Ixtana

I am seriously stressed out - it's mainly work that causes it. We are understaffed and overworked (who isn't?) and I had a run in with my manager last week, who has now put me on a written warning because she didn't like what I told her.

Every day when I get home from work, I am on the verge of tears and physically exhausted yet I have problems falling asleep when I go to bed. I'm smoking more every day. I have anxiety attacks regularly (ie, a couple a day) and I've noticed an increase in stress related chest pain. I have no doubt my blood pressure is through the roof. I've had dizzy spells where I almost black out. I don't feel depressed, as such.

I've tried all the usual coping with stress tips etc but nothing seems to be working. I just feel like I can't take it any more. I'm off to see my doctor the day after tomorrow...what should I tell him and what do you think his course of action will be? I hate going to the doctor, and this in itself is adding to my stress :(

I am sure this has been asked a thousand times but how does a hybrid car work? Is it worth spending the extra money on it? Is it true that you have to replace the battery every 5 years?

I am sure I am not the only person in the world who has a ridiculous, unfounded fear of dentistry. I haven't been to the dentist in over 4 years because of it, and now I have to go cos I have had a tooth ache for the last few days. I'm on the verge of having an anxiety attack just thinking about going to the dentist!

My last dentist was alright as far as handling my fear but now I have moved away from that town and have to find a new dentist. How should I go about finding a dentist that is nice and understanding about this fear that I have? Any recommendations?

I live in Atlantic Canada...is it too early to start planting my vegetable seeds? I know next to nothing about gardening, so any tips/suggestions would be welcome!! :)

I'm bored with my dead end job and I want to get into management. I know I have the leadership abilities, I just haven't worked for a company that has the opportunity for internal promotions.

So, I have decided to go back to school and get some kind of management certification. I have a Bachelor degree from university but no other tertiary education. I'm considering doing a certificate or diploma in General Management, as a lead to eventually being able to do a MBA.

Does this sound realistic or should I just try and find an entry-level management job somewhere and just get practical experience?

After a disasterous marriage, I left my ex and moved to another town some 600 miles away. The divorce went through 3 years ago, with minimal fuss but with some financial disagreements, and I figured it was time to get on with my life.

Just before Christmas last year, I saw him in town. There was no denying it was him. I figured he was just in town for the holidays, visiting some family I know he has in the area. Then yesterday, as I was leaving work, I saw him pull into the parking lot, and then enter the building (which you need a security code for, so I know he works in the building). I avoided him like the plague.

Now I don't know what to do. He is obviously living and working in the area. And working in the same building as me! Should I keep ignoring him or should I be polite and civil but distant when our paths cross again?

I have an irregular cycle - usually ranges anywhere between 5-8 weeks, depending on how stressed I am - so I never know when I am getting my period. My last one was 4 weeks ago.

Two weeks ago, I was feeling extremely faint, and blacked out a few times. This feeling lasted just one day. My breasts are tender (a bit like they feel when I am getting my period), I've had some pretty drastic mood swings in the last few days, and I seem to need to go to the loo every 10 minutes (but this could just be attributed to drinking more coffee than usual!).

As I have no idea whether I have missed a period, do you think it is too early to take a pregnancy test?