You have to know the way the breakdown works. When it all gets to be too much. It could be stress, an upsetting occurrence, or it could just be those midnight "feels" when you're alone and you're up all night and your gears of thought just won't stop turning. It's an easy thing to get stuck in your own mind. Sure, it's the one place you'll never get out of, but there are enough times to feel trapped.

First, you feel that slight burning in the pit of your stomach, that one you know all too well how to push away as quickly as it came. It'll linger for a while and you'll get sick of it. But with nothing to distract you, there's no getting away from this one. As you begin to give in, the burning rises to your chest -- man, this is even worse. It feels like it's straight in your heart and, with slight panic, you can feel it linger once again with each pump, spreading through you. Take a deep breath here, just to prepare yourself. Inhale again as a lump takes over in your throat, and pay attention to the way the burning increases as the tears form in your eyes. This last inhale is like the calm before the storm because with that exhale, you're going to release everything. Break open the floodgates, and don't you dare hold back for a second. You deserve this. Cry hard -- that means the ugly cry. The one where you can't control your nose and you're on the verge of losing your breath. Just let it all out. Quit biting your tongue and bottling it up. Let this be about you. Any of the pain, any of the sadness, it needs to be let out. At least for a while. Soon you'll be out of tears or too out of breath to continue. That's good. Inhale again and exhale slowly and begin to get yourself together. You only fell apart for a minute. It's what you needed. When things are too much for you, nothing can save you but yourself.

Now keep breathing. Relax as the burning is now just a small sensation. You've handled it, for now. Keep breathing. Wipe the tears away, splash some cold water on your face. Whatever you need to do. Pull it back together because guess what? You're okay. You're alive. And you can feel. You know you can feel hard. Things can only go up from here. Just keep breathing.