Stress - un-necessary worry

[carron81]

My boyfriend gets really stressed out and has been to the doctor in the past about it and i've also been in with him, but its very hard to explain to the doctor what he's like. You'd really need to spend the day with him to see the things that stress him.

One thing I have noticed is that he seems to stress about things that might not even happen e.g

today i was leaving hospital after having a baby. he was coming to pick us up and a car parked next to ours and it was quite close. he came up to my hospital room and he couldn't relax and was constantly worried that the car was going to get scratched!! it then creates an atmosphere in the room and ruins the moment of us taking the baby home - if you know what i mean

another example:

my labour is classed as traumatic so the midwife was saying to me that i'm in a catogory that has a higher risk of post natal depression. i've not got it but just to let me know its something i could get in the future. so yet again, my boyfriend is now worried about something that might not happen.

is there a name for this? we have the doctor on thursday so i really want to try and get the right help. i think he has a number of other stress problems but this is the best way to describe one of them

other things that can stress him our are if the traffic light changes to red - this could ruin his day

whats the best way to discuss this with the doctor as the last time i went with him i didn't find them helpful

[Ethel]

He is suffering from acute anxiety which can lead to panic attacks.

He is living with a sense of dread - a doom if you like - that is a dreadful burden for him and those close to him.

Well done for helping him to get help, but don't forget you are the priority at the moment. Look after yourself first and foremost.

[rainbow2]

Don't really think it's a disorder - there are thousands of people like him. Bit like those who have half-empty glasses, others have half-full. He will never change - just accept him as he is. No point in you stressing over him stressing!! People have different personalities - you were obviously attracted to him for what he is - maybe you have a calming influence that attracted him to you? Congratulations on your baby - just enjoy and go with the flow ....

[wisewomen]

Hi,

My boyfriend is very similar, he can never relax. He constantly has to be doing something or thinking about stuff that he has to do. He has lists for everything as he has so much he feels that he needs to remember.

He worries about stuff all the time and it annoys me when he stresses about unimportant stuff or stuff that you cannot change.

I worry so much that this will one day his health will really suffer.

[carron81]

hi wisewoman

that is very similar. i feel so bad for him because you can see it in his face that he is just so stressed.

i've tried everything. i'm a beauty therapist even tried relaxing massage but he cant sit still when i'm doing it.

its so hard to try and describe what he is like. i think thats why we get nowhere when we go to the doctors. but i really think we need to try and make the doctor understand. its now not just affecting him. i get stressed and sometimes think theres no point even going out as something will set him off and ruin the day so i might as well stay in.

i don't know if it could be something thats happened in the past that might not be a big deal but has had an effect on him that he's not realised. he had 2 children at the age of 15, his dad drowned when he was 12 so these things could all have somehting to do with it.

my friends mum had hypnotherapy to find out why she had panic attacks and they found it was something from her childhood. so it might be worth our while going down that road