Do You Collapse Under Stress?

[Jim]

Do any of you collapse, physically or emotionally, when stress or problems become too much? And then have to rest in bed for a day or more? That is my question. Hope its clear enough.

[anthony]

I answered never, as I have never physically collapsed when stressed, however; the part with bed rest for days I absolutely require if stressed that badly. If the stress is significant but I can handle it, then I just have very lazy days, ie. lying on the lounge watching movies for a couple of days, doing very little apart from showering and basic needs.

[Jim]

Thank you, much appreciated for the explanation. Evie has both, the physical collapse (less often) and needing bed rest however without collapsing. Perhaps I should have worded the poll a bit different.

Jim.

[anthony]

Kathy can change it for you Jim if required....

[upstream]

No, fortunately it hasn't happened yet.

[Nicolette]

I don't have PTSD but if stress gets too much for me I find I can't function and rather than going to bed, I find a corner to sit in and usually cry....I emotionally overload when too stressed.

[2quilt]

Oh, poo. I am just a wimp. I collapse into a puddle of shivering loud, snotty rain. Make me some comfort food and a warm blankey and just hold me.

[She Cat]

I voted sometimes. I am pretty good at a crisis, and with stressful stuff... It's afterwards that I tend to fall apart, and need to de-stress, by vegging out, or staying in bed watching TV for a day or two.

[grace5555]

Yes, I will physically collapse under the pressure - usually when my body is already ill and the PTSD symptoms intensify and I get overwhelmed.

[lrs]

This used to happen to me, mentally. My legs never buckled out from under me, but under stress my mind would just go blank. It was kind of like blacking out. I could not process.

[Lisa]

Oh yes... I have recently 'collapsed' the last three assignment deadlines (in the last 6 weeks) when the added stress and pressure was too much. Resulting in some long spells in bed, and depression. This time, I spent days in bed, slept 12-17 hours a day. The symptoms, and added pressure exhausted me.

[hodge]

Yes, big time. It's kind of going on for me at the moment as a matter of fact. Physically, I've managed to stay out of bed all day, but I attribute that to the med combination I'm on now. But emotionally, I'm overwhelmed easily.

[nor]

Yes-frequently.

[becvan]

I voted yes sometimes. Last year it was all the time so I am making improvement! Now I find that it's when the stress starts to build up. If I take breathers throughout my week, where I concentrate on me (hygiene, social activities, rest etc.) I don't do an actual collapse now. Rather I just have to have a few lay low days. However if I ignore my needs, watch out! I'll start passing out and have no choice but to stay in bed till my body catches up again.

bec

[Jim]

Good to see you again Bec, been a while. Thanks all for the responses and votes, much appreciated.

Jim.

[Grama-Herc]

The word Collapse, do you mean it literally?

Referring to legs giving out and falling down-No! But the other symptoms are intense!

My body will go into a mode of physical side effects including severe sweating, trembling, difficulty breathing and my bowels will release(I have no control when this happens). So I guess you could say yes, I collapse

[Jim]

Meant either or both Herc - physical, mental or both. Didn't write it out correctly initially, but the wife fixed it for me. ;-)

Jim.

[JustJane]

Always. My mind goes completely blank. Always thought I was showing the early stage of alzheimers.

[TLight]

Me too, I just sort of shut down. Like my brain goes bleep. Then I have to stay in bed a couple of days and recoup.

I had to drive down to Olympia in the worst wind and rain storm we've had here in a few years. I was supposed to go to a conference/training. I ended up pulling over, getting a hotel room, crying all night.
My T called me at work one time when it was particularly stressful. I couldn't even answer her ? about changing my appt. It's like my brain disconnected from my mouth. She was very concerned.

[Lucky Laser]

I tend to do my collapsing after the stress is finished. In my line of work I can't afford to collapse during an emergency so I put my feelings off and until I have time to deal with them later on, I do my job.

Occasionally when I finally have time to deal with my feelings, I'll come down with a cold or just sleep all day.

[CaliSparrow]

I am like Lucky Laser in a traumatic situation. I rise to the occassion and crumble afterwards. However, the inbetween moderate stress I seem to have trouble with. It's not charged enough to move me into action mode yet just caustic enough to put me into a deer in the headlights "what?" mode. -CS