WARNING SIGNS THAT YOU ABOUT TO HAVE MENTAL BREAKDOWN

WARNING SIGNS THAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE A MENTAL BREAKDOWN

A mental breakdown is a period of mental illness during which intense feelings of depression, stress, or anxiety result in an inability to function in daily life. The person suffering is emotionally overwhelmed. They might feel that life is hopeless, that they are going crazy, and that they will never be able to get back to normal.

Although it’s possible for someone’s mental health to go from perfect to really bad in an instant, it doesn’t usually work that way. (Even psychosis tends to have warning signs.) And if you get help when you’re just starting to falter, you have a better chance of avoiding a full-on crisis. Here, some indicators that warrant a call for help.

You Have a Mental Health Issue That’s Not Being Well Managed

Anyone can experience a mental health crisis, but it is more likely when underlying mental health disorders are present. So if you already have depression, anxiety, or another problem, take it seriously. See your provider regularly for check-ins, and be sure to raise a flag if you feel like your current treatment isn’t working

You’re Abusing Alcohol or Drugs (perhaps prescription)

Substance abuse and mental breakdowns often go hand-in-hand. You’ll need professional help to break your addiction and get your mental and physical health back on track.

Your Life Has Been Extra Stressful Lately

Maybe you were diagnosed with cancer, are going through a divorce, got fired, or lost a loved one. None of these things necessarily mean that you’re headed for a breakdown, but they do raise the risk. If you feel like stress is pushing you to the edge, perhaps you’re so worried that you’re hardly eating or sleeping, get professional help sooner rather than later. In these cases, even someone who does not usually suffer from anxiety or depression can become overwhelmed to the point that they experience a mental health crisis.

You’re Having Panic Attacks or Considering Suicide

Panic attacks can be a warning sign, especially if they happen frequently within a short period of time. Mental breakdowns are often preceded by ongoing feelings of doom and worry, perhaps even suicidal thoughts, or by what’s known as ‘hyperarousal,’—feeling tense and overstimulated as a result of the nervous system going into ‘fight or flight mode

You Feel Numb

Some people on the edge of a breakdown report not feeling much of anything. You might stop caring how you look, lose interest in activities you used to enjoy, and isolate yourself from family and friends. These are all signs of depression and possibly a major mental health crisis.

Normal Life Seems Unmanageable

Even small everyday tasks begin to feel like too much to cope with, and social situations seem overwhelming. This feeling can come on suddenly or build up slowly over time, thanks to an ongoing buildup of worry and stress.

Since most mental breakdowns are stress-related, techniques such as meditation, exercise, and yoga can certainly help. But if you’re truly headed into crisis mode, don’t try to fix it yourself or hope it will just pass. A trained mental health professional can help you identify the underlying conditions or the triggering event, and work with you to create an appropriate treatment plan.