What exactly is a mental breakdown?

[bigfamilygrowingupfast]

In the past 4 or so years, I know four different people who have had a "mental breakdown" but I'm a bit embarrassed to say I don't actually know really what a mental breakdown is.

They have all presented with their breakdown in completely different ways, are all recovering in completely different ways, and have all given me different descriptions of what their breakdown entailed, so it's left me a bit confused about why there's a catch all term for something that's obviously very complex, and what classes as a breakdown as opposed to depression or an anxiety attack.

For me, the complete and utter inability to do the simplest task. Such as get out of bed, care for my children, speak, etc. Helplessly and hopelessly crying for days or weeks even. Not sleeping, not eating. I think it depends how long things build up for before you seek help will depend on how severe it can get.
This was about 10 years ago.

I had an episode where I had delusional thoughts that someone was going to kill me

Yep, its your breaking point. There are two outcomes.

I don’t think the term exists medically, same for nervous breakdown.
It’s like you say it all presents differently and all will have different diagnosis - anxiety, depression, schizophrenia etc..

I would term mine a nervous breakdown- I’d had a ton of stressful life/work/family health issue for months, so For me (6 years ago) it was being in a constant state of the worst panic I’ve ever felt, like the feeling when someone jump scares you and you take a big inhale - but you just have to live with hour by hour. couldn’t breathe properly, eat/sleep, terrible bowel issues.

Awful time - lasted about 5 weeks in total until my body just got used to the feeling and I knew I wasn’t dying I was able to calm down, plus the medication had kicked in I suppose.

For me it's when everything feels overwhelming and I can no longer cope with the day to day tasks I need to be doing.

I've often wondered this and also a nervous breakdown. Never liked to ask.

I guess it's a term we use to describe when we are no longer coping. That will look different depending on people's circumstances.

I was exhausted, in pain, and struggling to do anything unless it was compulsory. So I could get to the GP, but that's about it that day.

Well l ended up in a mental health hospital. First time 26 years ago.
Had some more scince but managed with crisis team/ physiotherapist / GP/ family.
If it's a real mental breakdown you simply cannot cope with life... or cope with it on your own
38 years later and I'm still having counselling..
I'm about to start EMDR.. ( CBT etc never worked)
Mental or nervous breakdowns are caused by trauma.

It is usually the point where people go from managing to get through each day even if it’s a struggle to just being unable to cope or function.

I am not sure why their experiences being different is an issue. Cancer is also a broad word that can mean 100 different things. What the loss of coping and functioning invokes and what it impacts will be individual but the concept is still the same.

For me it was a gradual build up.leaving home and buying a house quite young finding out my fiance cheated on me,trying to lose weight and be perfect...ridiculous. Then I started crying for no reason most days.
It started with anxiety so I took time off work then I had suicidal thoughts until I was in a psychiatric ward voluntarily.
Everything lwas too much so I wore the same clothes each day,couldn't be bothered to wash my hair and had to force myself to eat or risk being sectioned. This was in the 80s when they told me I would 've had a breakdown if the term was still used.

I’ve had one still in recovery. For me it’s finding every day tasks to much . Cannot make decisions have lost the ability to eat much ( lost nearly 2 stone in a couple of months) hard to do daily tasks such as washing brush teeth etc. I hardly go out unless I have to. Unable to work. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.

Thank you for all your replies, and I'm sorry to those of you who are going through it/have been through it.
Would you say there were any warning signs?

Of the people I know, they all come from very diverse backgrounds. One a CEO, one self-employed, two in the NHS. All in 'stressful' jobs, but in all cases it came as a total surprise and looking back, I can't think of any catalysts or signs that they were struggling (I am very close to all of them, speak most days etc).

I think it is lots of little signs,more stress,anxiety,loss of appetite,low mood the ping it all gets too much.
Relentless stress over weeks or a big event that overwhelms us.

Ilovemycatalot sorry you are going through this there is light at the end of the tunnel .

@whatisforteamum thank you I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel because it’s pure hell right now.