I can remember how this felt while I was going through it. After 12 years, I still look back on it in shock. For three long months I tried to pretend I was fine. I finally found some help wish the support of my family and friends. If you're dealing with this yourself, or you know someone else who is... please get help. It does get better.

I guess it happens, especially when someone is so much surrounded by disorders such as above mentioned. The best solution for it is regular family and friend therapy.

My husband walked out on me suddenly, without any warning. I already suffer from major depression but this was different. I was almost incoherent the first day. My 18y/o daughter had to take care of me. I called my psychiatrist and they suggested that I let my friends and family support me. I couldn't sleep or eat and I was already on anti-depressants. I was also having memory laspes, which the doc said I will never regain. When I finally had a full blown panic attack, I got so scared and I was finally placed in the hospital to regulate me meds and keep me safe. I received individual and group counseling as well. I've been out 2 days and I trying to use the coping skills I learned in the hospital. I'm from the south and that is what we call a nervous breakdown. I'm hopefuly on my way to recovery.

i read this article and i am not sure, i mean how is someone sure if they have are starting to break. my family is riddled with disorders, it frightens me. making sentences make sense seems hard, i was trying to explain myself to a close friend, my thoughts, they are scattered kind of like.. if you drop a plate and it breaks the pieces go everywhere, you can't always find all the pieces and if you can't find all the pieces you can't fix the plate right? so what does it mean when you can't find all the pieces, you can't put the plate in order.. does this make any sense?? i need to know how to fix the plate if you can't find the pieces.. i can't seem to make anyone understand what i am trying to say, they think i am babbling and maybe i am but there has to be order to chaos there can't only be chaos, does anyone understand what i am saying?

I am just coming through a nervous breakdown, i have always been confident and outgoing, my wife ran off with someone else and took my two beautiful sons. Made it so difficult for me to spend time with them. I am now a shell of the man I was, I have found myself homeless (in hostel now) friendless and hopeless.....one defining moment can break all security...all contentment...and all life as we know it....from, getting there.

My mom has always been the happy go lucky one, with my dad and me being prone to depression.

She then moved my dad into a smaller house, as they were getting older, but somehow did not prepare for the move. It shook her so much that she landed in hospital and had a nervous breakdown.

She is now a mere shell of herself and it has already been more than a month that she has been taking pills that the psychiatrist prescribes.

She is fearful of everything and everything is an issue, and this makes it very difficult for me to know how to deal with her. I'm also quite depressed and its difficult to keep a happy front and to keep comforting her that she will be alright.

Is there anything that will speed up her recovery in addition to the psychiatrist? I take her for regular walks and cook for them twice a week.

Will welcome any advice.

I have been through terrible panic attacks, now, I am better, actually much better,
so, maybe my experience can help you.
if you are alone, don't be, try ask somebody to be with you, especially at night, before sleep.
if you can not find anyone, when attack comes, try talking to yourself, anything, most importantly
try not to think about anything that might harm you, including, breathing difficulties, go see a doctor
to make sure you don't have cardiac, lung problems or asthma
at day time, exercise regularly, eat regularly, I believe we still need physical strength even it's dealing mental
problems, keep yourself occupied, find someone to talk, to share, if you could, as for me, I go for playing internet
games, reading, and learning. because I am totally alone, how pathetic...
stay positive, everyone's life has a reason, I believe you still have expectations, don't shake your head, everybody does.
by the way, I was dumped by my wife, I have to use this d-word, because she left with no warning, after 7 years marriage.
and I have serious chronicle disease, I still believe the sun tomorrow will be brighter than today.
my english is not good, if you are confused, let me know

reading the post [how do you know for sure] said all about my feelings on this issue. i feel this way my self not knowing how to explain whats bothering you or how you feel about something. but i find that its not about you not knowing how to say how you feel its a case of the other person/s not understanding or accepting how you feel. ive tried to say how i feel but the responses i get are, oh why do you let things get to you or its not a big issue or you are taking things out of proportiom, but to me all the things i tell them are matters that realy hurt me and get me down and make me feel like im stupid for feeling like this or that i just caused a row again for something and nothing. which makes me sit back and think as wether it is a mental issue because the pain you feel and the tears you cry at those times are very real so only you know how you feel and wether it is something you have to see your doctor about.its scary but at least you will get the support you need, says me who still hasnt been.

I too am a shell of the person I once was. I don't know how to get back to me. I was always known for appreciating even the smallest joys in life. That was then.

My husband had a affair. We did not divorce and tried to work things out but looking back it was like he fought against me every step of the way. It went on for years and is still an issue with me because some things are still left undone.

I let it ruin my life and make me physically sick. I felt we could do it. It was years of back and forth and up and down for me. Finally, at some point, my spirit just broke. I lost my joie de vivre.

I've been on anti-depressants and back off. I guess I'm on the other side of a nervous breakdown but things will never be the same.

I have met lots of peaple have nervous breakdowns but my question is how many nervous breakdowns = a mentle Breakdown.

I had a nervous breakdown recently...an acute panic attack followed by 3 days of unbearable anxiety through which I had to live through everyday life acting like nothing was wrong. All the while I felt like I could lose it and scream, freak out, cry or fall apart, or go completely INSANE any second...but guess what, I recovered. It was in my head, and once I got through my thoughts I was okay.

Now trust me, when I was going through it I thought it would never end because I did everything I could mentally think of (trying to relax, calm down) to be okay. Nothing worked and I thought I would live the rest of my life feeling that badly. I wondered how I could make it and go on. What finally did help me what confessing to my lover how badly I felt. People say friends and family help so much, and I believe it's because understanding, care, and love are the greatest cures. The love of others can strengthen us from the outside when we cannot produce it within ourselves, and eventually the spirit remembers.

I asked my lover to take me to the hospital saying I was losing it and need drugs...but he said "no, you don't want to be dependent on those". Instead he listened to me, embraced me, did yoga therapy on me (he's an instructor) and gave me special herbal/holistic medicine in the form of tea. After that I felt something release (which might've been the teas and all that, but mostly it was my lover's unconditional love and acceptance and support of me when felt weak, vulnerable, and abhorrent even to myself). I found the space/ability to weep and began to do so openly and without shame letting the fear and anxiety and pain pour out of me.

Day by day my disturbance lessened and lessened and lessened. It's now been a month. I can't say I'm 100 pecent...but I'm in the 90s. I feel fragile and nervous at times...humbled and still shaken by my experience, but I get better everyday and I know the day will come when I am fully past this.

To everyone reading: be kinder to yourself..."baby" yourself if you will. Nothing is more important than taking care of yourself and your mind and you being Okay (especially whatever sent you into your downward turn). Realize this, and confide in someone...people will be more caring and less judgemental than you might think.

I'm praying for everyone going through similar experiences or merely suffering in any way... Love to everyone.

hi, I'm Angela, 13 years old, and i think something's wrong with me, i feel really stressed out because of too much studying in school, my grandparents blaming me for something i didn't even do, and my parents getting mad at me for no reason at all. I am exhibiting violent anger, and had committed suicide attempt once. I am also experiencing some paranoid thoughts like someone hurting me or something like that. I am posting this because I need some help from you guys. I would really appreciate it if you could help me out.Thank you.

i have panic attacks daily.i feel as if i cannot breath,also i feel as i have too much on my plate.I have alot more than i can handle.how am suppose to take care of every thing.once i get home from working,i am constantly taking care of business affairs,and personal responsibilities.It never ends,but gets increasing too much.WHAT AM I TO DO?

Angela, you need to see a professional. Tell your doctor everything that you've been feeling. There is no other way around it, YOU HAVE TO SEE SOMEONE!!! I have been in your shoes many years ago and your situation sounds very much the same. I wish I saw a psychiatrist right away but I didn't want to because of pride. Pride has nothing to do with it. Sometimes it helps talking to a total stranger than to family or friends. In my case it was a psychiatrist. She really helped me. You have a beautiful life ahead of you. You're just going over a speed bump now and speaking from experience I know that things seem bad but they will get better with the proper help. Please, please see your doctor. Maybe you can speak to a counsellor at your school as well. There are many ways that you can get help. Just remember that things will get better.

hey 'stressed out.overwhelmed' I am just coming through the same situation, I felt like I couldnt cope, everything was getting on top of me and I felt like I could just scream and no one would listen, I had daily panic attacks and strong, almost unbearable feelings of anxiety. I went to my doctor and she precribed me propranolol aka beta blockers, these are good for panic and anxiety as they lessen the syptoms of anxiety and therefore reduce or stop your panic attacks, also I have been discussing my feelings at great length with friends and family, this has helped considerably, i still get bouts of anxiety but I am now able to come through it without allowing it to take hold completely, im finding that with everyday the anxious feelings lessen. I was even able to take my son swimming by myself today, which I wouldnt have been able to do a couple of weeks ago. Plz go and see your GP because youve already made the first step to recovery by seeking advice, you will begin to feel better and you wont feel like this forever, you just need some help to cope which is completely normal. Also I find that when I feel an attack coming on taking my mind off it helps, whether that be watching your fave movie, having a ciggie, talking on the phone, reading a book or watching the box, I hope you feel better soon, take care.

I think when it comes to admiting that there is something wrong with you thats the hardest part. Its not easy dealing with promblems on your own as it blocks you emotionally. I have been diagnosed with a depression a couple of months back, because of a miscarrige. After this I had a really bad time in my relationship, as I stopped believing in my partner... And I feel like I am going back to this again. last night i had a few drinks and i went off my head i felt like all my emotions came out at once and exploded. I am so paranoied some time and the things that run through my head are very scary!!! I feel like crying for the last couple of days, i just dont know what to do and how to help myself or at least seek help. I refuse to take anti depressants i think they will fuck my head up even more.

Hi everybody,
If you think you have it bad listen to my story.
Five years ago my husband and I had a tax inspection which has just ended. Little did I know that he had sold a couple of our buy to let properties and hadn't declared the capital gains tax. This has resulted in us owing the Inland Revenue £300.000 which is made up of the capital gains, interest and fines. Thats bad enough but we had to put our house on the market a year and a half ago so that we could pay back some of what we owed them, it hasn't sold due to the recession. My husband is in the building trade and has hardly any work so haven't been able to pay the mortgage and alot of other bills either. Have just found out that the Inland Revenue are now going to make us bankrupt. We have lost everything, we will have no home and don't know where we are going to live, can't rent privately because landlords don't take kindly to bankrupts. Council probably won't help either. My husbands running out of work fast so won't have any income. I had to give my job up because I've been soooo stressed and kept on breaking down at work. Its just a nightmare and at 43 with three children did not ever imagine this could happen to me, thought my life was sorted. Wake up crying everyday now, just want it all to stop. Has anybody been through or know anybody that has been through a similar experience. Could really do with some advice. Thanks for reading this.

hi anglea, im 21 years old and im having some of the same problems as you are. see i have cancer in over 80% of my body and i have had cancer simce i was 17. its not a day that goes by where i dont think about doing some of the things that you waant to do. but it takes alot of strength and prayer to overcome it. nothing is worth killing yourself over.youre so young and have so much ahead to look forward to.think about it, pray about it and find someone who you really trust. thats what got me through it.

This is to Angela, the 13 year old girl. 13 is a very difficult age for a girl and I remember it being a very tough time and I had a tough time dealing with everything from school to family. If you want to chat with me then let me know. Sometimes it helps.

yes, i need a psychiatrist but the question is how, who, when?




-angela