Have you ever experienced a nervous breakdown? Do you know what a mental health crisis looks like? Are you able to support a loved one if he or she experiences a moment of crisis? In the United States, roughly one in five adults experience some kind of mental health illness. Mental health challenges are so pervasive today that you need to become more educated about crisis intervention. Working with experts at Alter San Diego Crisis Intervention would be a good place to start.
What Are Some Warning Signs?
A mental health crisis is not just some usual moments of sadness or depression. It involves intense emotional pain when a person feels the impulse of certain risk-taking or self-harm behaviors. Or a person may feel intense panic attacks to the extent of feeling physically incapable of functioning. In short, a mental health crisis entails some drastic behavioral changes that are dangerous.
It may be scary to notice these signs of intense emotional stress. But when you do see any signs in yourself or a loved one, please do not take them lightly. These symptoms and behaviors need to be cared for before a person risks suicide or harms oneself. Believe it or not, many people feel alone in these situations but they are not. Having someone as support can greatly relieve stress. But a crisis is also an alarm for getting professional help.
What Does a Nervous Breakdown Look Like?
You may also wonder if a nervous breakdown is also considered a mental health crisis. This term refers to a highly stressful situation when a person cannot continue to function as normal. A nervous breakdown may last from a few hours to weeks. If this state of extreme stress and fear continues and negatively impacts a person’s daily functioning, that means it is time to seek external intervention.
The direct triggers can be overwhelming stress, fear, or trauma. Sometimes, when persistent depression and sleep deprivation double with a sudden tragedy or financial difficulties, they may also lead to episodes of a nervous breakdown. In this sense, a nervous breakdown is also a type of mental health crisis that deserves medical attention.
Why Do People Tend to Ignore the Warning Signs?
Some people may not have the knowledge to identify the above-listed warning signs. Unlike physical health issues, mental health problems do not always have visible symptoms and can be more difficult to detect. In a society like America where individualism is a high value, sometimes when people seem sad or withdrawn, you may think they just need some personal space. That is why mental health awareness and education are so important.
Another common reason why people do not take these signs seriously is because of the widespread stigma about mental health illnesses. One form of stigma is the belief that admitting mental health illnesses means showing some kind of weakness. Families and communities are not always ready to hear about people’s mental health conditions. There can be deeply-held shame among family members.
What to Do After Identifying the Signs of a Crisis?
If you have spotted these concerning signs in a loved one or yourself, what should you do about it? Just like in a first aid situation, there are things one can do before seeking professional health. First of all, you need to assess the risks of self-harm and closely monitor your loved one’s behaviors. Second, it is important to open all channels of communication and listen without any judgment.
When a person is plunged into a mental health crisis mode, any verbal assurance and emotional support can work miracles in pulling that person back. Do not argue or raise your voice. Be patient with spending time in silence with this loved one. Your caring presence alone will greatly help. When this person’s moods stabilize, try to encourage getting professional help.
How to Convince a Loved One to Receive Intervention?
It may take a few conversations to get your loved one to consider mental health intervention. When you engage in these continuous conversations, make sure that you stay calm, nonjudgmental, and patient. Always begin by stating how much you care about this person and that you are encouraging treatment out of deep love for them.
If your loved one is open, you can relay mental health-related knowledge and emphasize that they are not alone in this kind of situation. Like physical illnesses, mental health illnesses should and can be treated. Enlighten them that this emotional stress may be due to some mental illnesses that they have not been diagnosed with. Patiently help them remove the stigma.
If you are not able to fully resolve this crisis, consider reaching out for help. Maybe connect your loved one with some virtual mental health resources first. For example, find resources about trauma, severe depression, or anxiety. Once they are interested, you can reach out to professional treatment centers such as Alter San Diego Crisis Intervention.
If you or your loved one experiences a nervous breakdown or a mental health crisis, it is time to reach out for a professional intervention. Some people feel hesitant to reach out for help with mental health issues because they do not know what to expect. Or maybe they feel stigmatized about mental illness. Unfortunately, delaying treatment can cause continued emotional pain and distress. Crisis intervention treatment is almost the only option left. Alter San Diego Crisis Intervention provides a safe space and a structured intervention. We offer a full service to treat most mental health disorders. Call us today at (866) 986-1481. Do not delay treatment. Hope begins today when you call.
