Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Mental health

Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have medical concerns, please seek medical attention.

Flip

Original poster

Have I had a breakdown?

15 replies

lookingforanswers · 29/08/2006 17:04

Just wanted to ak you how you would know you've had a breakdown.

A few days ago I just seem to snap and lose it. I was with my dh and kids and I snapped at dh over something I can't even remember. I then went even worse and walked away from dh and kids and told dh I wasn't coming home.

A couple of hours later I found my way home and was convinced by dh and parents to go to docs. I did, but said nothing to him other than cry.

I'm feeling a little saner today, but was wondering what had happened to me.

OP posts:

bakedpotato · 29/08/2006 17:08

what did the doc say to you?

VeniVidiVickiQV · 29/08/2006 17:10

I dont know. You certainly sound depressed though. Wht did the GP do/say?

Original poster

lookingforanswers · 29/08/2006 17:11

he gave me ad's that dissolve on your tongue and they knock me out for at least 12 hours. He didn't say much as I was in a state.

OP posts:

scotchick · 29/08/2006 17:12

Had anything happened in the build up to snapping? How have you felt this last week?

Original poster

lookingforanswers · 29/08/2006 17:15

I've been a bit depressed but I can't think of anything that pushed me that far. I can still snap now out of the blue. It's as if I have no control.

OP posts:

bakedpotato · 29/08/2006 17:16

I'd go back and see gp again... It sounds like you need to talk and/or get some answers. You might feel better/more reassured if you knew what the GP was thinking... Hope the ADs make a difference.

scotchick · 29/08/2006 17:17

Promise you'll go back if you don't feel any better. Don't let it fester, for your sake and for your partner and children. This can all be fixed, be hopeful!

Original poster

lookingforanswers · 29/08/2006 17:20

I'm giving these tablets a few days, but if they keep knocking me out, I am going to go back again.

OP posts:

Judy1234 · 29/08/2006 17:41

Did you kind of lose knowledge of where you were when you went out and left home briefly?

Original poster

lookingforanswers · 29/08/2006 17:55

i suppose I did really. I had no control of my actions.

OP posts:

AndyJ · 29/08/2006 19:26

Just wanted to let you know that this has happened to me a few times over very small things. It is usually when I have been under a lot of stress though and I wonder if you have been stressed over something or have something on your mind and this is making you overreact to the smaller things (maybe to avoid thinking about something bigger?) I also found that a lot of it was hormonal - is this the case with you?

On a more positive note though ADs definitely helped you just have to give 2-3 weeks before they really start to have a positive effect.

Your ADs shouldn't be knocking you out like that though - there are different kinds of ADs maybe you need to try a different one?

Hope this helps.

AndyJ

AndyJ · 29/08/2006 19:28

P.S. I don't think you have had a breakdown - I just think you need some rest, love and support.

jabberwocky · 29/08/2006 19:30

I had some instances like that with PND. In fact, I mentioned recently to my therapist that my zoloft really helps to keep me on a more even keel IYKWIM. It is frightening to lose control like that, I know.

AmandaP · 29/08/2006 19:37

It is really very difficult to define a breakdown. I think you'll find most GPs and psychiatric specialists will not use that term as it has such a wide and/or vague meaning. When I had what was subsequently defined as a nervous breakdown or a severe depressive episode, it was after several months of continuous crying, inability to read for pleasure, total disruption to sleep patterns, it was taking me 10 minutes to read a two-line email at work, and I still wouldn't be able to understand it, frequent panic attacks, and in the end, all I could do was sit and stare at a wall. And I mean - all I could do! Days passed when I just sat either in my bed or on the sofa, I couldn't talk to people, couldn't eat, get dressed or anything. I am a lot better now (nearly three years later) but I can still snap without warning (just ask my children or husband!)

Now that's just what happened to me, and I don't mean to say that what you are going through is not as serious, but I think you should not get hung up on whether or not it is defined as a breakdown. You did absolutely the right thing in going to see your GP. The ADs will start to help - depending on what they have given you, it can take up to 6-8 weeks to achieve the optimum effect, and in the meantime it can sometimes feel like you are getting worse rather than better. Try and get some rest as much as possible, and ask for help from friends/family if you can. See your GP at any time, no matter how often, and if in doubt, ask to be referred to your community psychiatrist.

I hope this helps, but feel free to ask any other questions.

Hang on in there!

Original poster

lookingforanswers · 29/08/2006 22:44

thanks for so many lovely - and very helpful - replies.

Your replies have made me feel a lot more sane to know I'm not alone in feeling like this.

OP posts:

Flip