Nervous breakdown

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How do you know if you are having a nervous breakdown?

Anyone?

I think thats a bit of a misleading term.

If you are feeling mentally unwell then it is ok to ask for help.

Can you tell us how you are feeling?

Nervous breakdown is not a clinical term. If you're in need of support your GP can help, or you can call 999 or go to A&E if you are in crisis.

It just feels like a huge build up of stress.

I'm struggling to function normally. I just want to get back into bed and ignore the world. I feel snappy / angry and as though I'm in that fight or flight feeling. But definitely with flight preferred.

I am being defensive and argumentative with those closest to me and I'm very irritable. Noises, smells ect.

And I feel extremely low and pathetic. No motivation for anything and just want to scream and run away .

Just to note I do suffer from anxiety and depression which I usually manage ok.

Sounds like you need to see your GP, to review your medication if relevant, and to see what other services may be available to you.

My GP reduced my medication around 3 weeks ago. Said I didn't need to be on such a high dose anymore.

What was the reduction? I am on meds and a sharp reduction is not recommended. Go back to your gp and discuss a slower reduction

I was on sertraline 150mg. This has been reduced to 100mg.

That’s too fast to reduce from 150mg to 100mg. Should reduce slowly, e.g 10mg drop each month so your can adjust slowly. My brother was on two meds and this is what he did and has coped well

Please go and see your GP. I've had a breakdown but I didn't realise I was having a one at the time, but you can clearly recognise certain symptoms linked to your mental health.

You may not be having a breakdown but suffering withdrawal from the meds reduction. Although the lines are blurred. Take care of yourself sweetie x

ah, this sounds like a meds issue

I have sort of had a nervous breakdown...I think! - but it's years ago, before I took any medication at all. I'm no expert but that sounds like it was dropped too quickly.

I was absolutely in a state of terror, I'd say, when I finally went to the GP. I was hallucinating things, my anxiety was so bad. I'm hoping you are not doing that? Do you have enough meds to go up a bit?

I reduced sertraline slowly from 200mg to 100mg under my psych's direction and it was absolutely awful. I felt so low and couldn't get out of bed for days. We went back up to 200mg and the difference was almost instant. 150mg doesn't seem that low a dose to me and I'm not sure a GP should be making those kind of decisions.

Why not go back to 125? Take 1 and a quarter tablets per day

I agree with mynameiscalypso. The GP should not be making this decision.

When was your last consultant review ?
Ask for re referral to a consultant if you’ve not been seen for some time.

I still cannot get in at my doctor's around work and work will not allow me time off when the appointments are available.
It's probably been about a week on no medication now so I am just going to cope the best I can without being on them anymore.
I'm still feeling pretty low about life and myself but I'm carrying on with my day to day needed things.. getting myself and the kids up and ready, getting myself to work for the day. But things like keeping on top of the house I am struggling with. So going to tackle that tomorrow as I do not work weekends. And I am going to bed around 9pm at the moment as I just feel I need it.
I'm coping though and that's the main thing.

a week on no meds at all? I thought they had been reduced.

I'm glad you are coping but I think it's important you see the GP. Work doesn't sound good in terms of time off but perhaps you are a teacher, I can imagine what that's like at the moment....

in terms of keeping on top of the house, I'd think in terms of what's important till you get your energy back.

He did reduce the dose last time I saw him, but said he would not give a repeat prescription when due without a review.
I ran out a week ago (I'm good at losing strips off them so not actually sure if I'm actually due more).
Im not a teacher. I work in an office, but due to court hearings and having time off with poorly children, I am not allowed any more time off this year.
At my old doctors I would get around this by booking a telephone consultation or I would book an appointment within my lunch hour.
But my new doctors do not offer telephone consultations and they do not work in the time I can use my lunch break.

Struggling so much this evening.

You need to find somewhere to get a prescription.

I’m certain that you are feeling so bad because you stopped your meds suddenly. Call OOH and explain, they will make sure you get a repeat prescription urgently.