Stress - does it turn you into Mr. Hyde?
By arkaf61
@arkaf61 (10881)
Canada
May 19, 2008 9:49pm CST
Hubby is one of the gentlest person I know. He's caring and very diplomatic dealing with people, specially us. He doesn't talk loud, he doesn't get upset easily, an when he does he calms down quickly and apologizes if he's wrong. But when he's stressed.... that's Mr. Hyde making it's appearance. He doesn't handle stress well at all. If he's stressed, he'll do things he will never do normally, like appearing to be upset with the whole world and the next 3 solar systems, take it on whoever is closer to him - regardless if that person has anything to do with his stress or not - , and acting like he's the victim.
He realizes this.. but often after the fact when he can't do anything about what he already did or said.
He apologizes... but he will still be unable to prevent it next time.
SO, do you turn to Mr. Hyde when you're stressed? How much stress do you need to get there?
6 people like this
16 responses
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
20 May 08
I think that describes me, lol. And it's really not controlable. It's like a fuse blows. It's probably from trying to be nice all the time and doing the right thing and bottling up the anger. Add stress to that and due to that the inability to find a moment to calm down... bang! The volcano erupts. And because all the bottled up stuff comes up, it does feel like the whole world is against me. Hubby knows though. He'll send me into the next room to calm down. It's a cue that I'm out of control. Doesn't always work though.
Sounds like your husband regrets the outbursts as much as I do. Maybe you and your husband can work out a cue. If he hears it, he has to remove himself from the situation and let of steam elsewhere;)
2 people like this
@cortjo73 (6498)
• United States
20 May 08
To be honest...it is less about stress than the hormones that are misfiring all over the place once a month! LOL! I get snipey and can't tolerate almost anything and, it doesn't help that I don't sleep well either when my hormones are misfiring like they do. So, I am cranky because my body is doing what it is supposed to be doing and even crankier because I haven't had enough sleep to tolerate the stress that my hormones put on my body at that time so, I am fatigued on top of not well-rested! I guess that makes me your highly agitated Mrs. Hyde! LOL!
2 people like this
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
20 May 08
It takes alot for me to get stressed. I keep it all inside. Then I blow. Your lucky my husband never apologizes. He has only apologized to me once. I will apologizes if Im wrong. My hubby will take it out on me when he is stressed. And I guess I do the same thing.LOL
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
20 May 08
Arkaf, yes sometimes Mr Hyde shows his ugly head in my personality. it takes a lot to push me to the edge like that. It is normally a number of things stress, exhaustion, to many responsibilities, not a place to hide and let it vent. I know when I am wrong myself and I will have apologizes to make. I do so humbly. Its okay though we are all human, and can only be pulled in all directions at one time before the rubber band snaps.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
20 May 08
I am actually quite ok with stressful situations and it will be very rare to snap. I might, however, snap if on top of the stress someone hurts me on purpose. But as you say that is human and natural.
IN any case even when/if I do snap I never take it on the people that have nothing to do with it. WIth those I am calm and polite.
That's the difference between me and my son, and hubby and my daughter . Me and my son will take it on ly on the people that are responsible or part of the stress and hubby and daughter will take it on anyone that is close by.
Of course if everyone (re)acted the same way the world would be very boring LOL
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
4 Jul 08
All of these BR's has turned my Hyde in a Jeckel for sure :))) Thanks again Sugar :)))
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
20 May 08
It does turn me into some freaking witch when i am under stressed, but, i am trying to learn how to channel it in ways that I could not hurt the people I cared for. Sometimes, i do some physical activities like walking alone or just being alone to diffuse the stress in me. Anyhow, I have this theory on why people who are under stressed tend to vent out their energy to their loved ones is because their loved ones will not leave them, their loved ones will tend to understand them as much as they could. :)
@tryxiness (4544)
• Philippines
20 May 08
It is more of abuse of blood relations. :) Or the fact that there is unconditional love?
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
24 May 08
No I don't think I do
I go more quiet when I am stressed I am impatient when I am stressed so if someone talks to me the wrong way I snap and I feel awful after so I will also apologize straight away, but apart from that I am more quiet and hardly talking when I am stressed
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
20 May 08
People say that I am very calm always regardless the stress.
When I am under the stress I need to sleep longer, take a nap, drink hot tea and take off for while.
I try to turn my attention into different direction.
If I am under huge stress I want to be just by myself.
If other people are around, I stop talking and I find the way to find separate spot for privacy.
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
20 May 08
Yeah I'm a bit like you. When I'm stressed I love to take a long walk, specially at night, and sometimes I need to sleep longer as well.
But if I have to face people I am usually goos at not venting on them unless they are part of the reason for the stress.
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
20 May 08
I guess we all have these, our dark sides.. Sometimes a good and mild-mannered fellow could suddenly end up as a mean loud-mouthed or mad-as-a-hulk type of a person, because there are certain things that causes us to turn into one you prefer to call as Mr. Hyde.
Like me, I only speak a few and never bother to put my emotions on things that are not that important at all. But when I get frustrated, stressed out and disappointed, that's when all HELL breaks lose. My temper rises up, then I'm done for the day. With that, I would just go home and stay inside of my room to calm myself down. Doing that also avoids me from causing more trouble, for I am not sure whom I might hurt (verbally, that is)..
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
20 May 08
I think I can handle stress pretty well on some occasions. Usually it takes several huge assignments due back to back that are turning out to be a lot harder than expected to make me more frustrated than anything and start snapping at people and feeling like I'm a failure and all of that wonderful stuff. I really hate it too but I try to change it. I try to stop putting things off until the last minute and to keep myself away from the people that just add to my stress but it's really hard when you live with them!
1 person likes this
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
20 May 08
You know, arkaf, my husband just said something similar like that to me last night. He said, he had observed that when I'm super stressed, my behavior changes.
And that's why he kept bugging me to hire a maid.
I think I reach my breaking point when physical stress meets with the emotional and mental fatigue. That's when I "transform"...
But I don't lash out at other people. Or I throw stuff or break a wall into pieces!
Seriously, the ugliest that I do when I've "turned" is that I easily snap at my husband. He knows that when I'm already boiling, he needs to steer clear. I'm impossible to talk or reason out with when I'm at that "point". He said I look like I want to bite someone!
And that's why he kept bugging me to hire a maid.
I think I reach my breaking point when physical stress meets with the emotional and mental fatigue. That's when I "transform"...But I don't lash out at other people. Or I throw stuff or break a wall into pieces!
Seriously, the ugliest that I do when I've "turned" is that I easily snap at my husband. He knows that when I'm already boiling, he needs to steer clear. I'm impossible to talk or reason out with when I'm at that "point". He said I look like I want to bite someone! 
@kg_gurl (220)
• United States
20 May 08
Stress does turn me into a little she-devil. I can be very temperamental when I'm stressed. This usually happens when i have a thousand things I needed to do(especially when there's a deadline) and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to do it all. My patience tend to be thin during this time and I tend to avoid people and most of all I don't want to be disturbed. If people stay clear of my way, then I don't have a problem with that and my temper doesn't burst. ~
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
1 Jun 08
Not in general.
I prefer to withdraw rather than to lash out. I also have a tendency to try to solve my stress on my own, to carry it all on my own shoulders rather than burden someone else.
Recently I've learned to discuss things more with people who care about me, since it's proven to be alot better for my health.
No, my dark side doesn't come out when I'M feeling horrible. I turn into mister Hyde when someone I care about gets hurt. But that's another topic ^_^'
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
26 May 08
oh my I used to Mrs Hyde when stressed but I have learned
the last few years to mellow out, chill as my son used to
say. and chilling does work believe me. I used to get
angry and shout and throw things, but my son kept at
me to relax and not let stress get to me. it helps me feel
better physically also.
