Published on 12, July, 2020
Mine tend to last hours. They are normally prompted by a sudden change in plans. I start crying, shaking, hyperventilating.
I'm worried that I will drive people away with this behaviour. And at a time like this (coronavirus) the thought of being abandoned is terrifying.
How do you guys PREVENT meltdowns?
I have to admit that I rarely manage to prevent a meltdown. However, in the few cases that I did manage it was because I messaged and talked to my best friend. I don't know if you have a best friend that's as non-judgmental as mine, but talking to my best friend always helps me a lot when I feel close to breaking down.
I'm not sure I have a friend of that description; you are very lucky. In what way does talking to your friend help? Do they talk you down?
I'm very lucky indeed :-) I couldn't ask for a better friend. It helps because my friend can be objective and helps me be objective, too. It also helps because I'm not alone with my thoughts (overthinking is a big problem for me). However, I had many, many meltdowns where no amount of talking to my friend actually made it go away. I just felt less alone. And that alone ist worth a lot, in my opinion.
I coped extremely badly. I had a huge meltdown and it took me about five to six months to get over it. I used to be very afraid of people abandoning me, but now that doesn't seem to be a problem anymore. Maybe it's because I know that at least my best friend would never abandon me.
How did you cope with losing your friends? Have you ever had a fear of abandonment? I do, and it is often reinforced by people (often 'friends' or partners) abandoning me.
I used to be like that but I got a lot more independent the past year, due to working full-time, moving out and living on my own and ... because of that terrible breakdown I had that cost me a bunch of friends. I'm glad that I can be on my own, though, I find being with people exhausting.