My gf (hb 8, of 9 months) is in a bad place. It has a lot to do with work and a sick relative- she's extremely sensitive, stressed out, and and can't just let go and relax when we hang out. It's causing her to read all kinds of negative and destructive shit into my actions and words. Even when I make her laugh she'll revert back to her sad, concerned state- I have to be careful because I'm a horrible joker at heart...
Example: while driving home after a fun night I ask "do you need to go to your place?" and she thinks I'm trying to get rid of her and tears up.

The fact that I made her chase me in this relationship is also a factor right now.
So, I need to shift gears right away and am wondering if any of you Casanovas out there can throw out some ideas that will make a depressed woman in emotional need swoon without starting down the deadly slope of a beta backslide.
Holding her and saying "every thing's alright" didn't quite cut it.
I don't think giving her a flower out of the blue will either. Disappearing into the mist for a couple days would be the worst idea, which is what I've done before when a gf gets unreasonable.
This one's a challenge for me because my ex was always depressed- nothing ever worked and I left her. This one's not like that, it's just a challenging time.