What to do when experiencing a nervous breakdown?

[fried eggs]

I'm NOT suicidal or homicidal, just feeling really trapped and depressed and can't take it anymore. I don't want to be committed or referred to CPS.

[snooper2]

1. I like to sit down and play with june bugs, they are fun and make you happy!

like this!

[yuiyoshida]

2. In the past couple of days people on DU have

Posted 1-800 type phone numbers to call, if you are depressed and need to talk with someone. Your best bet is to find those posts and those phone numbers and have them handy. You don't need to be suicidal or homicidal to call them. Just call.

[Tace]

3. If You Are Seeking Medical Attention...

and don't have a doctor, you can contact the psychiatric department of a local hospital and ask about their "clinic." They would schedule you to see a psychiatric professional, who could prescribe meds, if appropriate. This was the advice of a NYC psychiatrist several years ago when I asked about getting help for a friend in New Jersey.

I'm no expert, but I believe that they would not seek to hospitalize you, unless you expressed a desire to hurt yourself or others. Best of luck. --Tace

[jeff47]

4. It depends.

"I'm utterly worthless" is a different problem to solve than "I'm terrified about the future", which is a different problem to solve from "I don't know how I'm going to pay the bills".

Some general strategies:
- Go spend time with friends, doing whatever you and your friends enjoy.
- Distract yourself with an entertaining hobby. Something you have to concentrate on.
- Got a dog? Go play fetch. Got young kids? Take them to the playground. Anything where you can focus on the simple pleasures that they are feeling right this second.

If you happen to be feeling "I'm utterly worthless" I can provide some additional strategies, since depression is something I've had to deal with. Other problems are outside my experience.

You should also look into getting some mental health care. Frankly, everyone could use regular mental checkups just like regular physical checkups.

[redqueen]

5. Talk to someone.

It can be a loved one, a doctor, or a close friend. But that is the first step out of that hole.

[YvonneCa]

7. Great advice. I'd add that...

...finding a support group of people in similar circumstances can really help with finding solutions. It also helps because you start to see you aren't alone in what you are facing.
Talk to someone who can help you find that support group.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. ^^This^^^

Talk to someone you trust.

If there is no one you feel that you can share this with, follow the advice above from yuioshida and Tace: find someone who's prepared and waiting to help someone in your situation.

fried eggs, best wishes to you. Be kind to yourself.

[jwirr]

6. My brother always tries to keep busy doing things that keep his mind off the troubles. Don't

hesitate to go to a doctor. They usually do not commit you but if there is need for a diagnosis they may send you to the hospital for observation. In most states you cannot be committed without a hearing before a judge. And that is only if you are acting VERY strange. There has to be proof that you are a danger to either yourself or the community.

[NM_Birder]

9. exercise. fresh air and a healthy sweat, works every time.

[Tace]

10. I'll Add: Sensible Diet And Plenty Of Sleep...

although not-enough sleep may not be an issue, if you're depressed.

In any case: Be good to yourself. You deserve it.

[NM_Birder]

14. Bingo !

Like the OP, I'm not depressed or suicidal in any way.

There is nothing that burns stress, anxiety and worry off like exercise, a run, a walk, a bike ride whatever .......... break a sweat for 30 minutes a day doing whatever you want and I guarantee to will feel better, sleep better, and look better.

Clinging to the bad news buffet offered up on the "news", or allowing political chat rooms to consume your life, is a poison a lot of people don't realize they are addicted to.

eat, sleep, and breathe for the political and social events of the rest of the world, and you eventually let go of your own life to worry about everyone else's.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE HAPPY ! even if others are not, IT'S OK TO BE HAPPY !

[enough]

12. Yes, exercise. Sounds corny, but this is the BEST medicine. (nt)

[NM_Birder]

16. Bingo !

[KurtNYC]

13. "move a muscle, change your mood" often works for me

[NM_Birder]

15. Bingo !

[Mnemosyne]

11. First thing, slow down and breathe. When stressed we tend to hold our breath, which causes a

physical reaction in the body and makes the feelings worse.

Then seek help, maybe just call a friend, a hotline or talk to people here. There's some awesome people here that have been through this many times.

Sorry you're having a bad day, wish I had better advice but am there with you, just trying to breathe through each moment until it eases. :hug;

[kickitup]

17. Talking to someone and/or medicine can help and I want you to know that.

I'm not pushing pills, but I have been at that point before where you feel like there is no way out (of my own mind mainly) and it's almost a sort of panic that things will not get better. I want you to know that you will and can get out of the trap if that is what you're experiencing. There is hope although you might feel everything is hopeless.

My experience has been that when I have a bad episode, which is usually when I think I'm better and quit taking my meds, my mind won't quit feeding me negative memories or thoughts and I seem to lose any objectivity about my situation or my life. My experience with medicine is that it stops my mind from racing and allows me to see things more realistically or to be able to assess situations with a bit of healthy detachment if that makes any sense.

So, if you feel like you can't take it anymore and you can identify at all with what I have said about how I feel when I hit a low, I just want you to know that you can feel better and that you will feel better, or at least get a bit of relief, pretty quickly if you go ask for help (and no, I don't think you are in danger of being committed).

I'm adding this link because I have found it helpful to understand what my mind is doing to me during the low times: http://www.drjoecarver.com/clients/49355/File/DEPRESSION%20-%20Causes,%20Symptoms,%20and%20Treatment.html

If you go to the link and read down you will see him mention in 5, 6 & 7 the "garbage truck" and racing thoughts. When I read this the first time I had an "aha" moment and when I get down now, I will go back and read it so I will remember the "game" my brain is trying to play with me.

I hope this helps and if it doesn't really address your situation, perhaps it may help anyone reading this.

[RebelOne]

18. I went through a period of severe depression many years ago,

and I finally visited a psychiatrist. It was expensive, but fortunately, my health insurance covered the bill. He sent me to group therapy and it really helped to speak to others with similar problems.

[Avalux]

19. First, be kind to yourself.

We tend to be our own worst critics and rip ourselves apart over our 'negative' aspects, or the stuff we don't like about ourselves. All that does is create a spiral of hopelessness where we feel trapped (I've been there too).

Others have suggested exercise, I agree and I'd also like to suggest meditation. Nothing fancy - there are youtube videos of easy guided meditation you can do for about 15 minutes. This will quiet your brain and allow you to control what you think about so when you're in a negativity loop you can redirect yourself. If you meditate every day for 30 days it will do wonders, has for me.