Highly sensitive, anxious and struggling at work. What can I do?!

[SnozzberryWibble]

Recently I've found myself really struggling to cope with anything upsetting or irritating, such as arguments with DH or criticism at work.

I've always been overly sensitive person, but normally when something unpleasant happens, I get a bit upset or angry for a while, then forget about it and move on. In recent weeks I've been struggling to hold it together and I feel like I'm on the verge of a horrible depression, but if I catch myself in time I might not fall in.

I have received some criticism at work and on Friday I had a mini panic attack and had to go to the toilet and cry when I received an email from my horrible boss who is very direct and has no regard for other people's feelings. Some of the criticism I've received has been about my social skills and the way I conduct myself in meetings and so on. At first I found the comments hurtful but unfair/untrue. But after a while I've become paranoid about whether I might have something genuinely wrong with me and I find myself over thinking their comments constantly. I have got stuck in my own mind analysing myself to work out what is wrong with me! DH thinks I've been bullied but I'm not sure, it might just be me being over sensitive. After all, a professional woman should be able to take criticism and learn from it, rather than having an emotional breakdown.

I only work 3 days a week but I feel like I can't face going in tomorrow.

What am I supposed to do in these circumstances? My instinct is to go to the doctor, but I don't know what I really want from the doctor... And I don't know how to make an appointment, normally if it's something urgent you ring first thing in the morning for an appointment but this isn't 'urgent' as such, on the other hand I don't want to wait two weeks for an appointment, and what if the grumpy receptionists ask me what the problem is, when I don't even know how to articulate it?

I just feel like I suddenly can't cope with everyday life - well, work anyway - and I'm not sure what to do about it.

On the positive side, I have a lovely toddler who makes me really happy when we're together, so that is one really positive thing in my life.