A person’s nervous breakdown occurs when anxiety and stress accumulate, and it becomes part of the individual’s daily routine at home and at work. A breakdown of this kind can be frustrating and distressing, but there are some ways to spot it before it happens or treat it once it happens.
A nervous breakdown is also called a mental breakdown or mental health crisis, depending Forbes.
According to the site Mayo ClinicA nervous breakdown is not a medical term, nor does it refer to a specific mental illness. But that doesn’t mean it’s a normal or healthy response to stress. What some people call a nervous breakdown may indicate an underlying mental health problem that needs attention, such as depression or anxiety.
According to Forbes, a nervous breakdown can be described as a stressful condition that impairs social and physical functioning. It is a condition in which a person experiences psychological or emotional stress so severe that he is unable to perform normal daily activities.
A nervous breakdown leads to changes in the body, from a rise in the stress hormone cortisol, norepinephrine and dopamine, and the fear response center in the human brain can then become overactive.
A nervous breakdown, according to Forbes, can be associated with the following disorders:
- panic disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- bipolar disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Acute stress disorder
Signs of a nervous breakdown vary from person to person, often appearing as physical and mental symptoms, and depend on the cause of the breakdown.
According to experts who spoke to Forbes, common symptoms of a nervous breakdown include:
- Increased heart rate
- shortness of breath
- vertigo
- nausea
- Source
- confusion
- Mood Swings
- Uncontrollable feelings of anger or fear
- Paranoia
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in eating habits
Untreated, these symptoms can lead to long-term problems, including social withdrawal and negative effects on work and home life.
And there is more than one reason for a person to experience a nervous breakdown. A nervous breakdown may stem from a specific event, as well as from an underlying and ongoing condition such as anxiety or depression. For example, major life changes such as moving to a new home, having a baby, experiencing major financial loss or separation from a partner, or tragedy such as the loss of a loved one, medical diagnosis or car accident, according to the Forbes report.
Treatment for a nervous breakdown can vary depending on the cause of the breakdown. The best ways to deal with a nervous breakdown include reaching out to a family member for comfort, seeking professional therapeutic support, taking anxiety medication as needed, and practicing relaxation techniques such as breathing and meditation.