Medication to prevent situational crying?

I'm not sure if this is the right section but i figured people familiar with anxiety problems might be familiar with some solutions.

There are specific triggers that can predictably make me cry. If I'm talking about something I find threatening to someone who holds power over me, then I'm likely to start crying. For example, if I'm talking to my boss about my job performance. It's terribly embarrassing and causes me to avoid talking about subjects that I know could be triggers. But avoidance is often unrealistic or makes things worse. I also don't want to blame it on allergies or anything insincere.

I was wondering if there's a medication out there that can prevent me from crying when I know that I'm going to face a potential situation later in the day.

I'm not interested in advice related to the therapeutic nature of crying, or about coming to terms with the reason for crying. I understand that crying has its time and place. Unfortunately crying in front of my boss is never appropriate, and understanding why I cry isn't going to help me stop crying. I just need a pill or something. Any suggestions?

PS, My boss isn't that bad, it's just an example I'm using.

It would be great if you could just take a pill and get that immediate relief. But by exploring why you cry (looking for themes for instance) you may be able to cry less often or move towards crying in more social appropriate moments. For instance, instead of crying in front of your boss you can hold off until you get in your car or get home. Medication might be more appropriate if you're also dealing with depression, which could certainly lead towards a person crying.

Therapy might not solve things right away, but the sooner you start the sooner you'll see results.

Really
think you should give therapy a go
i honestly do not think there is a majic pill to stop your crying as you had hoped
keep us poste plz

I used to be on valium for anxiety/night terrors (its been switched to a low dose of klonopin which works much better), and back then I had to specific incidents in which I went into an absolute hysterical crying spell. One of those nervous breakdowns in which you want to throw up, can't breathe, and this water flows for about 60 to 90 minutes. Both times that happened to me, I took 20 mgs of valium, and that brought my panic attack gushing to a slow roar of somber tears. Anti anxiety medications would probably help here, but that is something you really need to talk to a doctor about. Remember that anti anxiety medication can be a great help when used in moderation, but it can cause rebound anxiety and depression when overused.

I know you want to knock the therapy thing, but it could be as simple as going to one trusted person. THAT could be your therapy. As I said, I think this is a situation you should see a doctor about.

Hi really? and welcome.

We advised her the way that we did because there is no pill that will do what she wanted it to do...also, having come out of the experience of therapy on the other side, we know that it is the core issue that needs to be addressed, not just the symptom.

We were not trying to ignore her wishes, so much as point her in the right direction. I am sorry if it came across as unhelpful. We do our best to advise in the best way we can.

Welcome to the A/P and please feel free to post anytime with questions or sharing. We are here to help and support.:)

Scaredy Cat

I to find it VERY disappointing that everyone suggested therapy rather than a legitimate solution to a case by case situation. I too have this issue. Whether it's a performance review, addressing a problem with a coworker or unsatisfactory service by a service provider or dealing with my ex, it's always the same although some situations are more challenging to maintain control than others. I do not have any depression or other issues. I did therapy to deal with other issues in my past and moved forward from them successfully - yes according to the MD. Yet, the issue with crying when in a stressful, upsetting or fight or flight situation just kicks in and other than removing myself from the situation, I needed a better way to deal.

So... I'm going to share the pharmaceutical solution my doctor and I came up with to deal with my need to remain composed in situations that were beyond my control and absolutely required composure. Sadly I cannot believe no one else has share this.

I tried .5mg of Klonopin but it dulled my thinking as well as my emotions. This was not okay because these situations required me to also be alert and at the top of my game... i.e. standing in front of a judge as a pro se litigant to successfully argue my point... yeah I did that and rocked it.

So, we tried 2 medications. First was Propranolol. In high doses it's a beta blocker for heart issues but in low doses it treats situational anxiety and panic such as fear of public speaking. The second medication was Alprazolam, generic for Xanax. There aren't any contraindications to combining the two but of course talk to you doctor.

It wasn't 100% successful in every situation and needs to be taken far enough in advance to get the benefit... but in the key, really important situations, I was successful at keeping my composure which served me well. Some situations emotions absolutely do not belong and can undermine our success. I firmly believe that there is a time and a place for therapy. But there are also situations that are beyond our control that no amount of therapy is going to cure a fight or flight response when the thing causing the issue isn't going to change. The only option I found for this was to find a medical way to control my reaction.

I also found it helpful to have a prescription for Ambien (not generic) in 10 mg that I can split. If I'm anxious the night before a review or court status and struggle to sleep, this gets me to sleep fast for the entire night so that I can wake refreshed and not groggy. You must allow a solid 6 hours of sleep and more like 8+ if you use another brand, generic or CR. It's also good to only take when needed to avoid becoming dependent.

I hope the original poster has found some form of relief or sees this and gets what she needs from her doctor. I only knew to ask for because a pharmacist friend gave me some direction.

I am so happy to know I'm not alone...I am successful but my crying at work when dealing with confrontations with co workers or difficult situations are totally ridiculous...some "friends" even "joke" and call me emotional one...probably think that I am an emotional wreck which I am not because I am also a very rational person and make very good decisions when emotional or in pressure but like others said crying at work is terrible for our professional image. I came along this post because I was googling on how "not to cry". I am also looking for a med and no therapy will help my excess of crying hormones...

Keep coming with the med combos I am going to a doctor to check my options...

Making notes of suggested drugs that I will discuss with my doctor. Interested to hear if there are others who found something that worked well to get them through an emotional day.

I truly understand. I have suffered with "situational crying" all my life. I have never met anyone who understands. I am normally a very happy person. I cry as hard on a happy occasion eg. weddings, as sad occasions eg. saying goodbye. It took me a long time to figure out that it happens anytime love is expressed. I was raised with 4 brothers, whose sign of affection was a punch in the arm. Our family never hugs or tells each other we love them. I always thought "I love you" was assumed and never needed to be said. When I was really young, I would make excuses for my tears. My earliest memory is when I saw my Mom hug her Dad. I blamed my tears on a stomach ache. When a relative would leave, I would walk around the block until they were gone so I didn't have to say goodbye. I am 56 years old and still can't say goodbye. Once I started falling in love, I could not return an "I love you" much to my partners disappointed. It took me a long time to learn how to say it and to this day, only tell my husband and nobody else. I have struggled thru weddings, funerals, goodbyes, hellos. Once I lose my composure, I'm done. My crying heavy lasts until I remove myself from the situation. I develop so much acid in my stomach that I have been sick to my stomach and very nauseous. My face goes beet red and so hot. It is totalling exhausting. I have tried many medications, psychiatry, hypnotherapy, acupuncture and nothing helps. My best and only solution is avoidance so I am missing weddings, funerals, goodbyes etc. Can you imagine - I never got married because I would never get thru it? What am I going to do the day I lose my parents etc? I couldn't be at my partners side when he lost his parents, making me look like I don't care. The complete opposite is true - I care so much. I have even written the Mayo clinic to ask about researching my brain's emotional centre for a solution. It is obviously a chemical imbalance. Life is passing me by. I WANT to be there!!!!! I get so mad when I break down and miss these precious occasions. It's like my inside doesn't match my outside. Am I making sense? Does anyone understand? Do you have any solution? It would change my life!

Hi and welcome,

I am sorry to hear about your challenges with emotional issues that are ongoing for so long.

You mentioned psychiatric help for the issue....does this include long term therapy for the root causes?

If not, this might be something you want to pursue , along with finding a beneficial Rx.

If you are not currently under the car of a P-doc, this is something you may want to pursue.

Best wishes for your pursuit of wellness, and post anytime.:)

S.C.

Sorry to hear about all of the anti-depressants.

St. John's Wort is hit or miss from what I have read. I have never taken it, though.

How about the Nuedexta?

LWB,

Great job on pursuing so much to help your self and this challenge!

The only other thing I can suggest is to re-visit the therapy option if it has been awhile since you've been in sessions.

We are constantly changing, and our readiness for recovery is also a varying factor.

You may have complete success after returning to a previously ineffectual treatment.

Self help is also something to keep pursuing...you never know when something is going to suddenly 'click'...and progress is gained!

Best wishes, and post anytime.:)

S.C.

Hi Las68 and welcome!

I am sorry to hear that you are going through this and the issues is has caused for you...anxiety can be so costly.:(

Have you done any therapy or self help specifically for social anxiety?

How about an Rx specifically to control the physical effects of anxiety such as Propanolol? (Beta Blocker)

S.C.