Quote Originally Posted by Melalvai View Post
What I want to know is, it seems I somehow learned this reaction a decade ago. Is there any way to unlearn it? It's horrible. I've done nothing wrong to deserve sleepless nights not to mention the throwing up and stomach pain and of course the crying. It's not like it accomplishes anything, why on earth do our bodies do this to us? What evolutionary advantage could this possibly have??
I agree that getting the help of a therapist is a good idea. Cognitive behavior therapy can help you teach yourself new way of dealing with stress.

Take care! Some years ago I had a bad stressful time and I took anti-anxiety medication for a short period of time. It helped get me over the hump.

As far as evolutionary advantage, maybe there isn't one. One thing about evolution is not everything is useful or best. Our backwards eye. Adaptation to walking upright has resulted in a female pelvis which makes childbirth far more dangerous for humans than other mammals. The appendix. Wisdom teeth. Etc.