I occassionally have these strange mental crisises that last about a week. What is this called?
I've had at least three for certain and I'm not yet sure if I just had a fourth one. They seem to have something specific that ignites them, something that ends them, and when I'm in one there's a lot of extreme overthinking, second guessing myself, a lack of logical thinking, and generally anxiety so bad that I can barely eat. Now, I always have issues with overthinking, second guessing, and anxiety but it usually isn't that bad that I can barely eat.
The first one: June of 2023, caused by me turning 18, about to graduate high school, and truly realizing my mortality and that I will die one day. It started the day before my 18th birthday, and ended after my graduation ceremony was over. I think I lost something like ten pounds in that one week. I didn't pay attention to weight loss in the ones after that.
The second one: November of 2024, caused by me accidentally seeing a very disturbing image. I won't specify what it was, but it was a real, unaltered image of someone who went through something terrible. I had seen the image a few times in the past, and my reaction worsened each time. No reaction when I was 10, it kept me up one night at 12, it kept me up a few nights and messed with my day at 17, then at 19 this time it fucked up my eating and made me do illogical things like turning my TV around because I was scared it would pop up somehow. Then after a week I just became less paranoid about it, turned my TV back, and could eat and sleep properly again.
The third one: a month ago, caused by the simultaneous news that our house rent was increasing and that my grandma was dying. I'm currently unemployed and am looking for a job, but this time I pretty much couldn't think of anything other than "I need a job" and spent the whole crisis looking for one, got an interview at Applebee's (didn't get the job), then it just kind of fizzled out.
The possible fourth one just happened, and ended yesterday. It was very similar to the third one, though the difference is that my grandma has died and I'm staying at her house with my brother to maintain it. I'm sure the isolation didn't help things.
But I want to know if this has a name and if anyone else has had anything similar.
Posted Feb 16, 2026, 8:39 PM UTC