Breakdowns; heavy, man

[Mich the Tester]

I don’t mean the Wilmslow kind which is easily avoided by not buying a Ford Focus. I mean the personal kind. I’ve had one and I am not ashamed to say it, although I won’t go into detail as someone might recognize my story. Someone else on the forum has had one too, and someone else’s husband has too. It happens to lots of people. Trouble is there’s such a taboo about this; employers, and worse still, insurers, steer well clear of anyone who’s had a breakdown, and yet it seems to be something quite normal that happens to lots of people, like a severe bout of flu or some other disease that knocks you flat but then you recover.

Personally I think that recovering from my breakdown made me a stronger and more stable person, better in touch with what I want out of life, and better able to help others achieve what they want. In that sense, a breakdown might actually afford some kind of immunity to mental or psychological illness just as childhood measles gives you immunity. Perhaps I sometimes appear harsh and unsympathetic, but actually it’s just hard experience.

Anyone recognize this?

[Pogle]

I don’t mean the Wilmslow kind which is easily avoided by not buying a Ford Focus. I mean the personal kind. I’ve had one and I am not ashamed to say it, although I won’t go into detail as someone might recognize my story. Someone else on the forum has had one too, and someone else’s husband has too. It happens to lots of people. Trouble is there’s such a taboo about this; employers, and worse still, insurers, steer well clear of anyone who’s had a breakdown, and yet it seems to be something quite normal that happens to lots of people, like a severe bout of flu or some other disease that knocks you flat but then you recover.

Personally I think that recovering from my breakdown made me a stronger and more stable person, better in touch with what I want out of life, and better able to help others achieve what they want. In that sense, a breakdown might actually afford some kind of immunity to mental or psychological illness just as childhood measles gives you immunity. Perhaps I sometimes appear harsh and unsympathetic, but actually it’s just hard experience.

Anyone recognize this?

Yup, its crap to go through, but can make life so much better - out the other side.

[Pickle2]

What do you mean by a breakdown? What happens, what are the symptoms and signs. Is it depression, or something a bit more specific?

[Troll]

You are "She who cannot be named" and I claim my 5 tablets of Noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors

[EternalOptimist]

never had one, but it sounds like the perfect antidote to the stupid 'I am invincible' 'I am perfect' attitude that fckd me up till I was about 40

[Mich the Tester]

What do you mean by a breakdown? What happens, what are the symptoms and signs. Is it depression, or something a bit more specific?

Losing it temporarily. Verging on suicide, doing something stupid to yourself and not really knowing what you’re doing during a very stressful period. I don’t mean someone who’s chronically depressed, but just screwed up very badly for a fairly short time (weeks or months but not years). Doing a Reggie Perrin, if you like, and then collapsing in a heap of emotional weakness.

[Troll]

Losing it temporarily. Verging on suicide, doing something stupid to yourself and not really knowing what you’re doing during a very stressful period. I don’t mean someone who’s chronically depressed, but just screwed up very badly for a fairly short time (weeks or months but not years). Doing a Reggie Perrin, if you like, and then collapsing in a heap of emotional weakness.

What did your partner say?

[original PM]

an interestng point - I have had some ups and downs (some really bigs and some pretty low downs)

but ultimately I have always been able to take a step back and bring myself back from the edge

No idea why some people can and some people have a breakdown

anyway hope all is okay with you all now.?

[snaw]

an interestng point - I have had some ups and downs (some really bigs and some pretty low downs)

but ultimately I have always been able to take a step back and bring myself back from the edge

No idea why some people can and some people have a breakdown

anyway hope all is okay with you all now.?

Chemical imbalance normally. My mum is bi-polar, so I have experience of this from the family/carers side of things.

I think the stigma is disappearing these days (God I hope so), think the worse thing about the breakdowns gorwing up wasn't so much the actual episodes (They were bad enough) it was always the stigma that came with it. Especially kids, as the sayign goes - they can be so cruel

I reckon that's where a huge chunk of my empathy for underdogs and the oppressed comes from. But as Mich said, the experience makes you strong and mentally I'm one of the toughest people I know.

[Mich the Tester]

an interestng point - I have had some ups and downs (some really bigs and some pretty low downs)

but ultimately I have always been able to take a step back and bring myself back from the edge

No idea why some people can and some people have a breakdown

anyway hope all is okay with you all now.?

I’m fine. Never been happier. OK, I have tulip days but so does everyone. Basically I don’t let other people push me around any more. I don’t worry as much about what people think of me, or about money (which is temporary) or status. I have learned to ‘meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two impostors just the same’ as Kipling said, and I’ve learned that showing compassion for others is a lot more satisfying than defeating them in some meaningless office politics fight. In fact, since my breakdown I have stopped chasing after money and status and now have a better relationship, am a more successful sportsman (although 40 is approaching faster than I’d like), I earn much more, have less but better friendships and am more able to influence people positively. Strangely, it was f**king awful but the best thing that ever happened to me.