How do you know if you're having a breakdown?

[spicysausage65]

Just that really ?!

Do break downs last long?

You will know something is very very wrong, or people around you will notice it. Mine was four days long. I needed medication to help me survive it. Then it took me six months to recover and be back to my "old me"

Mine lasted 4 - 6 weeks. I lost 2 stone in weight, I couldn't function or leave my bedroom, I had regular panic attacks, I couldn't bear people talking to me for longer than 5 minutes as I felt physically and mentally drained. I also had severe insomnia so didn't sleep for over a week. I was on the verge of suicide.

Everyday there'd be a time in the day where I'd feel as if I'd never be happy again- like some weird dementor thing going on. I'd then cry for about an hour until I calmed down and then went back to being a zombie.

Fucking awful, wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I tried drugs but they made me worse so I had to dig myself out of the hole and it was hard work. I saw a psychiatrist and then started to get better. The breakdown lasted between 4-6 weeks as mentioned above but I'd say it took about 8 months for me to fully recover from it.

@MissCrowley I am presently about 4 weeks in to what you describe. I know what triggered mine (lots of stressful change all at once).
I know you say you dug yourself out the hole but how?

Wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy. I can relate to exactly that. An incredibly destabilising experience where nothing makes sense.