[GennyM]

Three and a half years ago, when I first learned I was pregnant, I'm pretty sure I had a nervous breakdown. Besides the stress from being an expectant mother, I also had numerous other contributing factors. One of those factors was a very mean spirited 'friend' who told me I was unfit to be a parent and should just have an abortion. Regardless, I kind of lost it. I couldn't eat; was dry heaving; having one long constant panic attack; and my bowels turned to liquid. I felt as if I was literally falling. I stayed in bed for two or three weeks, drinking chicken broth, ensure and anything I could keep down. The anxiety was constant and one particular night I remember ripping the tags off all our pillows with my teeth.
I remember my now husband calling a friend of mine to ask what to do. She told him to check me into the hospital, which quite frankly, terrified me. I was especially worried about the stress that would cause because I was pregnant. I wasn't working then, I had dropped out of grad school a year prior, so I pretty much just slowly kinda got my **** together and stayed at home. For months I felt like a recluse. It was a gradual thing, but it definitely got better, and I was in a decent state of mind by the time I gave birth to my beautiful daughter.
If anyone asked, I just said I had morning sickness, which I did have for months afterwards, and that seemed to suffice. I've tried to just look foreword and not look back, but upon reflection, I'm pretty sure I had a nervous breakdown. Has anyone experienced a breakdown to know if what I've described sounds like one?

[TiredPilgrim]

I don't know you, gennym, and even I feel like kicking your supposed 'friend' in the keister several times for that awful comment.

Anyone that mean spirited is not a friend by any definition of the word - trust me, I had a friend like that and it took me years to get over the damage they caused.

I hope you deep-sixed that relationship, honey. You deserve better.

Just as depression affects us all differently, so would something like a nervous breakdown. If that's what you feel like it was, then that's probably what it was.

My break-down, if you can call it that, consisted of me curling up in a ball in the corner of the bed, staring at the wall and laughing hysterically at odd intervals, for several hours.

I think the term 'nervous breakdown' is an outdated one not used medically these days, but I still personally felt like that was the best way I could describe what happened to me. I think if you feel it describes what happened to you and you feel okay using that term then you should feel free to use it - if you don't then don't.

I too hope that 'friend' is out of your life, and I'm glad to read you came through that bad patch.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by GennyM

Three and a half years ago, when I first learned I was pregnant, I'm pretty sure I had a nervous breakdown. Besides the stress from being an expectant mother, I also had numerous other contributing factors. One of those factors was a very mean spirited 'friend' who told me I was unfit to be a parent and should just have an abortion. Regardless, I kind of lost it. I couldn't eat; was dry heaving; having one long constant panic attack; and my bowels turned to liquid. I felt as if I was literally falling. I stayed in bed for two or three weeks, drinking chicken broth, ensure and anything I could keep down. The anxiety was constant and one particular night I remember ripping the tags off all our pillows with my teeth.
I remember my now husband calling a friend of mine to ask what to do. She told him to check me into the hospital, which quite frankly, terrified me. I was especially worried about the stress that would cause because I was pregnant. I wasn't working then, I had dropped out of grad school a year prior, so I pretty much just slowly kinda got my **** together and stayed at home. For months I felt like a recluse. It was a gradual thing, but it definitely got better, and I was in a decent state of mind by the time I gave birth to my beautiful daughter.
If anyone asked, I just said I had morning sickness, which I did have for months afterwards, and that seemed to suffice. I've tried to just look foreword and not look back, but upon reflection, I'm pretty sure I had a nervous breakdown. Has anyone experienced a breakdown to know if what I've described sounds like one?

if you were here in my location having dry heaves, inability to eat, diarrhea (or in your words bowels turning to liquid) is not called a nervous breakdown. it is a medical problem many people who are pregnant get, here its called morning sickness. it can happen at any time through out a womans pregnancy. its also part of pregnancy for a woman to have anxiety/ fears/ panic attacks when it comes to people telling them they should have abortions and other helpful but not so helpful comments about the pregnancy.

here in my location a nervous breakdown is slang or street talk for having a depression disorder.... overwhelming sadness, crying, suicidal thoughts plans or actions, self injury thoughts or actions, anxiety, ...all these things can not be contributed to other mental or physical health problems.

my suggestion is talk with your doctors, they will explain to you all the different things you will be going through as part of your depression like morning sickness, pregnancy blues, pregnancy mood swings, hormonal shifts...fatigue one moment lots of energy the next, and all of the above problems in your post...

your doctors will be able help you on how you should handle any negative advice that goes against what you want to do or believe in for you and your baby

[GennyM]

Thanks, that 'friend' is gone from immediate life, but unfortunately she still circles around the periphery. We have mutual friends, and there have been times I have not gone to a party or event, because she would be there. We were friends throughout college and we had a lot of great times together. I'm more passive, and over the years she felt she had some ownership of me. I was like a doll, she would pick me up, dress me up, do my makeup and then we would go to a party, etc. But she would throw you away when she was done with you. When I first learned I was pregnant, she was definitely the friend I saw most often and my closest. Not having her support, and some of her comments, really kind of put me over the edge.