Nervous breakdown symptoms??

[kdibattista]

I'm fearful that someone in my family is in the process of having a nervous breakdown but I don't know what to look for. She is going through a lot right now and is acting very strangely... I'm hoping to get a clear idea of what I should be looking for and what I can do

So far what I found online is "inability to cope" and although that does sum up what's going on with her I'm looking for something more specific.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I have a cousin who apparently had a nervous breakdown. My mother told me that his parents said that he just sat on the couch, catatonic, and that he gained a lot of weight also. I don't know if that helps

 

[Crankyshank]

What do you mean by "acting strangely"?

I'm not sure if there's even any clear cut symptoms other than an inability to cope because it really depends on the person and the stress and their personality. Someone that seems to be doing things completely out of character and just not handling their stress well at all would be pretty clear indicators.

When the person I knew had a breakdown it was really obvious. I think the fact that you've got a bad feeling about it might be a good enough reason to speak to that person or someone close to you both and voice your concerns. You don't have to say the words nervous breakdown - just that the person seems overwhelmed and you're concerned.

If you are afraid that person is a harm to themselves or others (and I don't just mean suicide) then definitely step in and get that person help ASAP

 

[kdibattista]

She does seem almost catatonic when we discuss the issue at hand... emotionless when she is normally all emotion. She says she doesn't feel well and she doesn't look well. I'm really starting to get concerned but I don't know what to do.

 

[beck0321]

Someone in my family had a nervous breakdown a long time ago, and I was too young to remember exactly what happened at the time. Basically he quit his job and quit socializing. Stayed in bed all the time and tore his family apart. Now he lives at home with his elderly parents, taking advantage of them because he is too "depressed" (or something) to help out with any chores, get a freaking job or even run out to the store for them!!!! The saddest part is that his mentally challenged brother (who also still lives there) is holding down a steady job AND taking care of alot of household chores. What the hell is that about?


Can you tell I have much disrespect for and despise this person?

So I don't know exactly what to look for, but if she is having one someone needs to intervine NOW before she messes her entire life up!!!

 

[flortlebap]

I think a full on nervous breakdown is a huge life changing event - the person just becomes like a blank shell of a person, it takes a lot of treatment to recover.

It sounds to me like a straightforward case of depression... I got post natal depression, I couldn't sleep, was tired and staring all day long, lost any feeling I had for anyone. I stopped caring about a lot of things. I didn't eat or drink properly, and just felt awful. I never had the real "high" of happiness, but felt like someone had died any time the slightest thing went wrong. It's a horrible thing to go through

Get your family member to chat with their doctor. Maybe that would help with a true diagnosis?

 

[drgnfly30]

I think you'll find varying symptoms...

I had a co-worker who just 'snapped' one day at work, total mental & emotional breakdown, she became hysterical, paranoid, inconsolable. unable to breath... we literally had to carry her to medical aide. She was out of work for quite some time & did quite bit of therapy.

Another friend of mine slowly shut down, showed no emotion - just blank, she stopped functioning, work, sleep, eat you name it... she had to learn how to chew food again it was so bad!