Look out for signs of a mental breakdown

Most of us feel stressed out some of the time, but how would you know if you’re near to the edge?

You may experience physical, psychological and behavioural signs when going through a breakdown. These vary from person to person, and the underlying cause could determine the symptoms you have.

■ Feeling hopeless, worthless with thoughts of suicide or self-harm

■ You’re anxious, with high blood pressure, tense muscles, clammy hands, dizziness, upset stomach, and trembling or shaking

■ You can’t sleep

■ You have hallucinations

■ You notice extreme mood swings or unexplained outbursts

■ You have panic attacks, which

include chest pain, extreme fear, and difficulty breathing

■ You believe someone is watching you or stalking you

■ You get flashbacks of a traumatic event, which can suggest undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

If you’re actually having a mental breakdown, you may also find

yourself withdrawing from family, friends and colleagues by:

■ Avoiding social functions and engagements

■ Eating and sleeping poorly

■ Maintaining poor hygiene

■ Calling in sick to work for days or not showing up to work at all

■ Isolating yourself in your home If you notice any of these symptoms see, your GP asap.