topic What is wrong with me in Depression

Emotional Breakdowns

Mario_Sonic — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 14:15:54 GMT

Hey guys, it’s Liam…so last Monday, I don’t know what happened but I was just feeling severely down…this caused me to suffer from a severe emotional breakdown, something which I’m all too familiar with considering the breakdowns I’ve had in the past…If you’re wondering how these breakdowns occur, they occur when I get overwhelmed emotionally, and then I just…start crying…my question is…what exactly can I call these things I have instead of emotional breakdowns? Also I have suffered severely because of these breakdowns…especially at school, one of the SSOs, he believed I was faking them to get out of doing work, but I was only having these breakdowns because the workload was too hard for me…that was when I was 17…I’m now 20…I feel like I can’t be emotional or cry… *Crying* 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Liam

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

therising — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 16:36:41 GMT

Hi Liam

Don't be afraid to refer to those overwhelming moments as 'breakdowns'. I think they can be a natural part of life and hold the potential to be highly constructive, all depending on how we break down everything that's led up to the overwhelm.

I like to consider there to be different degrees of breakdowns. From basic all the way through to severe and debilitating, I believe they all happen when we reach a tipping point. We can only hold so much, mentally, physically, emotionally and even on a soulful level. When we reach our tipping point, we gotta start pouring stuff out while making greater sense of what's led to that point. When we do start to make sense of everything, we can sometimes declare 'No wonder I feel the way I do, it now makes so much sense'.

It's important to remember that everyone has a different tipping point. The point can depend on our circumstances, the volume of challenges, how often we're challenged, whether we have significant moments of relief, whether we've got the right support/guides/strategies/skills/structures in place to manage, whether we're facing a lot of first time challenges (compared to ones we've come to practice managing) and the list goes on. Another factor I find that can play a major role in that tipping point relates to how much we feel or sense in life. While an insensitive person may not feel challenges to a great degree, a highly sensitive person or HSP may be feeling all their own challenges stacking up, other people's challenges and the challenges of the world all at once. So much can run through their mind and nervous system and so much tension can be held in their muscles etc. It can all start to build up and up. If we don't have strategies for managing constructive forms of release as we make our way through the challenges and if we don't have ways of identifying the number of challenges that are stacking up, there comes a point where we're forced to vent and break things down. Btw, while brilliant teachers recognise each student has their tipping point, the people high up who set the standards for the Australian Education System basically don't care. They don't take into account, to begin with, that not every student is a natural academic. The same workload is expected to be managed by all students, with some exceptions. It's a serious fault in the system that some teachers try so hard to help their students manage.

Liam, I've found a significant challenge can involve sensing a tipping point coming. When I can feel myself starting to become overwhelmed, I know it's time for a constructive break down of everything that's going on in my life. I can feel it now in my life, that tipping point approaching. Time for some major life changing reform or restructuring in my life, probably the most significant in all my 55 years. First I have to be able to break down all areas in my life that are posing challenges. What areas in your life do you feel are calling for your attention?

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Mario_Sonic — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:51:14 GMT

I...don't admittedly know. Sorry.

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Daydreamer70 — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:25:17 GMT

Hi Liam,

I can relate to this experience. My understanding of why these "breakdowns" as you call them happen, is because when I get too overwhelmed with no outlet, the best way my body knows how to self soothe is through crying. If you want to call it something other than a breakdown, maybe you would start to see it as your body's way of trying to regulate. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however if you find it happens frequently, and in places/times where you dont want it to occur, I would really urge you to try and look at the areas in your life where you find yourself feeling most "triggered". That way you can start to narrow down the case, and possibly intercept before the escalation hits this "breakdown" point. It is not shameful to cry, and it is actually very healthy. However if you find it to be uncontrollable and something that impacts your everyday, I would urge you to try and reflect on when and why they happen. These realisations might take some time too, however when you do start to notice the patterns it may feel easier to break them.

If you are open to speaking with a counsellor or psychologist about this, I would encourage you to do that too. They can help you identify these patterns and guide you with strategies and knowledge in how to help yourself. That is if you feel like it is necessary/you feel comfortable with this.

I hope this helps! Please don't feel ashamed for crying ever, it is in many ways a gift to feel so deeply. Good kuck with everything and feel free to respond/continue the conversation if you need/want.

Kindest regards,

Daydreamer70.

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

therising — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:38:42 GMT

No probs, Liam. Sometimes the challenges we face aren't always clear until someone leads them to become clear. Daydreamer70 has some good points that may help shed some light.

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Mario_Sonic — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:15:54 GMT

Thanks.

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Scared — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:26:57 GMT

Liam my name is Alan. Im 63 yo and started crying Jan 2025 so I been crying for 14 months everyday now.

Its caused by the central nervous system in which there is a part called the Amygdala. Also there is a release of cortisol which is a chemical along with adrenalin that is released by flight or fight or freeze response to stress or fear.

This response of chemical is a normal thing to happen as it is designed to protect you. So basically it is your very own super hero that lives inside you and is always ready to help you. It is your friend. But sometimes it gets activated when you dont want it to and you cry when you are out and about like school.

Good news it can be fixed as its only a thought that triggers it. One of my triggers is supermarket where I cry as Im walking down the isles. But i know why supermarkets make me cry. You should see the checkout person as they run up my groceries. Im still waiting more than a year for one of them to say would you like tissues with that.

If you seriously want to begin your journey on fixing this you can start right now. Mindfullness is the practice of becoming the boss of the things that trigger you and another superpower in your kit for the rest of your life.

Google a man called " Tolle mindfulness"

I suggest this because finding a therapist to talk takes forever and this you can start tonight or now if you want.

Mindfulness is about choosing what thoughts or triggers you want to pay attention to and you become master of what you want to affect you. But at present the triggers are mastering you and you need to change that.

Dont worry you not broken just need some help becoming the boss of you.

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Mario_Sonic — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:22:37 GMT

Thank you mate. @Scared

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Psychdiaries2 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:47:10 GMT

Hi Liam,

I just wanted to add onto what the others have said, and I agree it is not a shameful thing to cry. It definitely is not a good thing to hold in all your feelings and bottle them up, because when you do that, you are bound to let it out unexpectedly some time later.

Do you have anyone you can talk to in your life to get this off your chest? I think it helps to speak to someone that you trust (in person). of course you are more than welcome to continue reaching out on here also, we are here to support you.

Thank you for trusting our community. Wishing you well

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

ViolettaZ — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:53:41 GMT

Hi Liam,

Thanks for opening up and sharing this.

I agree with Alan that what you described as feeling “paralysed” might actually be a freeze response to stress or fear. It’s a normal reaction our bodies sometimes have to protect us when things feel overwhelming.

Building on what others have already said, I was wondering if it might help to think about using a different phrase instead of “emotional breakdown.” Sometimes the words we use can make an experience feel heavier than it really is. For example, you might think of it more like a rain shower or dark clouds passing through.

From the way you described it, it sounds like it might be a difficult mood that comes and goes，like rain or clouds that eventually clear. When you’re in that moment, it might help to remind yourself that these feelings are temporary.

Warm regards🤗

ViolettaZ

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Mario_Sonic — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:05:19 GMT

@Psychdiaries2 Thanks. I have my Nan and Pop.

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Mario_Sonic — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:06:16 GMT

@ViolettaZ I don't really know what else to call it. I mean I did initially call it an emotional attack, but I'm not sure.

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

ViolettaZ — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:51:09 GMT

Hi Liam,

@Mario_Sonic The name you give to the feeling isn’t actually that important. You could even call it something like a “big monster” if that helps. The idea is that giving it a name can remind you that the feeling isn’t permanent, it will pass.

It can also help you separate the emotion from yourself, so you can observe it more clearly and deal with it more rationally. Calling it an “emotional attack” makes it sound like it’s coming from inside you, while something like a “big monster” can make it feel more like something external that you’re facing, rather than something that defines you.

These are just my personal thoughts. You might consider trying it if you feel comfortable. I hope it could be helpful:)

ViolettaZ🤗

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

Mario_Sonic — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:49:22 GMT

Thanks for the hugs. @ViolettaZ

Re: Emotional Breakdowns

ViolettaZ — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:53:13 GMT

You’re always welcome to come back and share more anytime 🙂

Warm regards,

ViolettaZ

Nightmares

Mario_Sonic — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:40:59 GMT

Hey guys…it’s me, Liam. So as you know, I mentioned that I had an ongoing fear of losing my Nan and Pop, and that I suffered from a traumatic experience in which my Nan fell and broke her arm. But there’s one thing I failed to mention. The nightmares I have every night of me losing all my family, these nightmares have been going on since 2019 and I just have one thing to ask…can you guys please comfort me… *Crying* 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Liam

Re: Nightmares

ViolettaZ — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:33:07 GMT

Hey Liam,

It’s me, ViolettaZ.
Did you know that the content of dreams is often the opposite of reality?

I can tell that you really love your grandparents, but it seems like your anxiety might be getting the best of you. Have you talked to your GP about this? Maybe they could prescribe melatonin to help improve your sleep. *Hug* 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

Warm regards,
ViolettaZ

Re: Nightmares

Mario_Sonic — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:07:22 GMT

Thanks. I’ll be seeing my psychiatrist next week. I don’t have melatonin anymore but I did used to have it. @ViolettaZ

Re: Nightmares

therising — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:50:19 GMT

Hi Liam

My heart goes out to you so much. It's a horrible thing to dread going to sleep, on top of facing the horror (in your dreams) of one of the things you dread the most and that is losing your family. Dread and/or stress in both waking hours and sleeping hours can prove so challenging for the mind and nervous system. Such emotions impact us in many ways.

While I think it can be natural to occasionally question just how much members of our family really mean to us, I've found a side effect of such questioning can be 'What would happen and how would I feel if I lost them?'. Such thoughts can begin to play on our mind more often than not if there's no way to manage them. How to become the gatekeeper of intrusive thoughts can involve some imaginative strategies. Finding what works for you could take some trial and error but eventually you can find what works for you personally. For example, if you're a highly imaginative person, you might imagine in your mind that there is a gate which your thoughts come through and guarding that gate is a gatekeeper. What does the gate look like and what does the gatekeeper or guard look like? Next time a thought presents itself at the gate, what do you imagine the gatekeeper doing to stop the thought from fully entering? Is the gatekeeper a centurion type, an angelic type or maybe a powerful baseball player, batting that thought way off out of the park? Maybe it's a wizard type that dissolves the thought with a spell like 'Stop, do not enter here. This is a place of love not fear'. Perhaps this could eventually become your mantra, without having to go into your imagination.

I actually know a couple of people who are into 'lucid dreaming', where you're not simply the helpless victim of your dreams you actually become an active participant in them. These people dictate the course of their dreams. Personally, I've never done it (lucid dreaming) but it does sound fascinating. To be conscious in a semi conscious state is seriously masterful stuff when it comes to the mind. I'm still trying to master I suppose what you could call lucid daydreaming or fully conscious daydreaming. Trying to change visions in my imagination to less stressful or deeply upsetting ones is, I feel, a good start to mastering the mind. Becoming fully conscious is one of the greatest challenges in life. There's just so much we're not fully conscious of.

Btw, I've found that the imagination can also be incredibly helpful if and when someone we love does pass away. In there we can find what makes things easier over time, where grief is no longer a constant. While my brother mentioned just yesterday that he imagines there's absolutely nothing beyond this life, I choose to imagine something entirely different because what I imagine is what works for me personally. If I imagined what my brother does, it'd just be depressing for me and life would feel pointless in a way. As I say, we gotta imagine what works for us, no matter what anyone says.

Re: Nightmares

Psychdiaries2 — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:31:57 GMT

Hey Liam,

I relate to your fear and it does make sense in a way because we love our family, so we do start to get scared that we'll lose them, especially as they grow older. When I have nightmares or a scary thought, I remind myself that they're not real, it's just a dream/or a thought and it does not reflect reality. I understand how scary it is to wake up from an unsettling dream, but if you remind yourself of those things, I think it'll help you to move forward from it knowing that the nightmare is not real, it's not happening right now and you're safe.

I know that grief is a part of life for everybody, and yes, it is something that we all go through/will go through someday but I like to remind myself that it's important to stay in the present moment. I spend a lot of time with my grandparents as well as the rest of my family, maybe that's something you could try to focus on too? I think it'll life your spirits up by spending a lot of time with them and knowing that all you can do is be with them.

I hope this helps and I hope you sleep with more ease 😊