Mental breakdowns: recognising one in progress?

[MotoGirl]

Hi ya’ll!

I realise this isn’t bike-related and a certain mod (Cajun/hubby) is going to groan about “more Rant and Rave bollocks” but I’m curious about the experiences you have had with mental breakdowns – be it your own breakdown or someone else’s.

I’m not talking about my own mental state because I’m always away with the fairies – I’m referring to the state of a close relative. This particular person is so paranoid, obsessive, and depressed that we think she’s lost the plot. Let’s call her “Uncle Helen” to make it easy. Hopefully this thread will help me determine whether we need to get her help (or committed ) or if this is something that will blow over.

Sometimes Uncle Helen says the most malicious and infuriating comments, but in her mind she’s completely justified and the rest of the world is wrong. It’s like her judgement has become so clouded that she can’t even comprehend how far she’s stepped over the line. One example of this is when she accused her flatmates of shagging behind her back simply because they left the house at the same time. The male “flatmate” comes with benefits, hence why she went off her nut.

Personally, I believe these comments stem from having a major upheaval that caused her disposable income to vanish into the pitiful amount earned on a benefit. To call her “obsessed” with money would be an understatement – she will shaft anyone for the all-elusive dollar and I believe she resents anyone that has it.

When Uncle Helen isn’t upsetting people, she’s stuffing her face. Food is inhaled in one foul swoop, and it’s often a whole mock cream sponge or packet or Chocolate Thins after dinner. You see, Uncle Helen has had stomach banding surgery to prevent her from eating all life’s goodies but it got in the way of her constant binging so she had it reversed. As you can imagine, the weight of (another) small child was soon added to a body that was already morbidly obese.

I’m not sure if this behaviour is symbolic of a breakdown because Uncle Helen has always been fucked in the head – she’s just got worse. We’re not sure whether “worse” has taken her to breaking point or if this is just her new personality.

Any ideas?

[Headbanger]

Any ideas?

Nasty bitch.Stay away.

[AllanB]

Sometimes Uncle Helen says the most malicious and infuriating comments, but in her mind she’s completely justified and the rest of the world is wrong.
Any ideas?

She sounds like some of the 10 year old girls at my daughters school.

I just keep clear of people who piss me off.

[RantyDave]

Uncle Helen has had stomach banding surgery to prevent her from eating all life’s goodies but it got in the way of her constant binging so she had it reversed.

Ummm, did the f'n taxpayer shell out for this? Other than that...

Other thoughts:

• Flatmate with benefits had better buy some running shoes. And no rabbits.
• Has she become prone to panic attacks? Sleeping badly - particularly waking up with 'racing' thoughts (not about racing, the thoughts themselves)?
• Either which way Dr Dave (who is not a real doctor and does not even play one on TV) prescribes 8 hrs sleep a night; no weed; no alcohol; take fish oil capsules daily; lots of exercise; get a fucking job.

Dave

[oldguy]

There use to be a place up here for people like that,

"Kingseat"

now theirs no where for them to go get treatment.

[Oakie]

In my very un-professional opinion I would suggest that her 'symptoms' are a whole lot more to do with insecurity and low self-esteem than any real mental illness ... at this stage. Certainly could get there though.

She been known to abuse drugs or alcohol?

[MotoGirl]

In my very un-professional opinion I would suggest that her 'symptoms' are a whole lot more to do with insecurity and low self-esteem than any real mental illness ... at this stage. Certainly could get there though.

She been known to abuse drugs or alcohol?

No, she's practically a nun and never touches anything fun.

[sidecar bob]

Nasty bitch.Stay away.

Yep, chuck the fuckin nut bar as far as you can & never even discuss her again. No good can come of associating with people like that.
No, you dont have to help her & prop her up. Sacks of shit deserve no such treatment.

[MotoGirl]

Yep, chuck the fuckin nut bar as far as you can & never even discuss her again. No good can come of associating with people like that.
No, you dont have to help her & prop her up. Sacks of shit deserve no such treatment.

I don't want to associate with her or prop her up, but unfortunately, she's in a position where she could make my life very uncomfortable. (She owns a small portion of my house so I couldn't even sell it and leave town if she was to refuse to sign the papers.) I basically need to be careful how I treat her because she can be pretty vindictive.

[Stirts]

she’s stuffing her face. Food is inhaled in one foul swoop, and it’s often a whole mock cream sponge or packet or Chocolate Thins after dinner.

(She owns a small portion of my house so I couldn't even sell it and leave town if she was to refuse to sign the papers.)I basically need to be careful how I treat her because she can be pretty vindictive.

Any ideas?

Buy her a load of big fat cream sponge cakes, she will love you for it, and she will eat herself dead! Problem solved.

[sidecar bob]

I don't want to associate with her or prop her up, but unfortunately, she's in a position where she could make my life very uncomfortable. (She owns a small portion of my house so I couldn't even sell it and leave town if she was to refuse to sign the papers.) I basically need to be careful how I treat her because she can be pretty vindictive.

Hmm, yes, i associated with a vindictive loser once. Not cool, can you buy her out?

[hospitalfood]

she is sick. not bad.
there is very little understanding when it comes to obsessive compulsive eating, however it is starting to be considered an addiction, which it certainly is.
food addicts display all the bad behaviors of drug addicts, they are very VERY similar. sadly there is no treatment availably that I know of but if you did want to do anything I would recommend talking to an alcohol and drug agency or professional.

[SARGE]

People accuse me of most of that stuff .. Most of the time ..

Problem is .. Its been over 30 years ..

Maybe im just a dick...

[Stirts]

she is sick. not bad.
there is very little understanding when it comes to obsessive compulsive eating, however it is starting to be considered an addiction, which it certainly is.
food addicts display all the bad behaviors of drug addicts, they are very VERY similar. sadly there is no treatment availably that I know of but if you did want to do anything I would recommend talking to an alcohol and drug agency or professional.

But like any other addict, they can't be helped unless they want help.

[slofox]

Hi ya’ll!

I realise this isn’t bike-related and a certain mod (Cajun/hubby) is going to groan about “more Rant and Rave bollocks” but I’m curious about the experiences you have had with mental breakdowns – be it your own breakdown or someone else’s.

I’m not talking about my own mental state because I’m always away with the fairies – I’m referring to the state of a close relative. This particular person is so paranoid, obsessive, and depressed that we think she’s lost the plot. Let’s call her “Uncle Helen” to make it easy. Hopefully this thread will help me determine whether we need to get her help (or committed ) or if this is something that will blow over.

Sometimes Uncle Helen says the most malicious and infuriating comments, but in her mind she’s completely justified and the rest of the world is wrong.It’s like her judgement has become so clouded that she can’t even comprehend how far she’s stepped over the line. One example of this is when she accused her flatmates of shagging behind her back simply because they left the house at the same time. The male “flatmate” comes with benefits, hence why she went off her nut.

Personally, I believe these comments stem from having a major upheaval that caused her disposable income to vanish into the pitiful amount earned on a benefit. To call her “obsessed” with money would be an understatement – she will shaft anyone for the all-elusive dollar and I believe she resents anyone that has it.

When Uncle Helen isn’t upsetting people, she’s stuffing her face. Food is inhaled in one foul swoop, and it’s often a whole mock cream sponge or packet or Chocolate Thins after dinner. You see, Uncle Helen has had stomach banding surgery to prevent her from eating all life’s goodies but it got in the way of her constant binging so she had it reversed. As you can imagine, the weight of (another) small child was soon added to a body that was already morbidly obese.

I’m not sure if this behaviour is symbolic of a breakdown because Uncle Helen has always been fucked in the head – she’s just got worse. We’re not sure whether “worse” has taken her to breaking point or if this is just her new personality.

Any ideas?

The bits highlighted suggest some "loss of insight" - i.e. she does not see her behaviour as abnormal - so she might be borderline...definitely neurotic but not necessarily psychotic, although loss of insight is a fair indicator if the behaviour becomes really bizarre. Whichever way you slice it, she could do with some professional attention in my opinion. Whether you can get her to take it, is another matter. You might well find her highly resistant to this.

Some of the symptoms you describe sound a little like a bi-polar conditiion - manic-depressive in the old money - probably skewed towards the depressive end of the scale.

Hard to tell from a description. I do think professional attention is necessary.