn't self diagnoce, but for example that tingling, I never thought anything of it until I did some reading...

So far Sat was uneventful, no anxiety, just relaxed and only one drink and no xanax... so just need to get through today.. Once Monday comes and I get busy with work and life I am ok, its just these alone times when I target to relax...

I read that excerscing relaxes you and might help, so going for  a bike ride today, we'll see... 12 more hours to go b4 bed time

[Paxiled]

Doctors are clueless about mental health.  Therapists are trained.  They're not all very good, but the right one can help.  And they don't judge you.  They try to direct you to help yourself.

[alexlakeman]

I am going to see a therapist next friday, but they are not MD's,,, so he can't write a prescription... I don't know if that will work or he will direct me back to my MD for the meds or send me to an MD psych...

I had another episode yesterday and had to have .5g of xanax... I which I could just take x daily and not worry about these episodes... when I start feeling that way it's "how many times have i had x this week?" "do i drink alcohol and chill or will I neex x"?

Since Monday , i've only had to take x twice, wed/thurs... but got today - sun to worry about...

I wish I knew what I had so I can read up on it... I guess I'll find out next week. I have been writting down in detail all that's going on when I have one of those terrible crying episodes...and hopefully that will help the therapist and/or my doctor.

I realized this week, that I don't put on my contacts for months, b/c when I cry my eyes are irritating the nxt few days... oh well...

blood pressure, yesterday was 161/113 when I started feeling this "anxiety" or "stress" or whatever it is... an hour before I started cying.. kinda high...