<< if this is completely normal, than I won't make that appointment with the psychologist…LOL>>
I know you said this as a joke, but let me toss this out here. Making an appointment to seek the guidance of a mental health professional can absolutely help you in this situation. They aren't only for when you feel as though the ship has sunk, the house is on fire and you're being swept away by a tsunami. 🙂 They also can help you (and often BETTER help you) to learn some techniques for dealing with your stress when the stress isn't so awful that you're threatening to run away and join the circus.
Several years ago my marriage and personal life crashed in such a way that it made a train wreck look preferable. The “blessing” if you want to call it that in my situation was that it was so horrendously awful, it really took away the question of “should I see a therapist?” because the answer was a big resounding “Well, DUHHH!!!” LOL!!
And fortunately I was smart enough to get me and my kids in therapy right away. it did not diminish what happened to us. but what it did do was immediately teach me the tools I needed to get us through it all and allow me to start using them right away, instead of floundering around for months on end until I finally did get help.
I'm finishing up with grad school right now and I'm beginning my prep to take FAR in August. Because I know me and because I know the impact this will all have on my family, I' have already reached out and have an appointment to see someone so I can refresh my “deal with extreme stress skills” and use the guidance of a professional to come up with a plan that keeps me sane while studying, working full-time and being a single mom to a tween and a newly minted freshman in HS.
So… think about it. 🙂 It helps.
FAR: 5/12/16... and if I don't die from an anxiety attack...
AUD: 7/8/16
REG: 8/25/16
BEC: 11/3/16