Monday, August 27, 2007

We Should Have been Doctors

Good Monday Morning! After a rough weekend and spending truckloads of money trying to make me feel better and hanging with a few friends, i've made it to Monday. Yuck. The good thing is, one of the thorns in my side is on vacation this week! yeah!!!

I've been chatting with my distant partner in crime... my best partner in crime at Chaos College... JJ. The one that always does the Depression tests with me online and we've self diagnosed (and medicated) for years. Today, we've decided that we're going to have nervous breaksdowns. Actually I think i've started mine already.... well he has too, we just havent made it official.

Because we're unclear on how to begin the breakdown process, we turned to professional help.... Googled it.

According to Wikipedia:

Mental breakdown (also known as nervous breakdown) is a non-medical term used to describe a sudden, acute attack of mental illness such as depression or anxiety. When used in common social discourse, the term often has pejorative connotations.

Specific cases are usually described as a "breakdown" only after a person becomes unable to function in day-to-day life due to mental illness. At that point the person's condition is advanced, and seeking professional aid is likely advisable.

Like the term “sanity,” the terms "nervous breakdown" and "mental breakdown" have no medical definition and are not used in a clinical sense. However, the medical or personal problems precipitating a sudden breakdown may well benefit from professional medical or psychological treatment.

A mental breakdown is not the same as a panic attack, though mental breakdowns can trigger panic.

Causes of breakdown might include:

chronic and unresolved grief
unemployment
academic problems - he does work at Chaos College!
career burnout - been a major problem for years! I'd love to make a change.
social stress - I miss my friends back home so much!
post-war trauma
chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders - I can't sleep worth shit.
serious or chronic illness of a family member
divorce
death of a family member
pregnancy - He's not knocked up, but I am... and I long for the day to be able to wear skinny clothes and be able to catch my breath.
a traumatic, violent, or near-death experience
deception by a loved one.
The sudden, acute onset of the following mental illnesses might be classified as breakdowns:

clinical depression
bipolar disorder
psychosis
dissociation
post-traumatic stress disorder
severe stress - i know he has this at work... and since my wonderful boss passed away, i've had to suffer through with less than desirable replacements!
anxiety


Our next step is a good cry. Uncontrollable cry. I think... no, i'm pretty sure I can spit one out. He thinks he's not able to produce... I say BS. If you want it bad enough, you can do it! We need some time off work to regroup. Go fishing. Go shopping. Watch daytime television!

3 comments:

CruiserMel said...

Oh boy, goodie goodie. Can I have a mental breakdown with y'all, too? Just reading through that list of causes got me anxious because I've got several of those checked on there for me. Yipes.

Do you suppose we could use "mental breakdown" as a good party theme? I'm sure there are plenty of others who would join in the fun.

Bone said...

I don't think I could cry on command.

Not that I cry at all.

Although you might try watching Mister Holland's Opus. I hear that has brought some to tears.

Kerry said...

Cruisermel: YES!! The more the merrier! I'd love to have you join us in our breakdown-fest! That actually might help me bounce back... bein's how I miss my friends and all. You'd be part of my healing! The party would be a blast!!!

Bone: I loved Mr Holland's Opus! But i dont remember crying... but i might have been drinking too, so i'm not sure.