Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. You will not be wasting anyone's time.
feel overwhelmed — unable to concentrate or make decisions. be moody — feeling low or depression; feeling burnt out; emotional outbursts of uncontrollable anger, fear, helplessness or crying. feel depersonalised — not feeling like themselves or feeling detached from situations.
A nervous breakdown usually lasts for a few hours to a few weeks, but in some cases it can last a few months or even a few years.
A breakdown can last anything from a few hours to months and even years. It is also known as a mental or nervous breakdown or reaching rock bottom.
Try not to minimize what people are going through by being dismissive. It's not easy for them and by telling them “It could be worse” or “Just brush it off” we are being unhelpful, and often hurtful. Practice empathy by being mindful of what others could be experiencing.
"I'm really sorry you're going through this. I'm here for you if you need me." Remind them that their feelings are valid and that you want to support them.
You could say something like 'its okay to feel like that' or, 'what you're going through sounds really tough'. Sometimes when you are struggling with your mental health, it can feel very lonely. By letting them know how they feel is valid, you are letting them know that they are not alone.
It isn't helpful to say things like “just be happy,” because they work hard to understand everyone else's point of view, and they deserve the same in return. “So don't tell them of just be grateful, because they do try to be grateful,” said Neo. “But they say depression is like looking at life with a black lens.”
It's important to remember that even if you or a loved one is having or has had a mental breakdown, it is a temporary condition. With the right treatment, you, or your loved one, can recover and begin to heal.
“Self-harm, suicidal or homicidal thoughts are very clear-cut cases where you should go to the emergency room. And if you are experiencing severe physical manifestations of a mental health condition, anything that is a threat to bodily function or well-being, that's a good time to go, too,” he says.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPDs) become overwhelmed and incapacitated by the intensity of their emotions, whether it is joy and elation or depression, anxiety, and rage. They are unable to manage these intense emotions.
Do not reach out to their support system without their knowledge. This could break their trust in you and lead to more stress. The only exception is if they state that they have specific plans to hurt themselves or someone else (more on this below).
Treatment for a nervous breakdown may involve therapy, medication, and self-care or lifestyle changes. Working with a therapist can help someone manage negative emotions, explore the causes of those feelings, and change thoughts and behaviors to minimize stress and better cope with it.
Anxiety and depression destroy relationships because they create a problem-causing cycle among two people trying to be together meaningfully. Both depression and anxiety can zap that meaning and replace it with misgivings. This creates relationship dissatisfaction, which in turn can exacerbate mental health struggles.
Nearly everyone is familiar with the term “nervous breakdown.” It's a term commonly used by people to describe challenging situations in life with which they cannot cope. In contrast, a psychotic breakdown is a mental health emergency that leads an individual to lose touch with reality.
It's important that you acknowledge the person's emotion and not minimize it. Use paraphrasing to show when you understand what they are saying to you. You can also use summarizing to show understanding as well. Active listening is a way to get the person to trust you and give more weight to what you are telling them.