Mental health breakdown - what are the symptoms/what happens?

[UnitaBath]

Have you ever had a mental health breakdown? What happened and what were your symptoms?

Also, does a breakdown always mean a stay in a mental health unit?

Despite decades of poor mental health I’m now at the worst point I’ve ever been and so scared that I’m heading towards a breakdown.

I cry on/off all day, every day, I sleep whenever I can as it’s the only way to drown out the noise, I feel wretched and have so many physical health issues that I’m also dealing with which exacerbates the anxiety, depression and panic attacks but I also have many plates spinning in the air and they need to continue to spin because then other people will fall too, so I plaster a face on and just get in with it but inside I’m a complete wreck but no one takes me seriously, how do you get anyone to take you seriously? Do I need to just collapse and refuse to get up? Lay in bed for days and stay there until someone takes it seriously or do I live out my fantasy of just disappearing so those around me may actually see that I can’t do it all anymore and I need help?

Honestly, no one sees how broken I am inside - no one.

Really sorry you're feeling this way.

There's no such thing as a "breakdown", as in it's not a medical diagnosis. You can however, just be so anxious/burned out/depressed/whatever that you cease to be able to function.

You need to take some time for yourself NOW. Do whatever you feel like doing (even if that's just stay in bed or watch shit TV) you won't feel better for a while but it will start to help

Speak to GP.. In my experience it's a very mixed bag of what happens then but do try to get some talking therapy... Can you pay for something like that if there is a long waiting list?

I am also feeling exactly the same as you. I have so many plates to juggle, im a single parent, trying to pay a mortgage, look after a disabled child, work full time, carer for my mother, I am in such a bad place I literally dread waking up each day. I am on medication and doing councilling but I dont feel any better. I just want to walk away from my current life.
I dont have the answer for you, I just keep going each day and I dont know how I am still going, I keep saying I can't take anymore. I dont know what to do either.

Have you seen a doc?

get medicated

get time off work , respite

work out if it’s historical trauma that need therapy , job change or relationship issues

get therapy- there are free ones from doctors

ive been admitted twice - things have improved since my first admission

Lots of sympathy, @UnitaBath . As the previous poster says, there is no single thing called a mental health breakdown. There are just different ways of reaching different crises as a result of different types of mental distress.

Almost certainly, you would not receive a place in a mental health unit. (Hospital isn't therapeutic for mental health. It is only a useful logistical solution in some circumstances, for example to ensure safety or monitor drug reactions.)

You need to go to your GP and discuss what might be helpful for you - which could be anti-depressants, a referral for counselling or CBT, appointments with the practice's own mental health nurse, as well as (hopefully) some reflection on what you can do in the short-term to reduce stresses at home (sick leave, family support, etc.

Be very kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to rest and step back from tasks you aren't up to. Use your chat with the doctor as a way of communicating to people that you are not well and so they have to step in with some of the tasks you aren't up to.

Sadly I have no funds for private healthcare of any kind as I only work a few hours a week due to my other health issues and caring responsibilities.

I have tried CBT over many years and it does appear to be the only therapy on offer to me via the NHS. I am currently on another long waiting list for another bout of therapy, during the assessment they decided I needed more intense CBT so the wait is longer, I've been on this current waiting list for 6 months, so far.

I am also under a neuro-gastroenterology department of a London hospital and have requested to see the psychiatrist again but the wait is approx 12 months and I only went on the waiting list 2 months ago.

I do try everything I can within my own power to help such as not drinking or smoking or taking any drugs, eating as well as I can (which is tricky when you have daily gut issues and zero appetite), walk the dog even on days when I really don't want to because it's not his fault I struggle to function. I listen to the Calm and Headspace app everyday. I don't feel anything really makes a dent these days though.

I am so sorry you are feeling the same way. I truly wish I had the answer for you. I hate knowing others are going through a similar thing. Why does life have to be so tough at times?

I don't know about you but I don't want the earth, simply want to feel lighter, everything feels just so heavy all of the damn time.

I truly hope some light comes your way soon, I wish you all the best (and if you ever want to message me even just to vent, please feel free).

Have you tried working with daily affirmations and mindful meditation? I know some people think these things are silly, but I’ve been down for the count myself and sometimes just a particular thought helped me hold on. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it sees you through. 🌷

I've seen everyone. GPs, therapists etc. I've had endless CBT and counselling but nothing helps no matter how much effort I feel I put into it all.

I've trialled endless types of medication and they all made me feel worse especially physically. I've settled in Nortriptyline as it's the only thing which doesn't send my digestive system crazy but it doesn't help my mental health.

I don't work much due to not being able to cope so sadly I have no funds for private healthcare, I am currently waiting for another bout of CBT.

I don't know what else to do to help tbh, I've had decades of therapy and am just getting worse not better.

I really don't want to end up in a mental health facility that's my number one fear and why I've tried everything over the decades to help but nothing is helping at all, I'm getting worse rather than better no matter what I do or try, whether I put all my effort into it or do nothing. I feel as though I've tried it all.

It's so disheartening trying numerous therapies and remedies to end up in a worse place each time.

I do the Calm all every day and have a dairy to write down all the good things in my life.

I've been doing this for about a year now. I enjoy the calm app as it helps me sleep but that's about it.

It sounds like you’re doing worse because your systems are all overloaded, and they haven’t been rested or repaired. It’s like on an airplane when they tell you to put on your own oxygen mask first, before you help others - that’s a simple but important lesson. You need some respite from your caring responsibilities; is that available to you? Are you caring for a child, parent, both?

Both - I have older teens but one is ND, doesn't need actual care but lots of support. I also help run and organise my elderly parents lives, mum has advanced dementia and although she has carers for the personal care my elderly father doesn't cope, has always been a difficult character to deal with which has become much worse since mums diagnosis and so he relies heavily on me to organise everything. As I live just around the corner I also go round to theirs a lot to give him a break and to allow him to go out. It's been 8 years and in all honesty I just want to walk away from them both, not because I don't love them but simply because I can't stand seeing them deteriorating and become people I notice longer recognise, it's so hard keeping other people afloat when you're own mask is slipping and they can't or won't see it.

I've had a rest this week as I have a chest infection but instead of feeling rested it's been even more stressful because I organise so much I've had phone calls asking about this or that or where is this ordered from or where does that come from etc. I've tried leaving a folder full of infor etc but the carers aren't helpful and just leave it all to me to deal with.

I know people hate people saying ad and I’ve read posts on here where they really didn’t work for people but honestly think about them. I went on a really really low dosage and it was like someone had given me the ability to breathe. I was terrified coming off them but it was like my brain had been steadied and life is less one foot in front of the other now

I've tried most of them - Sertraline, Fluxoetine, escitalopram, mirtazipan, duluxoetine but everyone gave me awful diarrhoea, I have a poorly functioning gut as it is sadly and they just exacerbated all my issues.

I now take Nortriptyline which helps the gut issues a little bit sadly hasn't done anything for my mental health.

I would suggest you discuss venlafaxine with your GP. It's an NSRi, not an SSRI and if anything it's mildly constipating, which is handy as my panic attacks used to come with raging diarrhea.

Oh, constipation would definitely be an added bonus. I have a GP appointment this week, I will ask her about this. Thank you.

Is it time for your mum to go into a care home? The situation you describe with your parents is the same as my in-laws. Fil cared for Mil at home for as long as he could, and carers came in twice a day. Mil was confused and often aggressive, refusing the care. After 7-8 years Fil started looking at care homes where he could visit her; it was very hard at first but she was well taken care of. I have subsequently read that dementia can destroy families and those providing the care. It’s cruel in so many ways. I wish you all the best. 🌷

Thank you. It really does ruin families, we had no idea when mum was first diagnosed all those years ago. I'm prone to poor mental health but this kind of relentless stress has had such a detrimental effect on me.

We are lucky mum is very easy going and passive. She is so lovely and it's heartbreaking to place her in a care home. We promised her she's staying in her home, none of us want her in care, we have visited so many and most we have seen are awful. We are trying hard to get dad to agree to a full day carer to take the pressure off us all, he was dead set against it but is warming slightly. He doesn't understand how much it affects me and with my own health issues too but I'm due surgery in October and I'll be out of action for at least a month so we are trying to get mum with into respite care or get some extra respite care at home. I am hoping that may be a turning point and dad can see how much the extra help could actually help.

Here's hoping because I simply can not cope.

I'm so sorry to hear you feel this way. I'm responding to your post as someone who has felt on the edge, in the way you describe, at times in my life and as a social worker.

Two questions: who supports you?; have you had a carer's assessment and are you linked in with your local carer's support service? 💐

I hope October will be a turning point, but you will have to find the strength/courage to tell your dad that you are done if he doesn’t see that on his own. Sometimes letting go is the best thing we can do if only because it allows for other possibilities to come forward.

Thank you.

I have arranged to have SS come and assess mum with a care needs assessment as we have some concerns regarding her current carers. They said they will do carers assessments at the same time but obviously it's a bit of a wait, I only contacted them last week.

I do have a lovely DH, we've been together since we were teens, he works really hard to keep us afloat whilst I am struggling with everything but in all honesty that just makes me feel even more of a burden, we should be a team but at the moment I feel too low to be a fully functioning partner but we do try our hardest to have some lighter moments.

You’ve done so well to identify that you’re at breaking point. I totally understand that you say you can’t stop because other people rely on you, but kindly you have to stop. Your brain is heading for total breakdown and you need to intervene before it fully breaks, which can be incredibly dangerous. You’re in an emergency situation now, and taking steps to address it before it reaches crisis point will help you recover and navigate this so much easier.

Next you need to make a crisis plan, for what your family/ partner should do if you reach crisis point. This is a really important safety net for you all. If you google ‘ crisis safety plan’ there are lots of resources for drafting one. If you feel your safety is at risk, you need to follow that plan with the help of your support system.

As soon as possible you need to go to your GP and say exactly what you said here. They see lots of patients with mental illness but they can help you access the community mental health team, and can assess if you need in-patient treatment.

Knowing you need help is the first step to recovery, you should be really proud of asking for help.

People do keep telling me to let things drop a little in order for things to change for the better. It just feels so difficult to let go when they rely on me so heavily.

I am having a hysterectomy so I simply will not be able to go over, move stuff around and help mum move about as I usually do for several weeks after so dad is either going to have to put mum in respite care, or my sister will need to take the time off (she can't though as she's FT self employed) or he will have to agree to a live in respite carer for a few weeks.

I'll have to organise it though as no one else will.

That's really helpful, thank you. We went into this eight years ago so blindly and have very little planned for emergencies etc but it's always been left for me to deal with and sometimes I just don't want that responsibility. I will Google crisis safety plans and get that sorted.

I always doubt myself because dad believes we don't have it as bad as him because he lives with it 24/7 which I understand totally but he doesn't see that yes, I can walk away at the end of the day but it still plays on my mind 24/7. He has carers in to do the personal care and I arrange everything. Literally everything for them. I am in all sense and purpose their 24/7 personal assistant, he calls me most days to arrange this or that, he has no idea how much that can eat into my day. Mum has multiple health issues and I have to arrange it all, I do it because I love them but also because my sister won't. And while he just has his wife to worry about I have both mum, dad AND my own family to juggle all alongside my own health issues, those in itself cause me a lot of my stress and anxiety, I've not been well for quite a few years but as my issues are mainly female health problems my dad doesn't understand.

I have a GP appointment this week to discuss my worries over my surgery and I will tell her just how wretched I feel and just hope she takes me seriously.

Much love.
In answer to your original question I have been suicidal and under the crisis team a few times, but I would only once describe myself as having a complete mental breakdown. Someone managed to breakdown every single dissociative barrier I had built up around past serious traumas and I experienced so many flashbacks from so many parts of my life simultaneously that I literally broke down. I couldn't stand up, I couldn't speak, I couldn't really communicate with anyone for several days. It felt like I was verging on the edge of consciousness, sometimes aware of people being in the room for example, but not much more than that - I still don't know what happened during that time frame.
But, things didn't need to be anywhere near that bad for the mental health team to help me out. The GP has been wonderful. The primary mental health team not so good - I think they were overstretched and didn't really understand trauma. I am now under the secondary mental health team and they are superb. The hospital crisis team are excellent - you can only stay under them for 6 weeks max (and often it is shorter) but rather than me be an in patient they used to come and visit every day.
I really hope that your GP takes you seriously - I find it helpful to write down exactly what I want to say as i struggle to find the words sometimes. Mine is very used now to just reading what I have written and then asking me questions to clarify things.