Can teenagers have mental breakdowns? Did I have one?!


Question: Can teenagers have mental breakdowns.? Did I have one.?
I don't know if you'd call it a "mental breakdown", but I had the strangest experience about 2 and a half weeks ago. I'm 16 years old, by the way. I've been mildly depressed for 3 years now, but most of the time I can keep it in check. None of my friends or family knew I was depressed, mostly because I could control it pretty well.

I'm a junior in high school -- those 2 1/2 weeks ago, I felt a sudden overwhelming rush of sadness. I had to call home "sick" because I felt nauseous with misery (I know that sounds dramatic and self-pitying, but I swear it was awful). I've never felt that way before, just suddenly for no reason just suicidal really. I went home, sat on the floor, and cried for 2 hours until I fell asleep. Usually when I get upset, I just take a nap and feel better when I wake up. This time, when I woke up I felt painfully overwhelmed with my life in front of me (since I'm only 16, I have quite a lot of living left to do... it scared me I guess). I cried for another hour... Went to doing homework, took a shower, ended up curling up on the floor of the shower crying again. I told my mom a little bit of how I was feeling, but not too much since she's stressed out herself.

I went to bed that night, woke up the next morning, and went to school. I didn't cry until that night when I was alone, but I was fine all day and no one at school could guess how crazy I was the day before. I was able to smile and joke with my friends and none of them suspected a thing. Emotionally I felt perfectly normal again, but my body felt kind of sore and sluggish and my head was a little dizzy all day. At night I cried for maybe 5 minutes in my room. Since then, I haven't cried at all and I've been fine again.

I don't know what's going on... Should I be worried.? It wasn't PMS by the way, thanks. But yeah... I don't know what I should do, or if I should do anything at all, since I've been okay lately.

Please help! And sorry for writing so much.Health Question & Answer


Answers:
Hi. First of all, never say your sorry for writing what you feel. Everything you have written says you needed to get this out, and probably even more than what you did. What you're doing here is the first step in realizing that you may need a little help from time to time with things you don't understand or can't explain. Some of these things have a reason for happening, but a lot of times....they dont...none....nothing...zelch, nadda. Those are the worse too. I know them well myself. I have experienced EVRYTHING you're dealing with, so please read what I have to say here.

I am a residental group home counselor. I counsel teens with emotional disorders. What is going on with you is very common, so first of all...don't feel like you're alone or like you're the only one who cries like that. I can bet my salary that most of your friends and family have or will have gone through it as well. This doesn't mean go broadcast this, you shouldnt say these things to just anyone. Only to people like your family (the ones you trust!), your doctor, your school counselor.

Your mother loves you, and she can't help you without knowing all the facts. She won't think you're a loser or a fruitcake. If she's stressed, she will be able to relate to the need to cry!LOL! Set a side a night that is just a girls night out. Rent a movie and get some popcorn, or go out to diner. Confide into her what is happening and ask if you can go see your family doctor. He or she will be able help you get where you need to be, including if they feel you need to see a counselor or if you need medicine.

You might need what is called a "mood stabilizer" such as an antidepressant (Zoloft, trazodone, prozac, Wellbutrin, etc.) or an anti-anxiety (Klonopin). I don't readily advocate med use for everything, that's why I can't stress enough that you go see a doctor who will be able to know better than anyone what is best for you. And don't hold anything back from your doctor, they need to know EVERYTHING in order to help you out. You can talk to the doctor without your parents present, and the doctor is bound by law not to reveal anything without a court order.

also, I dont know what your beliefs are, but if you believe in God or whatever, get involved with spiritual activties. also, sports and meditation will help a great deal. Start eating healthier and know that your body is connected to your mind. Your feeling the way you are physically because you need help your mind. The mind is a powerful thing and will affect your body, not just your emotions.

I would offer my messenger name, but I would never advocate you trusting in anyone on the internet to give out your info. So, on the side safety, be careful about that. You're a smart girl, you're strong and you will make it through all this!

PS my spelling sucks. ;)Health Question & Answer

you just had a little break down thats all you will be fine. just stay happy.Health Question & Answer

I dont know if that was a break down but yes teens do have themHealth Question & Answer

yes you did i had one during the summer but it was late at night so no one noticedHealth Question & Answer

ur fine =)
its just life is #hit (:Health Question & Answer

that is normalHealth Question & Answer

I think your depression is finally getting the best of you.
go see a psycologist for depression medicine, you don't have to keep going to talk to him/her, just once a month is fine (so he can keep giving you prescriptions) and it's just like 5 min (just telling you how you feel) Health Question & Answer

First of all, You have friends. Use them. Well.. not USE USE but talk to them. Nothing feels better then letting things out.

Youd did have a little... episode I guess. Although u didnt' tell use the REASON of your depression for the pass few weeks or years... but i'm guessing it's something along the lines of... Self hatred.? like not pretty enough .etc.?

When I was younger I had the same thing u know, depression, always thinking life is against me... I think it's mostly due to the fact that you have no goals no ambition in ur life no life style of any kind.

I sat @ home all day playing games, escaping to another world where ppl are nice to me, where like.. I dunno no one yelled @ me. When I stopped playing I went into that depression state, like why is my real life so garbage but really it isn't. It was an amazing life it was just I had no goals or ANYTHING to do...

Now I'm u know taking up taijutsu, going to the gym, goin to bars here and there, working part time like you need to put some things to get ur life going. We're human beings, we live for a short period of time, it is in our nature to strive for knowledge or perfection or fulfillment in life.

Hope it helps you out. Get ur butt in gear missy.Health Question & Answer

If you are depressed and know it, have you seen a doctor.?

Hon you know, depression is an illness, and not a character flaw. Doctors deal with these issues every day, and are there to help.

I would suggest talking with your school counselor, parents or an adult you trust and respect. You need someone to listen and to help you right now.

take care and i hope you will put forth the effort to get the help you deserve.
Health Question & Answer

Hey, it might sound weird but I can completely relate to this. I've been pretty much depressed since I was 13 (I'm 24 now) and have become expert at hiding it. These unexplained moments of profound sadness happen to me as well. I've debated many, many times going to the doctor... once a few years ago I mustered up the courage and was put on paxil, but for reasons even I can't explain, I didn't want to keep taking it. So she switched me to Celexa, which made me feel a little different, if anything worse - definitely not better. So I've given up on the medication for now (it takes months for a med to start working, and for some reason testing a bunch and dealing with the side effects is daunting, so I avoid it). The best I can do is recommend you see about medication, if you think that might help you. Everyone has different experiences - I've heard good things about zoloft, for example, though I've never tried it. I haven't tried therapy because I don't feel I really have anything to talk about... sounds like you're kinda the same way. There's nothing I can really blame for the way I feel.
I wouldn't sit around worrying about it, but it's definitely something I think you should address. Don't be like me, half-way through your 20s and still unable to deal with this. I imagine it gets harder to address the issue as time goes by. I've let myself get used to it, so the best advice I can give you is to not do the same. I thought life was stressful at 16... pile on college, finding a job, etc etc and it's all uphill if you're not emotionally healthy. Best of luck, I truly mean it.
p.s. yes teenagers can have mental breakdowns, but I can't say if this is what you experienced. I imagine if it were, you wouldn't have bounced back so well. But that's just speculation from someone who really knows quite little on the subject.Health Question & Answer

you are a perfectly normal teenager - your hormones are up and down - off the charts causing emotional distress which can result in the physical symptoms you have described. Have you seen the comercials for depression.? there are physical symptoms that can be very severe. talk this over better with your mom. there is a way to manage this with medication - you don't like feeling this way and if a small pill once a day can help - I'm sure you would happily take it. also, in rare instances, this depression can become severe and hard to come back from - "clinical depression". you need to be watched to avoid this as well. good luck to you. definately tell your mom even though she is stressed - she can help.Health Question & Answer

well.. the phrase doesn't really have a fit definition so i guess you can call it that.

it's sounds kinda like just a rush of emotions at once.. just think back to what mat of caused you to fell that way, you were probably thinking about something slightly depressing that happened a few days before or so..

but i think you'll be fine, just look to the future, set some goals for your self and don't let anyone hold ya back from doing what you want to do (as long as it's legal of course : /) just go watch some comedy or something, laugh a little haha. appreciate the smaller things in life try looking up at the stars one night... extremely relaxing.Health Question & Answer

this doesn't seem like a breakdown, but it is depression.

when i was younger, i moved away from all my friends to new orleans for my dad's job and the family that lived there. less than a month later hurricane Katrina hit and my family all moved away because of the damage done to their houses, so it was just my immediate family and i, nobody else. i got very depressed and started sleeping for 15+ hours a day.

i got the help i needed, and though i still feel that way sometimes, i worked my way out of it and began doing things again. the most important thing to know is that you can get help if you allow yourself to. you would be surprised at how many people don't get the help they need,.just because it is happening to your mind doens't mean it's not effecting your body, it's still a health issue.
Health Question & Answer



The consumer health information on youqa.cn is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2012 YouQA.cn -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Q&A Resources