Moving van driver (a woman!) is talking on the phone in my earshot and plans to deliver our stuff Friday. Ugh. I was hoping for Wednesday.

She smells so thoroughly of cigarette smoke that the house itself smells like someone's been smoking in it! He husband, who is actually moving things, thinks he is very funny. He is not.

(Did you think I was nice? I am not feeling very nice today.)

How can I tell if I'm having a nervous breakdown?

How can I tell if I'm having a nervous breakdown?

If you can ask, you're probably "merely" having a terrible day.

Sorry?

Ugh, flea. Much moving~ma.

Allyson, if you have the wherewithal to ask, probably not? But it's a good indication you might need to talk to someone if you're asking.

I don't know. But I don't think there's actually a clinical definition of "nervous breakdown".

So maybe if you think you're having one, you might be?

I love the Catch-22 responses.

Hang in there Allyson. Do you need to take a break and take a walk around the block?

There was a great piece on The Hairpin recently about someone's nervous breakdown. Either way, sorry, and good luck, Allyson.

Ugh Allyson, is there a way you can open space in your day to take care of yourself? Whatever that would look like, go home from work early, reach out to someone.

Allyson, if you have the wherewithal to ask, probably not? But it's a good indication you might need to talk to someone if you're asking.

This is probably true. But speaking from ugly personal experience: are you refusing to make decisions about things that will have horrible consequences, and just "letting things happen"? Indulging in self-destructive behavior, be it physical or emotional? Those were the warning signs for me, and I wish I had talked to someone sooner than I actually did. Things are good now, but there were a rough couple of months.

Anyway, if you're worried, you need to talk to someone, darling lady.

I'm increasingly living in my head, and unable to deal with the world.

That's as succinct as I can put it.