Emotional Breakdown?
Discussion
PH'ers,
I've been speaking with someone who thinks i could be having a form of emotional breakdown, could anyone point me in the right direction of what i'm supposed to do if i suspect it?
Do i need to go to a Dr or a psychiatrist or what? I'm a bit all over the place at the moment & don't really have a clear thought path.
I've been speaking with someone who thinks i could be having a form of emotional breakdown, could anyone point me in the right direction of what i'm supposed to do if i suspect it?
Do i need to go to a Dr or a psychiatrist or what? I'm a bit all over the place at the moment & don't really have a clear thought path.
Go to your GP if you can - they are the gateway to a lot of assistance/treatment - and believe me they really will have seen it all before. If necessary write it down and take it with you so that if you clam up you can still get the message across.
If you need to see/speak to someone quicker or feel unable to approach your GP (I'd still advise you to do so) then try one or more of the following for access to or information about treament
Go to A&E
Phone NHS Direct
Contact MIND - Infoline open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 6.00pm - 0300 123 3393
info@mind.org.uk - MIND has branches across the country and many offer drop in sessions and free counselling services.
You can also self refer to private psychotherapists/clinical psychologists, if you would prefer talking therapy. However, from experience, you are likely to still need the support of your GP if you are suffering from an acute problem or crisis.
Cognitive therapy is one of the most commonly offered therapies for depression/anxiety - see http://www.babcp.com/
Good luck
If you need to see/speak to someone quicker or feel unable to approach your GP (I'd still advise you to do so) then try one or more of the following for access to or information about treament
Go to A&E
Phone NHS Direct
Contact MIND - Infoline open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 6.00pm - 0300 123 3393
info@mind.org.uk - MIND has branches across the country and many offer drop in sessions and free counselling services.
You can also self refer to private psychotherapists/clinical psychologists, if you would prefer talking therapy. However, from experience, you are likely to still need the support of your GP if you are suffering from an acute problem or crisis.
Cognitive therapy is one of the most commonly offered therapies for depression/anxiety - see http://www.babcp.com/
Good luck
Sheets Tabuer said:
What makes you think you are having a breakdown apart from some non expert telling you it's the case?
I don't know for sure anything, the person who i've spoken to has recommended speaking to a GP as they think from their experience that i'm showing similar symptoms.I basically had a messy break-up around 6 months ago, i dealt with it until around a month ago by ignoring it & denying it ever happened & trying to get on with things, it all sort of took over me & i became extremely upset over witnessing something that means nothing to others but has practically broken me.
Don't really want to go into the sitaution too much as it makes me sound like a right gheyer!
The long and short of it is i basically feel like i can't cope at the minute & i don't have a great deal of stuff to cope with anyway!
Other things include crying, i don't usually 'do crying', lack of sleep, i'm getting 2 hours a night if i'm lucky, although i did sleep for 18 hours the other day, but i've put that down to lack of sleep other nights,i've no apetite really, currently on a sandwich a day & i'm a pretty a pretty big eater usually!
My parents have commented on the fact that i seem incredibly sad/un-happy at the moment, which i do agree with & i'm finding it really hard to get up, again i'm putting that down to not sleeping much though & being tired.
Sorry for using PH as a source of 'getting it out' i don't really feel my friends are much help in a situation like this as they wouldn't understand!
I could just be a complete waste of time though & i don't really want to waste the GP's time if it's all a load of old rubbish, nor am i looking for a free week off work due to 'stress'.
Edited by lawrence567 on Thursday 6th September 09:02
Deffo go and see the GP. Explain to the reception that you really need to see someone and they ought to be able to help out.
As someone who's going through (in my own way - not trying to compare, condescend etc) what you've been through break-up wise, I would suggest a lot of what you've written about how you feel and how you're now reacting makes perfect sense. When stuff breaks down it's massively hard and it makes you emotional.
I always think of human capacity to cope as a glass, where little things add up to a nearly full glass. Then it tends not to matter if it's something completely unrelated, like something emotive on TV (for the love of God avoid Children in Need...) or something that directly affects you, like sorting divorce papers, clearing out a drawer an unexpectedly finding something relating to the ex. That little thing can often be enough to over-fill the glass and suddenly everything comes tumbling down.
Anyway, the fact you're talking to someone is hugely positive. Talk some more and you'll make progress, I've no doubt.
Take it easy.
As someone who's going through (in my own way - not trying to compare, condescend etc) what you've been through break-up wise, I would suggest a lot of what you've written about how you feel and how you're now reacting makes perfect sense. When stuff breaks down it's massively hard and it makes you emotional.
I always think of human capacity to cope as a glass, where little things add up to a nearly full glass. Then it tends not to matter if it's something completely unrelated, like something emotive on TV (for the love of God avoid Children in Need...) or something that directly affects you, like sorting divorce papers, clearing out a drawer an unexpectedly finding something relating to the ex. That little thing can often be enough to over-fill the glass and suddenly everything comes tumbling down.
Anyway, the fact you're talking to someone is hugely positive. Talk some more and you'll make progress, I've no doubt.
Take it easy.
Smitters said:
Deffo go and see the GP. Explain to the reception that you really need to see someone and they ought to be able to help out.
As someone who's going through (in my own way - not trying to compare, condescend etc) what you've been through break-up wise, I would suggest a lot of what you've written about how you feel and how you're now reacting makes perfect sense. When stuff breaks down it's massively hard and it makes you emotional.
I always think of human capacity to cope as a glass, where little things add up to a nearly full glass. Then it tends not to matter if it's something completely unrelated, like something emotive on TV (for the love of God avoid Children in Need...) or something that directly affects you, like sorting divorce papers, clearing out a drawer an unexpectedly finding something relating to the ex. That little thing can often be enough to over-fill the glass and suddenly everything comes tumbling down.
Anyway, the fact you're talking to someone is hugely positive. Talk some more and you'll make progress, I've no doubt.
Take it easy.
I've just had a telephone conversation with the Dr as i didn't want to waste his time really, in case i was being ridiculous, it went well, he asked me what was up, then i couldn't get my words out & just started crying, he's recommended i do attend an appointment this afternoon to see him though, even though he probably does think i'm a big girls blouse.As someone who's going through (in my own way - not trying to compare, condescend etc) what you've been through break-up wise, I would suggest a lot of what you've written about how you feel and how you're now reacting makes perfect sense. When stuff breaks down it's massively hard and it makes you emotional.
I always think of human capacity to cope as a glass, where little things add up to a nearly full glass. Then it tends not to matter if it's something completely unrelated, like something emotive on TV (for the love of God avoid Children in Need...) or something that directly affects you, like sorting divorce papers, clearing out a drawer an unexpectedly finding something relating to the ex. That little thing can often be enough to over-fill the glass and suddenly everything comes tumbling down.
Anyway, the fact you're talking to someone is hugely positive. Talk some more and you'll make progress, I've no doubt.
Take it easy.
I shall update once i've got some feedback from him.
lawrence567 said:
I've just had a telephone conversation with the Dr as i didn't want to waste his time really, in case i was being ridiculous, it went well, he asked me what was up, then i couldn't get my words out & just started crying, he's recommended i do attend an appointment this afternoon to see him though, even though he probably does think i'm a big girls blouse.
I shall update once i've got some feedback from him.
Not if he's worth his salt. I broke down my GP three and a half years ago, after a decade of trying to hold myself together, and this started the ball rolling on trying to get me sorted out. From what I recall, I was then sent to a psychologist for triage.I shall update once i've got some feedback from him.
Your mental health is of vital importance and you should definitely see the doctor.
Insanity Magnet said:
Not if he's worth his salt. I broke down my GP three and a half years ago, after a decade of trying to hold myself together, and this started the ball rolling on trying to get me sorted out. From what I recall, I was then sent to a psychologist for triage.
Your mental health is of vital importance and you should definitely see the doctor.
Hmm i hate talking about it, the more i talk about it, the more it gets to me, we shall see how it goes anyway!Your mental health is of vital importance and you should definitely see the doctor.
Take it all one step at a time. Sometimes life takes a massive crap on your head. Dealing with it, facing up to it and tackling it doesn't make you a big girls blouse. If anything, quite the opposite.
The fact you got to speak to a GP direct and got an appointment today tells you how seriously the GP is taking your health and how important your well-being is.
The fact you got to speak to a GP direct and got an appointment today tells you how seriously the GP is taking your health and how important your well-being is.
Smitters said:
Take it all one step at a time. Sometimes life takes a massive crap on your head. Dealing with it, facing up to it and tackling it doesn't make you a big girls blouse. If anything, quite the opposite.
The fact you got to speak to a GP direct and got an appointment today tells you how seriously the GP is taking your health and how important your well-being is.
I do feel ridiculous though as it's over something so minor, people lose family members, limbs / their life & this has just hit me for 6!The fact you got to speak to a GP direct and got an appointment today tells you how seriously the GP is taking your health and how important your well-being is.
I'm usually extremely confident & out-going & i'm never really bothered by any emotional stuff.
Thanks for the replies though.
lawrence567 said:
I do feel ridiculous though as it's over something so minor, people lose family members, limbs / their life & this has just hit me for 6!
I'm usually extremely confident & out-going & i'm never really bothered by any emotional stuff.
Thanks for the replies though.
Again, don't feel ridiculous. Look at this in an upfront way. If you were just not sleeping, with no other issues, you'd be knackered, irritable and easily stressed, compared to the norm. If you were off your food, you'd be feeling similar. Throw in emotional stuff and you can see how you reach a tipping point.I'm usually extremely confident & out-going & i'm never really bothered by any emotional stuff.
Thanks for the replies though.
The end of a relationship is rarely minor either, it's right up there with death/injury/moving house as one of life's great stresses.
ETA:
If you feel like it, and it helps, let us know how you've got on. Whilst it's easy to assume PH is just a bunch of internet warriors and voyeurs rubbernecking other people's problems, you only need to read the alcoholism advice thread to realise it can be a powerfully positive place.
Edited by Smitters on Thursday 6th September 13:24
lawrence567 said:
UPDATE:
Well i went & had a sit down with the GP for 10-15 minutes, talked through things etc, he was quite understanding as he said he'd been near enough in the same position after a divorce.
I've been given various leaflets on counselling & a nice blue box of Fluoxetine!... Hmm.
Take them. Start now.Well i went & had a sit down with the GP for 10-15 minutes, talked through things etc, he was quite understanding as he said he'd been near enough in the same position after a divorce.
I've been given various leaflets on counselling & a nice blue box of Fluoxetine!... Hmm.
Depression is as debilitating as any other illness, and if you had diabetes you'd take insulin. You have an illness, drugs will help, so take them. Get some counselling as well.
You will get better.
Edited by Soovy on Thursday 6th September 17:41
lawrence567 said:
UPDATE:
Well i went & had a sit down with the GP for 10-15 minutes, talked through things etc, he was quite understanding as he said he'd been near enough in the same position after a divorce.
I've been given various leaflets on counselling & a nice blue box of Fluoxetine!... Hmm.
Good man!Well i went & had a sit down with the GP for 10-15 minutes, talked through things etc, he was quite understanding as he said he'd been near enough in the same position after a divorce.
I've been given various leaflets on counselling & a nice blue box of Fluoxetine!... Hmm.
Consider the counselling seriously and keep an eye on your moods after you start taking Fluoxetine (just in case - some people , such as me, can react unfavourably to the drugs).
Let us know how you get on.
Good to see you've got things moving.
Please consider taking the tablets as advised.
They usually take a couple of weeks to kick in, so give them at least that long if they are not working. However there are a fair few different types and not all work for everyone, so if you have problems with them go back to your GP as they can change the prescription as required.
Some people get better with drugs alone, however some studies have shown that cognitive therapy and drugs combined gives the best long term result (measured by the likelihood of another depressive episode later on). From a personal point of view, drugs are useful to get you to a place where you are more capable of getting your house in order, whether that's literally or emotionally. Cognitive behavioural therapy is also a very practical type of therapy - you are expected to try to look at your thinking patterns objectively and contructively, and it's quite a structured treatment with defined goals (agreed between therapist and patient).
Some other fairly simple DIY things that I have personally found helpful (some by experiment, others by accident):
reduced caffeine, especially in the run up to bed time
reduced alcohol
cut right back on sugar and starch, increase animal fats (the brain is 60% fat - mono-unsaturated fats and omega 3s mostly)
vitamin D3 supplements and light therapy (I have a dawn clock - I suffered from chronic insomnia since childhood, this is much better controlled now)
magnesium supplements
exercise
meditation
Please consider taking the tablets as advised.
They usually take a couple of weeks to kick in, so give them at least that long if they are not working. However there are a fair few different types and not all work for everyone, so if you have problems with them go back to your GP as they can change the prescription as required.
Some people get better with drugs alone, however some studies have shown that cognitive therapy and drugs combined gives the best long term result (measured by the likelihood of another depressive episode later on). From a personal point of view, drugs are useful to get you to a place where you are more capable of getting your house in order, whether that's literally or emotionally. Cognitive behavioural therapy is also a very practical type of therapy - you are expected to try to look at your thinking patterns objectively and contructively, and it's quite a structured treatment with defined goals (agreed between therapist and patient).
Some other fairly simple DIY things that I have personally found helpful (some by experiment, others by accident):
reduced caffeine, especially in the run up to bed time
reduced alcohol
cut right back on sugar and starch, increase animal fats (the brain is 60% fat - mono-unsaturated fats and omega 3s mostly)
vitamin D3 supplements and light therapy (I have a dawn clock - I suffered from chronic insomnia since childhood, this is much better controlled now)
magnesium supplements
exercise
meditation
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