Mental Breakdown: Signs, Symptoms and Interventions

What is Mental Breakdown?

The term “mental or nervous breakdown” is used by people to describe a stressful situation in which they’re temporarily unable to function normally in day-to-day life. It’s commonly understood to occur when life’s demands become physically and emotionally overwhelming. The term was frequently used in the past to cover a variety of mental disorders, but it is no longer used by mental health professionals today.

Nervous breakdown isn’t a medical term, nor does it indicate a specific mental illness. But that doesn’t mean it’s a normal or a 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.

Causes of A Nervous Breakdown

A person may report having a nervous breakdown when stress is too much for them to bear. That stress can be caused by external influences. Some of these include: persistent work stress; recent traumatic events such as a death in the family; serious financial issues such as going into foreclosure; a major life change such as a divorce; poor sleep and inability to relax; and chronic medical conditions.

What are The Symptoms of A Nervous Breakdown?

A nervous or mental breakdown does not have any defined symptoms, aside from difficulty or inability to function “normally.” But what qualifies as functioning normally or being “fully functioning” differs among people from different regions, cultures, and even families. The characteristics of a breakdown depend on the underlying health issue and how the person generally experiences stress.

Common Features of A Nervous Breakdown:

Feeling anxious, depressed, tearful, or irritable; feeling emotionally and physically exhausted; experiencing agitation and muscle tension; sleeping too much or too little;having unexplained, general aches and pains, trembling and shaking; feeling helpless, hopeless, and having low self-esteem; moving or speaking more slowly than usual; withdrawing, or avoiding routine social situations; frequently calling in sick work or missing appointments; neglecting or forgetting to eat or wash; lacking motivation and interest; having difficulty getting along with or tolerating other people; losing interest in sex , having difficulty thinking, focusing, or remembering; having physical indications of a fight-or-flight response – such as dry mouth and sweating – when there is no threat; having cardiovascular symptoms such as a racing or irregular heartbeat; experiencing more frequent infections as stress can affect the immune system; experiencing changes in appetite and weight, having gastrointestinal symptoms; having suicidal thoughts or thinking about harming oneself. Also, some people experience psychosis, which may involve hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, and a lack of insight.

Suicide Prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person: Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”

Listen to the person without judgment and let him/her communicate with a trained crisis counselor.

Stay with the person until professional help arrives.

Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.

Treatment and Prevention:

There are several ways to reduce the emotional and physical effects of stress.

Reducing your number of daily obligations, taking a walk or adding some form of exercise to your routine i.e. getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week, broken up into sessions of around 20 minutes a day; eating a healthy diet; taking a break when you need it; practicing meditation; spending time in nature or outdoors; taking steps to reduce or resolve sources of stress such as conflicts at home or workplace demands; practicing deep breathing and meditation exercises to support mental and physical relaxation; doing activities such as yoga and tai chi that promote gentle movement or stretching and controlled breathing; doing a hobby; talking with friends, family, partners, and roommates about troublesome feelings; waking up, eating, and exercising on a consistent schedule; seeking out local or online support groups for people with similar experiences; creating a comfortable home environment that encourages quality sleep; limiting the intake of caffeine and alcohol; avoiding tobacco and recreational drugs.

Medication

Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication to help with the symptoms of a nervous breakdown. If your stress is causing insomnia, you may be prescribed a sleep aid. Disruptions in sleep can worsen stress and anxiety which only worsen your insomnia. Sleep aids can help to break the sleeplessness cycle and reduce your stress.

Psychotherapy

Also known as “talk therapy,” psychotherapy helps you to work through your nervous breakdown and reduces your risk of experiencing another one. Speaking with a professional can help you to process your thoughts and create solutions that alleviate your stress and anxiety.

Takeaway

Most people experience periods of stress, anxiety, and hopelessness from time to time, especially after very stressful events. But if symptoms affect the ability to perform routine tasks, or if the person starts to withdraw socially, it is a good idea to receive professional care. This is especially crucial if the person is considering self-harm. Medication, counseling, and other treatments can address and resolve what people refer to as a mental or nervous breakdown. (Dr. Leckie Ramos)