Lovesick and co tips for dealing with mental crises

Professional help is not necessary in every case
Whether the death of a loved one, a separation, the loss of a job or a serious illness: There are many reasons why your own life can suddenly become completely confused. However, according to expert Iris Hauth, whoever experiences a so-called "acute mental crisis" does not always need professional help.
Traumatic experiences can trigger psychological crisis
Those who experience a difficult phase or a bad situation often literally lose the "ground under their feet" for a while. It feels like the world is turning on without you, you're retreating to your own four walls and hiding. While such an acute mental crisis is not a "disease," the soul suffers greatly. Nevertheless, not all those affected need professional help to get out of the deep, said Iris Hauth in an interview with the news agency "dpa". It is important, however, that friends and relatives do not leave the person alone, emphasizes the President of the German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics and Neurology (DGPPN).

Help with mental crises. Picture: Picture-Factory - fotolia

Avoid relaxation exercises
These could help those affected by signaling "I'm there for you when you need me", offering conversation and a sense of security. Likewise, it may be useful to "encourage and accompany the person doing what they feel is good for their experience," Hauth recommends. Beneficial, for example, for a walk, for others, it would be nice to clean up the apartment or cook something. Relaxation exercises such as yoga, meditation or autogenic training, however, should be avoided, according to the expert's advice. For in these exercises for stress reduction will be deliberately focused on their own psychic life, which in the end could increase the tension and inner restlessness. In this context, friends and relatives should be careful to keep further stress and stress as far as possible from the person concerned.

A psychological crisis can manifest itself in various ways and, for lead to anxiety, aggression, confusion or even hallucinations, Hauth explains. "An acute crisis involves losing the inner balance that people feel," the expert continues. Thinking and feeling are therefore often limited, the thoughts circle and are no longer "tangible". While one might repress one's own emotions, others would experience feelings of anger, fear or loneliness that make them seem uncontrollable.

In case of collapse, the ambulance should be called
If the support provided by the close environment does not suffice, according to the expert, affected persons could receive professional help from various contact points or counseling hotlines. These include:
the social psychiatric service of the health department on site:

- psychosocial contact and advice centers
- psychiatric institute ambulance
- Specialists in psychiatry and psychotherapy
- the medical (psychiatric) on-call service under the EU-wide telephone number 116117 as well as the
- Anonymous telephone counseling on the freephone number 0800 1110111 or 0800 1110222

But if you have a nervous breakdown, do not hesitate to call the ambulance as soon as possible. Alternatively, the emergency ambulance of a clinic for psychiatry and psychotherapy can be visited, whose address can be found on the Internet, said Hauth. (No)