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Original poster

How do you know when you are slipping mentally

114 replies

Feelingoood · 26/12/2021 21:59

Inspired by a pp on another thread that said it’s when she stops having baths. I Just realised it’s when I spend too much time on mumsnet looking for answers! I now realise that means I need to do things that make me feel better - time alone, tidy home, wash clothes - as a matter of priority. How do you know when you are sliding 8nto depression?

OP posts:
TheCreamCaker · 26/12/2021 22:01

Having been on antidepressants for many years, I still get the odd lapse. I know when I really don't want to talk to anyone, don't want to answer the 'phone, etc., yet feel lonely. It's odd.

Fritilleries · 26/12/2021 22:03

Checking doors are locked. Worrying about my straighteners. Checking plug sockets, especially phone sockets. Blush

Yummiliscious · 26/12/2021 22:04

I know I’m slipping when dark thoughts start popping into my mind randomly or when I’m feeling very tired to do anything, a contact tiredness.

Moolia · 26/12/2021 22:06

When I wake up in the night convinced there are burglars in the house.

Losingtheplot2016 · 26/12/2021 22:06

Mine is anxiety more than depression. When I'm ruminating over the same issues and there is no let up. I can have a whole conversation but in the back of my mind I'm not quite there, my mind is busy in the background.
My stomach is churning, my mouth is dry and I feel a lot of dread. I don't feel any hope or joy.
Not great at the moment to be honest ...

Frlrlrubert · 26/12/2021 22:10

Not wanting anyone to speak to me. Becoming irritated by people I normally love to bits over the smallest thing. When I'm slipping the way DH tuts and sighs before he speaks causes an adrenaline spike and I hate it. They rest of the time I don't even notice he does it.

Original poster
Feelingoood · 26/12/2021 22:10

Sorry to hear that losingtheplot2016.
Have been there too, it’s awful. I am just learning that it can possibly be caught before it spirals, but it is very hard, a, to realise and b, to act.

OP posts:
Frlrlrubert · 26/12/2021 22:10

Again - anxiety more than depression.

KeyLimePies · 26/12/2021 22:11

Similar to @TheCreamCaker, when I find human interaction oppressive, especially texts and phone calls. But I really know I’m in trouble when I wake up crying in the mornings, then I know I need to see a GP.

I turned my phone off today, but I’m not waking up crying.

persephone19 · 26/12/2021 22:11

For me I get a real sense of clarity that everything in the world is terrible and pointless, and everyone around me is deluded and can't see what's really going on like I can. It's quite chilling. Even when I'm well I can't shake the feeling that it's probably true.

BTE152 · 26/12/2021 22:14

@TheCreamCaker

Having been on antidepressants for many years, I still get the odd lapse. I know when I really don't want to talk to anyone, don't want to answer the 'phone, etc., yet feel lonely. It's odd.
This...
ShirleyBadass · 26/12/2021 22:16

For me, it's a total hatred for everyone around me. I think they all hate me, are talking about me and excluding me which makes me bitter and resentful. I have to back away from social media and breath but it doesn't always work.

Owlink · 26/12/2021 22:17

When I play games on my phone for hours. I don't realise straight away, kind of wake up & think oh here we are again. And when I pretend to my husband that I'm ill just so I can sleep all day. Checking out, basically.

SameToo · 26/12/2021 22:19

Slipping, I start to reduce contact with people, stop communicating properly with people. As it progress, sleep paralysis, auditory hallucinations and paranoia. I work odd hours that doesn’t help.

KatyN · 26/12/2021 22:19

When I was finishing a cycle of cbr my therapist asked me what my signs are and to look out for them. Fully accepting they will come.
One was not being able to sleep in silence so I always have an. Audio book on. Actually I like that now so it doesn’t count.
But I know I’m struggling when I don’t want to read at bedtime and I’m not sewing or knitting anything. ItMs a sign I’m stepping away from my hobbies.

When I spot them coming, I can give myself a day or two before I need to talk to my husband to a hand

MsAnnFrope · 26/12/2021 22:20

When I get really angry for no reasonable reason. When I start looking to make life changes to fill the void. When all I want to do is sleep.
Even a hint of the above and I put in ace the things which get me back into balance mentally.

BitcherOfBlakiven · 26/12/2021 22:21

@persephone19

For me I get a real sense of clarity that everything in the world is terrible and pointless, and everyone around me is deluded and can't see what's really going on like I can. It's quite chilling. Even when I'm well I can't shake the feeling that it's probably true.
So do I.
Karmagoat · 26/12/2021 22:23

My anxiety ramps up, I get irritable and angry over trivial things, paranoid, and feeling like things just feel 'off', become more insular. My dh always notices early on.

LoveFall · 26/12/2021 22:24

I start feeling really alone, yet do not want human contact. Then I think constantly about my faults and failures. My thoughts about myself always turn negative.

Newpuppymummy · 26/12/2021 22:24

The checking over and over thinking I have forgotten things is a sign for me. Also not wanting to get dressed on a morning/sleeping too much.

ChoccySprinkles · 26/12/2021 22:30

When I drink more coke.

When I’m in a Good Place I’m happy to drink water and look after myself. When I’m slipping I reach for the coke

MoonlightMedicine · 26/12/2021 22:30

I can relate to so many of these. @persephone19 you have summed up how I feel when I'm really slipping.

My initial signs are exhaustion, overwhelm and complete apathy. I can't face even the most basic of tasks and I feel like all joy and goodness has been removed from the world.

I'm feeling like that at the moment, I've been taking AD's for years but I'm post covid and I find Christmas hard as I lost both my parents in the past few years so I'm hoping this is just a blip. I actually came on to see if anyone else finds Christmas hard like I do. When I get down it always feels like I'm the only one who's affected by these things, but I know that's not true!!

Ohpulltheotherone · 26/12/2021 22:31

Binge eating.
Stuffing my face even when I’m not hungry.
Literal compulsion to eat and make myself feel better

Nottonightpet · 26/12/2021 22:36

I've name changed for this, but when I start to hit myself with frustration.
It starts with being angry at myself for making silly little mistakes like knocking something over or dropping something, I get really angry at how useless I am and it builds to slapping or hitting myself out of frustration and anger that I can't do anything right and am so useless. Like I want to teach myself a lesson to be more careful or to get a grip because I've just made more work for myself myself yet again by knocking something flying or ruined the carpet or something. I've always been clumsy and it seems to get worse the more I try to be careful!

Now I've written it down it sounds so stupid 😕 and pathetic really, I've never told anyone about it before but I'm starting to feel so angry at myself because I'm finding life tough right now and I should be able to cope and just get on with it.

persephone19 · 26/12/2021 22:38

@MoonlightMedicine

I can relate to so many of these. *@persephone19* you have summed up how I feel when I'm really slipping.

My initial signs are exhaustion, overwhelm and complete apathy. I can't face even the most basic of tasks and I feel like all joy and goodness has been removed from the world.

I'm feeling like that at the moment, I've been taking AD's for years but I'm post covid and I find Christmas hard as I lost both my parents in the past few years so I'm hoping this is just a blip. I actually came on to see if anyone else finds Christmas hard like I do. When I get down it always feels like I'm the only one who's affected by these things, but I know that's not true!!

I lost my dad this year too. He's who I inherited my tendency to melancholy from, and he died before his time - largely as a result of untreated depression that he self medicated with alcohol. I can see how that might happen to me too. I do always feel brighter when I'm not drinking