We were playing a game tonight and I jokingly called my H a name "in fun"...we both started laughing and I started laughing hysterically and actually had to lay on the floor after maybe a minute or two the laughing turned to uncontrollable crying. He said something and somehow I was able to quit the crying. We went on to play another round of our game but I was disturbed at this...it has happened on occasion before. I recognize that I was thinking negative stuff during the game going backwards to when I was laughing so hard this past summer and thinking that some family members might have thought I was nuts. Also, changing meds right now so today was no Lexapro or xanax. Has anyone ever had this kind of thing happen as I looked online and it may be related to anxiety. Does anyone know what anxiety condition...I wonder and think some of you may have more knowledge about it? I want to understand and I guess I want to label myself with it just so that I can understand. Thanks in advance.
Hopeful

I live in anxiety and I've had this happen. Either laughing until tears or laughing that brings on a release of crying. I think it just opens you up and things sneak out as they need to? Laughing/crying actually don't sound all that different or look all that different. For me they are frequent partners. When I'm crying I will sometimes start laughing too. I burn off a lot of my anxiety/emotions with laughter. Hopefully your family won't think you're nuts. That kind of thing just happens sometimes I think.

quote:

Also, changing meds right now so today was no Lexapro or xanax.

I had a panick attack once that included uncontrollable crying-tears streaming down my face, intermixed with laughing (that was the part of me trying to keep up my emotional defenses to retain sanity).

It could be a mixed state (similar to bipolar hypomania) reaction from stopping the Lexapro. For some reason, I get hypomania when I first quit an antidepressant. Always wished that feeling would stay. Hope that reassures you.

Catalyst,
Thanks...it's helpful to hear from others. I think since starting therapy (almost a year) my anxiety is worse or maybe I am recognizing more things that are anxiety. I tend to tell myself that others are thinking this or that about me and they probably are not even doing that at all...I think I am just exploring where/why I became this way...childhood though I do know that for sure. I do the laughing and crying bit...on a recent therapy session I did that. Thanks again.
Hopeful

ps. I don't think hysteria is such a bad thing.

xoxo,
Thanks for your input also. Sometimes I do find that feeling kind of funny but it was so extreme this time that it disturbed me. Yes it does reassure me...I knew there would be many of us with that experience. It helps to normalize it quite a bit. Thanks xoxo.
Hopeful

I think I would interpret it as laughter and crying both being forms of discharge, like described here: http://www.myshrink.com/counseling-theory.php?t_id=82

As far as I understand it, they both allow your nervous system to let go of stress and tension in order to bring your activation down. So I think they are more like signs of releasing anxiety than they are symptoms of anxiety in themselves, if that makes sense.

quote:

Sometimes I do find that feeling kind of funny but it was so extreme this time that it disturbed me.

A panick attack itself is extreme anxiety. Did you try to taper off your meds or quit cold turkey? Maybe you could still take the xanax on occasion. That's an ideal med for occasional panick attacks. Quitting meds cold turkey usually causes reactions.

I've had hypomanic states from emotional discharge, too, like Alpaca pointed out. Might be that, or a mixture of things.

Alpaca,
I think you are right they are signs of releasing anxiety...I did feel back to my more level feeling afterwards. I never understood these things but I am paying more attention to how I feel rather than just the emotions these days. It really does make sense. Thanks so much...quite helpful.

xoxo,
I am tapering off the Lexapro...my dr. said I am on a very low dose to begin with and right now I am taking my regular 10mg every other day for this first two weeks but exactly as you say she said to use the xanax but cut in half so 25mg during the day as needed and probably 25 at night to help sleep. I do notice that I sleep shorter periods of time without the xanax or if I feel wound up which is often these days. Never used xanax during the day before so I was leary that I might want to sleep all day so we'll see. I quit cold turkey on Paxil years ago and that was a horrible experience. I have been keeping my eye on if I would start with all this moody stuff and sure enough here it is. This is all so helpful for me. Thanks xoxo.
Hopeful

Do you think that maybe the sudden crying was a sort of indication that laughing with your T mean that he accepted you, quirks, everything.

Laughter can really bring people together imo. Maybe subconsciously you felt quite close to t at that moment and the tears were realization of what you've missed out on?

I might not be right. Just an idea

Forgetmenot,
Thanks for writing. It was my H that this happened with and I have really gotten it lately that he does accept me with all my quirks as I have realized more and more than ever before. He made me laugh cuz he said I'd rather be a (fill in the blank) than a (fill in the blank)like I usually am called...he irritates me in fun so I call him names in fun. I am glad that that happened with him and not someone else...it would have been OK if it had happened with her. A month back it kind of happened with her but not quite that uncontrollably. I wonder if that realization moment will come for me...that would be something for me! I appreciate your thoughts.
Hopeful

Ooooh haha, okay I got the wrong end of the stick there. I skimmed over the H and assumed it was T because we tend to say T mostly. Ha.

Ah that sounds like a nice scene you shared with your H. It's lovely that he accepts your quirks. Perhaps the more deeper you go in the more you will feel this kind of thing and like you said, the realization of many things will come and more happiness will be attained. x

Forgetmenot,
Yeah it was with H. Timely comment you made about the realization of many things coming...so much is happening...I got to go off to journal it all down.