How do you know if you've had a breakdown?

[redhappy]

'm trying to work out somethings from my past, and I think I had some sort of breakdown when I was younger. How do you define it? How do you know if you've had one?

...Well,I had a "Breakdown" at age 16.It hit like ton of bricks,and I could Not
Stop Screaming.(Parental Pressures)...but I didn't Know It then.The 1 Episode
Lasted for a few minutes...but Time Stood Still.The family physician came to
Our door, and my parents and Grandparents became extremely-Calm around
Me.I got a Trank Shot,slept 3 days...and Never had the problem again.You see,
If you indeed had a small Breakdown, you Never Forget it.However,I would
Strongly advise you NOT to Dig it Up and try to analyze it.You might undermine
The Progress that you have made across these many Years.Jill.

Japple, with respect, that doesn't sound like a breakdown. To me, the definition of a breakdown is an inability to function within normal parameters and in my experience takes support/medication/therapy to get through. There is also a gradual (over a period of time) deepening of a feeling of hopelessness and it usually manifests itself in the poor victim withdrawing, or acting in any other uncharacteristic ways as she you describe above. But, I think the "breakdown" scenario is the trigger for support from mental health professionals and healing can take a considerable amount of time.

There are so many different sorts of mh issues that are called 'breakdowns' so could you describe what happened a bit? It is also common for people to have no insight that they are depressed, thinking that the world really is horrible when it's their state causing those thoughts. Also people who are manic often do not think they are ill.

I also believe that mh issues can be a way of trying to escape from an unbearable situation, in that sense they are kind of like your mind trying to protect you.

...When I was in my Late 20's my hubby was in the military.I had a few "Anxiety" attacks,got counseling...some med, and gradually worked through
It. However,the "Out of Control" episode I had at age 16, never reappeared.
Jill.

thesilverpussycat
I had severe anxiety. Started as panic attacks, became more and more severe, and more frequent, until I was in a constant state of panic. The list of places I felt safe and 'panic-free' was becoming smaller and smaller and I became agoraphobic, eventually, I was scared to even leave the bedroom. I used to wait in my room, crying and hyperventilating, waiting til everyone had gone to work so I could go to the toilet. It ruined my life for several years, and at it's worst I was unable to function, scared of moving, talking to anyone, eating, even breathing.

I was living at home at the time, I think my mum just wanted me to snap-out of it, and she said I couldn't really be mad, because people who are really mad don't know they are.

Well you certainly had mh issues, which were probably triggered by something perhaps? Sometimes a perfectly normal anxious feeling gets overgeneralised for some reason. How sad that your M wanted you to snap out of it, instead of helping you to seek treatment. But sadly stigma is still widespread. How did you manage to overcome the anxiety?

The term 'mad' is a sort of lay term for people with psychosis, who have lost touch with reality, as they are living by a set of erroneous beliefs. And yes, they usually don't think they are 'mad'

sorry, yes I didn't mean to cause offence by using the word 'mad' I should have put speech marks around it.

Triggered by lots of things! Stress, not enough rest for too long, working too hard, taking too many drugs.

I'm feeling a bit wobbly at the moment, so found myself thinking about times I've felt like this before.

No offence! I'm quite happy to say I went a bit mad when I was psychotic I just meant to point up the fact that you weren't mad in that sense, and that your M was partially right, in that it's possible to not know you have lost touch with reality (although oh so wrong if she thought you could snap out of it). The stigma I referred to is a possible explanation for her attitude.

Don't be afraid to ask for help from your GP.

Not suggesting you had lost touch, though my badly constructed post seems to accidentally imply that...