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Had to resort to taking a Valium (5mg) tonight for acute stress flare-up after a heated argument (happened right before bedtime, then I can't fall asleep) These intense emotions of overwhelm and sadness keep me awake for hours afterwards. How long until this kicks in? After 20-30 mins, It doesn't feel like it's doing much at all...would taking more be bad? I also have Xanax, but I end up waking up middle of night when it wears off.

I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type but don't have hallucinations and never had. What I have are thoughts like: a family member is answering to another and they answer with a displeasing (I think) voice, for example, say "No" in that tone, and I think it is because of me that they are angry when they answer. Or when my mother sighs or something, I think in a weird way that she's sighing because I am a failure. I think when I am with my family members or when I hear them talk, I tend to feel like I am the cause of all the problems in their lives. What do you make of it?

My mother is 75 years old. She’s always been a supportive, loving, best friend to me, and I see her every year for the holidays. Due to my history with depression, I have much empathy for any problems she has, listen to her, tell her I love her, etc. I’m beginning to think she has some sort of Personality disorder. Over the last 3-5 years or so, she has become: Excessively sensitive to any sort of perceived criticism & is in a state of amplified distress, to the point where she breaks down into exaggerated sobbing several times per day, acting the victim, for no justifiable reason. The entire family walk on eggshells. It's become too exhausting to be around her reactive (rapidly shifting) emotional outbursts, constant need for approval/soothing, Labile, high-strung, volatile emotions; childlike hysteria, anger and pouting, physical ailments. Within hours, her mood can rapidly shift from hysterical, devaluing herself, always acting as a victim, no tolerance for stress, complaining - to being very cheerful, smiling, singing around the house, etc. She is a vivacious, lively, joyful, expressive, caring person and self-reports that she is not anxious or depressed. Her behavior does not really seem particularly manic. She refuses to go to any more Therapists because she went to one that was very unhelpful (like “talking to a wall”) So she wont go…she tried 2 SSRI’s which caused weight gain (so she won’t try more) She’s on Wellbutrin which hasn’t helped. She has heart issues, so cannot try many meds. I know this board doesn’t usually give advice or give diagnosis (in 2nd person)… However, I am the one looking for advice MYSELF to help me (& my father) deal with her and this stressful condition (which I’m not sure if this fits any diagnosis??) that is destroying our family relationship.

I am feeling bad about myself, because I took on the task of watching my sister's dogs for 7 days. Today was day 1. It felt like a nightmare, I waited for them to use the bathroom for 30 minutes, let them be by themselves for 15 minutes. And now fear they are going to mess themselves in the cage overnight because they were so excited to see me its as if they forgot to use the bathroom. Now I feel like a total failure and negative thoughts are on the rise and intrusive thoughts like the dogs are going to escape is causing me distress. Anxiety is bad tonight. Real bad.