What to do when a breakdown is imminent

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Hello, I am currently in a new and very stressful environment and am finding dealing with the workload alongside of the socialising extremely overwhelming. My stress has made it hard for me to understand people which makes me stressed (and so on) plus my ability to reason and organise myself has become even worse, which isn't great, already having dyspraxia. Now, I'm not going to say I'm really socially hard done by, I have four friends and just today I was given contact details from two more people.

I'm just so, so drained and there is still one week left before the holiday. I noticed because I realised I was stimming more and even have some new ones now and my non epileptic seizures have become more severe. I only really used to rock and press my hands, but now, I tip toe, shift my balance constantly, stroke things and squeeze myself. My love of small spaces/corners has also resurfaced and I spent ages yesterday curled up in a ball in my duvet, rocking back and forth.

I can feel that a breakdown is around the corner as I can already feel my brain beginning to fail me and I don't know if the holiday will actually will be good because they lead to me being overwhelmed when I start school again. I am overwhelmed and confused when people speak to me, I don't know what is going in their heads and I wish I could just download a bunch of background info into their heads so they'd get it but I can't. I don't know what to do because the last thing I want is to have a meltdown at college.... The panic attacks are enough.

Sorry. Missread what you put. You are not in work yet... But the same idea is... Your health comes first. Your health is more important then your studies or anything. You can pass exams again. It maybe hard but it can be done. Tell someone you need time out. Get help etc. You need to de-stress and recharge so you will be ready to take on the world again.

One thing I did do myself when I really felt I could have some sort of breakdown if I carried on as I was, is to write down all usernames and passwords and give them to a trusted person to keep safe (Like your Mum) so if something happened you can access things again if you mentally lose them.

It is just a precaution. I did this because I really thought I was close to a breakdown, and two others gave me that advice via PM's on this site.

If you do do this make sure the person who knows where the information will be is completely trustworthy.

((((((( Hugs Ivpin)))))) Please remove yourself from College, even if there's only one week to go. Your mother should phone your College and explain the necessity at this time. They WILL understand. I have some experience of this, with my son. I absolutely agree that there is nothing more important than your health and that if ever you feel under this amount of duress, it is simply what must be done. You are not letting anyone down, not your College, certainly not yourself, or anyone else ... you are at this point, fighting to survive, stay afloat, and doing what is necessary to come back stronger. So many are in your situation .... if you only knew. You need TLC.

^ pretty much this

I've tried to battle through it a few times and always paid the price. It took me till the age of 44 before I realised I should put my health above everything else.

I will definitely try and might distance myself for a bit from people when I really feel that it's getting too much because funnily enough, I think that's one of the more stressful things. Something about stress just wipes my brain so that I cannot at all understand what they are feeling which is honestly scary because it feels like I'm socially driving in the dark except if I hit something I won't realise and will just suffer the injuries in a way that will feel random. At the same time I can't just go 'I have autism explain everything to me' to everyone. So I just constantly apologise and annoy people by doing that. Sigh....

Thank you to both you and Ferris (it's crazy how I'm coming to feel familiar with certain users) and I think I will if things get worse because it won't do me any good if that's the place because I'll just take nothing in. I'll see how the weekend goes and if I still feel the same way will take a break. My sixth form college is really nice and has done a lot to try to support me so far, even letting me go home after a really bad panic attack once so it will probably be fine. I think what makes things slightly easier is knowing I'm not the only one struggling as I have two autistic classmates who also are very overwhelmed at the moment, one who I'm beginning to worry about.

Plus, as much as I love getting good grades my health is important. I've already gotten one autoimmune condition from being stressed, I don't want to trigger another, especially as I have a long history with various stress caused ailments. Currently, I blame it for also not letting an allergic reaction pass despite it being about five days now.

Thank you for the kind words . Not being able to cope with things does make me feel like I'm letting people down/failing but I will try to not view it that way.

((( Hugs Ivpin )))

For this weekend try to reduce any sensory overload as much as possible (lighting, sound, smell, etc.) If you have noise cancelling headphones or earplugs, this is the time. Stim and rock in your bed if this comforts you. Indulge in what feels right, and avoid what causes tension for your nerves. Try to be good to yourself. Eat healthy food, stay hydrated, rest as much as needed, and keep in touch with people who support you whether your family or your academic advisors.

Please let us know how you are, and keep us updated.

Yes, your health comes first, foremost and only.

Nature always helps me manage panic attacks. Is there somewhere isolated you can go to study or just get grounded? Also something that helps me is to make a daily schedule. It can include time for socializing, time for lounging, time for studying, meals, exercise, whatever you do. It helps me to plan for what's coming and have a set end point for the stressful things.

Can I say something which may not be the same for everyone. The few times I have een able to totally unmask and be myself where during those moments I am completely stress free and blessed from Heaven... They are when I am either alone or with very close family going for a walk in the countryside with sea views on a cloudy day where very few other people are about. Another time is when I am alone on a footpath where no one else is around and I am underneath and looking up at trees. Big tall trees that have been there for years and years!

This is where I was totally free and able to be myself! My youngest brother and his wife took me there on my birthday. Was the best day of my life I think!



And this is where I go sometimes to feel relaxed and free, though it is not the place where I felt totally free which I was thinking about when I wrote this. It is close to feeling free. Certainly one of my stress relief places.