What is a breakdown?

The term actually refers to a wide range of experiences when someone has hit rock bottom. There is no such thing in medical terms, and making a diagnosis based on such a flimsy term is near impossible.

• Severe depression: This is the most common type of breakdown, where someone develops severe depression over a few weeks, where they can't sleep, feel on edge, have negative thoughts about themselves, feel more and more hopeless and then one day just can't get out of bed.
• Collapse in social roles: Inability to keep doing day-to-day job and playing your usual part in family/ social life.
• Loss of sense of reality: When the person becomes delusional, 'has lost the plot'. A psychotic breakdown, although this is not always indicative of schizophrenia.

Warning signs of immobilising stress:

• Physical: Diarrhoea, constipation, IBS, back pain, breathing problems, migraines, insomnia, low libido, a disrupted menstrual cycle.
• Emotional: Constant worrying, anxiety, feeling everything is out of your control and you are trapped.
• Behavioural: Mood swings, tantrums, constant fidgeting, withdrawal from normal life.

Why does it happen?

Breakdowns are caused by the interaction of the internal and the external, yet there is always a trigger or catalyst. Breakdowns are often associated with a major life event, such as a bereavement or a broken relationship. Whether such life events cause a breakdown depends upon the individual's ability to cope with the situation. Those who are more vulnerable at the time are therefore more at risk.

Breakthrough

It's not all bad - if you receive the right treatment a breakdown can be turned into a breakthrough. If well managed it can enlighten the person as to what went wrong, and help them to come out the other side as a better person. It can teach you about yourself and your coping strategies and help you deal better with stress and challenging situations in the future.

Treatment

Medication and a coping strategy, either through group therapy or individual therapy.

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