8 warning signs of a nervous breakdown
<p>With the diagnosis rate of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety at an all-time high, there’s never been a more important time to talk about something many people joke about – nervous breakdowns.</p>
<p>This frightening temporary mental disorder occurs when the pressures of life blow up to such a point where the sufferer is no longer able to function, and it’s something we all need to learn how to prevent.</p>
<p><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.healthista.com/8-signs-that-you-are-having-a-breakdown/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">According to therapist Sally Brown</span></strong></a>, there are eight major warning signs to look out for if you feel yourself edging closer towards breaking point.</p>
<p><strong>1. You dream of running away</strong> – According to Brown, escape fantasies indicate you may be at risk. “If you see your only options as ‘run away’ or ‘put up with this misery’, you have fallen into black-and-white thinking, a classic sign of anxiety and depression,” she explains.</p>
<p><strong>2. You never take any “me” time</strong> – Developing a mental illness doesn’t happen overnight, it slowly builds up over time. Taking a moment of calm for yourself each day – even just 20 minutes – can help you relax.</p>
<p><strong>3. You have trouble making decisions</strong> – Whether it’s a big decision or something minor like deciding on dinner, feeling overwhelmed by choice could signal declining mental health. “You may also have a sense of being judged on your actions, by loved ones and strangers, and feel an underlying sense of shame at not being able to cope.”</p>
<p><strong>4. You’re isolating yourself</strong> – Not feeling as social as usual? Before (and during) a nervous breakdown, your brain feels overloaded, so pushing away any potential pressures or stimulation is a natural defence mechanism, even if it means isolating yourself from your support network.</p>
<p><strong>5. You can’t sleep</strong> – Struggling to fall and stay asleep is a classic (and highly damaging) symptom of depression and anxiety. “Moderate (not intense) exercise is your best weapon, both in helping your body process the stress hormones and releasing calming neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.”</p>
<p><strong>6. You suffer panic attacks</strong> – Anyone who’s suffered a panic attack before knows just how terrifying they can be. According to Brown, managing your breathing is essential. “Slowing down your breathing, and making the out-breath longer than the in-breath, is the key to resetting.”</p>
<p><strong>7. You sabotage yourself</strong> – Eating excess amounts of sugar and drinking too much alcohol to the point of being sick is often an unconscious cry for help, but both can make your anxiety and depression worse.</p>
<p><strong>8. You don’t recognise yourself</strong> – If you feel like you’ve lost your sense of self-worth or purpose, this could trigger a nervous breakdown. “Depression also puts a negative filter on your thoughts so you're probably struggling to remember anything you've done well or succeeded it.”</p>
