So I've been trying to analyze my behavior and perhaps understand the underlying reason or cause. I have some ideas, but I am more concerned about my current emotional state rather than the cause. I can't fix the cause since I have not invented time travel yet, but I hope to fix the current state.

My problem is not being able to cope with any kind of negative event or stress. I am not talking about work or break up or anything superficial. I am talking about health, my family, my wife, and my dog (which is kind of why I am freaking out now). Because of the underlying cause, which has been present since I was born, I am simply not able to cope with events. I don't know how to react like an adult, like a man, like a grown up, like someone with adequate interpretation of a situation would react. I freak out, panic, blame, snap, take radical action and all that good stuff. I am almost at a point where I am going to lose my wife because she can't take my behavior any longer

Example: Went on a long weekend getaway this weekend. Dog starting showing symptoms of some illness. I freaked out because my dog is my everything. He is more important to me than life itself. I ended up driving me wife (and myself) up the wall and we basically just came back home. Went to the Vet. The dog should be OK, I hope, but I can't stop worrying. My mind is going nuts. Every little thing about his behavior sends me into panic. I can't live like this any longer. I am going to start therapy soon, but until then I wish I had some idea as to how to manage these emotions. How do I not go nuts and react so inadequately to life. Not everything is going to be smooth. There will be stressful things in life and I need to learn to cope with them. Otherwise I will not survive... How do you cope? How did you learn to? I've never had anyone in my life who taught me how to cope or react or anything. I kind of grew up on my own. I am stuck. I am not sure what to do. Please help with some thoughts. Thanks!