Summer 1993, my partner and I took a weeks’ break in Devon, which should have been enjoyable, but felt so tired a majority of the time. The last evening I felt strange, sort of disconnected from the real world and generally out of sorts and left the social club early to go back to our accommodation alone to cry. I tried so hard to understand myself and even analyzed my feelings, but got nowhere. My partner was very understanding and I sure he blamed the stress at home for the way I felt. At least he did not walk away. I convinced myself I felt depressed to have to go home to face the growing problems with my divorce, my finances and trying to come to terms with the death of my Mother.

Acting strangely

Things continued to get worse; my health, the divorce, but felt very humble to have had special friends to confide into, but they too could only try to understand. I started doing the most bizarre things. For instance, one evening, I was boiling some pasta and put my hand in the saucepan to see if there was enough water. Another time, I checked if the grill was on. On both occasions, I burnt my hand. During conversations it sounds as if any conversation was ahead of me and at times I could not understand simple English as it took time to unravel. I remember thinking (slowly) if this were a nervous breakdown, then surely this would not get any worse? But what is a nervous breakdown-what are the symptoms?