What does a real mental breakdown feel like? In this raw and deeply personal video, Mike Veny opens up about one of the darkest times in his life: his 2017 mental health breakdown. As a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist®, global mental health speaker, and award-winning advocate, Mike pulls back the curtain on the painful—and all too common—experience of hitting rock bottom with your mental health.
During this breakdown, Mike was overwhelmed by obsessing thoughts, intense anxiety, major depression, and dissociation—all happening at once. Eventually, he reached a point where he had to check himself into a mental hospital. This wasn't just a bad day. It was a full collapse of his mental and emotional well-being. If you've ever wondered what a mental breakdown looks like, or you're asking yourself what happens if you have a mental breakdown, this video is a must-watch.
Mike doesn't just share the struggle—he talks about recovery. One of the pivotal steps in his healing journey was applying for a psychiatric service dog through Little Angels Service Dogs. These incredible dogs are trained to support individuals living with psychiatric disabilities like PTSD, anxiety disorders, and depression. Mike is currently on the waiting list for one, and he explains why this step represents hope and progress in his ongoing recovery.
You’ll also hear about:
* The warning signs of a mental breakdown and what they can feel like
* The emotional pain that leads someone to the point of hospitalization
* The importance of asking for help—even when you’re afraid or ashamed
* How anger, anxiety, and obsessive thinking can spiral
* What recovery really looks like (hint: it’s not a straight line)
* Why psychiatric service dogs are a powerful tool in mental health support
Whether you're struggling yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply want to understand the reality behind the term “mental breakdown,” this video offers a vulnerable and empowering look into one man’s journey through the darkness and back toward healing.
ABOUT MIKE VENY
Mike Veny is a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist®, winner of the Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Award (2022, 2023, 2024), and the 2023 Leader of Mental Health Awareness by NAMI New York State. In 2025, he was named Global Excellence Award recipient for Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist® of the Year by Acquisition International Magazine. Through storytelling, education, and raw honesty, Mike helps people and organizations break the silence on mental health and build emotionally healthy workplaces and lives.
If you're in a place of struggle, please know: You’re not alone. You can recover. And you deserve to feel whole again.
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Stay in touch with Mike Veny!
Website: https://www.mikeveny.com
Courses: https://learn.mikeveny.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/mikeveny
Facebook: http://facebook.com/mikeveny
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeveny
