No Barb, I don't think you're going crazy... But it sounds like my mind lately. I worry about my MIL having another meltdown during the night & FIL calling before dawn to ket me know...worried I'm not keeping track of their med supply and mine, since my cog dysfunction has ramped up & I get confused...

I'm on Nudexta which is supposed to help with those emotional overreactions; but it's the stress that is worrying me. I try to do deep breathing, centering, but I still seem to get so easily overwrought, kind of like MIL with Alz...my DH can "put it in the shelf" so to speak. Wish I had that ability

I am having one of those "over reaction" days. I just feel like the whole world is against me today. Im hot, im tired, im stressed, Im frustrated, and I feel quite touchy and that it would be easy for me to bite someones head off. I am worried about money, church, family, DS, the heat, cats, DH, the upcoming vacation, my weight, the environment, will I stay blind after one of my walks, my wallet, my car, DSs wrecked truck, our country, the economy, health insurance, SSDI, medicare, medications, and so on....it feels like so much to carry!

yet, there are some days that I simply cant put it away, and let it rest. like a festering sore I keep picking at it. Will it heal if I keep picking? or will it get infected?

I KNOW this is an MS monkey on my back today. My back is very upset today. My left leg is buzzing, my eyes are still fuzzy, its been 10 days since JAck needed a shot, so I am now hyper vigilant looking for signs that he is ready. will I cause him to roll over into stress and that triggers him to need one?

Viseeu described it perfectly. She gets periods of "hypervigilance" and simply feels on point at all times when it happens and she cant turn it off. That is exactly how I feel today.

this was one of the first things I noticed when my partner was diagnosed, he can't deal with stress like he used to. He was such a cool calm person before, now if someone really gets to him, he can explode! He's better now, I notice a huge difference in his stress levels if he's not had enough rest or sleep, particularly if we have a late night over the weekend with friends.
To manage his stress especially when he gets home from work I give 5HTP and GABA
No side effects like SSRIs.

When I had a lot of stress in my life, my MS was in overdrive. And stressful situations also made my blood pressure go very high. Stress is bad for anyone in high doses but if you have MS and high levels of stress, I believe that it can aggravate the MS significantly.

Now the stress is reduced and my MS is mild, and my blood pressure totally under control. I know there is a direct relation and many studies will confirm this relation in many situations.

So true Wiz and although stress may not be the cause of MS, I believe it is the #1 Trigger. And it's like a vicious circle....the MS causes stress and visa versa.

Since my stress is under control, I feel much less MSy. My MS is too far gone to ever reverse itself now, but if I had gotten my anxiety and panic disorder under control early in the game, it may have.

just a suggestion, have you read the book Potatoes not Prozac by Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons?

Just put it on my list. As much as I try to do breathing, exercise, prayer, I am still overreacting to stressful situations. Getting away from home physically helps a lot ;-). But eventually I have to go back...

I depend on potatoes and Prozac, and for me it's not a choice.

what were we talking about? I swear, from the time I clicked the REPLY button, to the time this box of white opened....I completely lost track of why I was going to respond....


ok, looked below and wanted to pat Sal on the back. Some folks MUST have that chemical pathway restored, and some folks respond beautifully to a handful of cashews or potato. Glad you know your limits sal.

FWIW:
Read if you want, JMO.
I found my true stress was when I was working those last few years. When working you can really get stressed. The pressure can be unrelenting.

Stress to me now--is a feeling of being "Overwhelmed" more so than pure stress. Stress doesn't usually go away, we can just keep adding to it unless people either take away the stress component from us, or you fill the void with a chemical if you are deplete. Many people need depression or anxiety meds because they are chemically deprived by nature, or disease of these valuable chemicals in the brain.

I find if one thing piles on top of the other, than another, than I have to go somewhere or I must do something, and my list gets longer for the day, or the week, then I get very overwhelmed. I don't get depressed or feel anxiety, more like a wringing of the hands together, like worry hands. What to do? What to do next? Pacing too.

When I force myself to tackle a problem, of try to delegate these events or tasks, then they are lessened. I am less overwhelmed and feel so much better. If I can't get my list down, I go to take my shower and have a good cry. We are given this privilege to cry, sob, rant or rave, until we feel better. I find it works for me when too much, is just too much. I like my privacy to cry.

So Debbie, sobbing or feeling tearful, a lump in the throat, water swelling up in the eyes is fine. It is our release valve, we should not feel bad using it for the purpose intended by our bodies to feel better, or take away some pain, either physical or mental pain.

Sometimes it can clear our thoughts and minds and we can see clearly the answers we were looking for. Try to toss away the stressors, don't worry about anything YOU personally can't change, like the debt ceiling. Worry about the things you really have no choice about. Or share your worries with those who can help you. Get medication if needed.

Don't ever let stress build up too heavily. It is a silent killer to other diseases.

There is a part of MS, and other Neurological diseases, or injuries, that does cause outbursts of extreme uncontrollable crying or laughing. Not many people get that. I think Montel has that problem when I watch his new videos and he discusses his health, he gets tearful.

It's called "PBA." The (emotional) "Pseudobulbar Affect," that may be caused by the brains wiring, I think. I am definitely not a doctor.

Sorry to preach or ramble on. I have family members in such situations.