Feeling Broken

Getting Through Broken Feelings to Embrace Yourself

Feelings aren’t facts, but they can give us a ton of insight. Feeling broken does not mean that you are broken in reality, but it is often a sign that you need a change of some kind. This change could be internal, external, or both.

Getting treatment for the underlying concerns that have led you to feel the way you do can help you discover what you need and make steps in the right direction. Millions of Americans seek (and find) successful help for their mental health every year.

Understanding why you feel broken is often the first step to breaking through it and getting to a better place. This article will discuss what it means to feel broken, common reasons people might feel broken inside, and the programs offered at Icarus Behavioral Health to help you overcome this sense of brokenness and feel whole again!

What Does it Mean to Feel Broken?

One of the best ways to get to the bottom of why you feel broken and how to fix it is to think about what emotions or thoughts exist underneath. For example, when someone says they feel broken, they might mean that they feel overwhelmed by stress, self-doubt, depression, or anxiety. Alternatively, someone might wonder why they can’t maintain healthy relationships, employment, or recover from a condition such as a substance use disorder to take back their own life.

But these things should not make you feel worse, outside help often is needed to get out of old behaviors and find new ways to feel whole again.

In many cases, feeling broken means feeling stuck in some way. Perhaps, you have tried to change things, but you feel like you’re in a rough patch that never seems to end. This is a sign that it’s time to ask for help. Whether it’s your first time getting support or you’ve asked for help many times before, there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Why Do I Feel Broken?

After reflecting on what other feelings you’re experiencing, you may wonder what the root cause of the sensation is. Some life experiences cause extra strain, and while the following isn’t an extensive list, the following items may play a role for many people.

Stress

Today’s world is filled with stressors. Financial stress, stress from interpersonal relationships, work stress, and stress surrounding world events are all common culprits. While some stress isn’t bad and can even be healthy, prolonged stress is associated with a range of mental and physical health effects. These can include but aren’t limited to chronic pain, fatigue, trouble sleeping, and a higher risk of depression and anxiety.

Trauma

If you have experienced one or more traumatic events, you likely know they can severely affect your life. If you notice continuous symptoms following difficult life events, you may have a trauma disorder such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Even if you don’t meet the criteria for PTSD, a traumatic event could still impact you, and working with a professional might still be helpful.

Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Relapse rates are high for those who live with substance use disorders. This doesn’t mean that you can’t recover. It does mean that many people with substance use disorders experience setbacks along the way. Don’t let the fear of relapse steer you away from recovery.

Mental Health Conditions

Like substance use disorders, other mental health conditions can make a person feel “broken.” Symptoms of any mental disorder can be debilitating, but it is possible for them to improve. You can feel joy and live a life that gives you fulfillment in spite of a mental health condition, and asking for help is often the first step.

Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem can hold you back and affect both your outer and inner world views. There are many reasons a person might experience low self-esteem. For example, those who have experienced bullying, abuse in previous relationships, and other adverse experiences in childhood, or adulthood for that matter, can be at a higher risk of low self-esteem or negative thoughts about themselves. Social isolation can also lead to poor self-esteem and substance use risks.

No matter the cause, healing from challenges related to self-esteem is possible.

It Is Possible to Stop Feeling Broken!

When you’re in so much pain or feel so tired, worn down, and defeated, it is common to worry, “Will this be my life forever?” The answer is no. Feeling broken inside does not need to continue forever. It is more than possible to find peace and happiness, no matter how long you’ve felt the way you do.

One thing to remember when you feel broken inside is that you aren’t alone. At Icarus Behavioral Health, we work with clients from all different walks of life. Many of our clients can vouch that they have felt broken before and that the right support can help you get to a better place, no matter where you start. Most of us know that others can overcome this sensation.

For example, if a friend was facing similar feelings of brokenness, we might tell them they can move forward, but believing the same about ourselves can be hard. It is vital to extend the same belief in success to yourself.

People in this world have overcome many adverse life events, circumstances, and feelings. You are no exception. Even if it does take help from other people, the change ultimately happens inside. In time, negative thoughts can be replaced with positive ones, and you can create the life you want.

Getting Help for That “Broken” Feeling

What getting help for feeling broken looks like can differ from person to person based on what you need. Here are some support forms that can help if you feel broken inside. If you’re interested in a treatment program Icarus Behavioral Health offers, contact us today to learn about your options. We’ll verify your insurance for free and help you choose the right level of care.

Therapy

Working with a mental health professional is ideal for anyone who feels broken. Whether you see a professional for talk therapy, you can uncover potential reasons you feel the way you do, start learning healthy coping skills, build confidence in who you are, and work toward your goals. In forms of therapy like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you work on establishing positive thoughts that replace maladaptive ones. CBT and other therapies are a part of most of our treatment programs.

Medication Management

Medication management can be beneficial for those with a mental disorder that can be treated through prescription medications. Medication can be prescribed alone or alongside other treatments, like therapy. Our programs offer medication management for clients who benefit from or require it.

Support Groups

Support groups can be a critical step for many people who feel broken. When you speak with others with similar experiences, you realize you aren’t “emotionally damaged” or broken. You are a human being like anyone else, and what has happened in the past doesn’t define your future.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment can be life-changing if you have a mental health condition or substance use disorder. The inpatient programs at Icarus Behavioral Health provide clients with a safe space to heal away from the demands of daily life. In inpatient treatment, you can break patterns, build new skills, work through life concerns, and create a post-treatment plan in a supportive environment. Whether you’re experiencing chronic stress, depression, drug and alcohol addiction, or something else, our inpatient programs are here to help.

Usually, inpatient treatment programs last for around 1-3 months. While it can be daunting at first, clients often experience great relief once they are in an inpatient program.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment allows you to live off-site while receiving comprehensive mental health or substance abuse treatment throughout the week. Multiple levels of outpatient care are available at Icarus Behavioral Health to give you the flexibility and support you need.

Partial hospitalization programs (PHP) at Icarus Behavioral Health provide the most intensive level of outpatient care. While in PHP, clients engage in group therapy, individual therapy, and other applicable treatments most days on any given week for the duration of their program but sleep at home.

Intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are more flexible and require a lower time commitment, but the treatment activities you’ll engage in are similar to those seen in PHP. It’s common for clients to move down to IOP after inpatient treatment for continued support.

There’s No Such Thing as a Broken Person

No matter what’s going on in your life, it’s vital to remember that there’s no such thing as a broken person. Even if you feel broken or exhausted right now, it’s critical to remember that there’s a future ahead.

As you know, the one thing we can count on in life is that things do change. We never know for sure what will happen next. With encouragement from a treatment team and mental health treatment professionals, such as those on staff at our facilities, you can begin creating a new life for yourself moving forward.

In treatment at Icarus Behavioral Health, you will set specific goals and work toward them with the help of qualified staff. By celebrating the little things along the way and putting in the effort, you’ll be surprised by how good life can be.

Reach Out to Get Support and Feel Whole Again

Icarus Behavioral Health is a top-rated mental health and addiction treatment center with multiple locations in New Mexico. If you’re ready to reach out and verify your health insurance coverage or learn more about your treatment options, you’re in the right place.

To get in touch, make the confidential call today to get options for a brighter tomorrow!

FAQs on Feeling Broken and Healing

How do you know if you are broken mentally?

There’s no such thing as a person being broken beyond repair. However, feeling broken mentally can indicate a lot of different potential challenges. A person who feels broken might feel hurt, sad, or hopeless. If that is the case, getting help can be critical.

What does it mean to be mentally broken?

Feeling mentally broken often means that a person feels stuck psychologically or emotionally. It may mean that, rather than a couple of rough moments, a person has felt lost, sad, hopeless, or otherwise distressed for a continuous period of time. It is vital to accept and acknowledge that even if you feel this way right now, feeling broken does not need to last forever.