A nervous breakdown usually lasts for a few hours to a few weeks, but in some cases it can last a few months or even a few years.
A nervous breakdown can last from a few hours to a few weeks. If your breakdown has been going on for a while, and you need some relief, the following ten tips are for you.
Long-term stress can lead to structural changes in the brain, which can affect your memory and lead to difficulty concentrating. In extreme cases, too much cortisol can even lead to memory loss. For some people, excessive stress may cause insomnia, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
After a breakdown, you might find yourself having to relearn how to live life. It might sound crazy to anyone who hasn't experienced a serious depression or mental breakdown, but for those who have, daily routines might feel impossible- even getting out of bed may feel insurmountable.
People who are experiencing a nervous breakdown may avoid social functions, call in sick for work and isolate themselves at home. They may not be eating or sleeping properly, and they may not look after their personal hygiene.
feeling anxious, depressed, tearful, or irritable. feeling emotionally and physically exhausted. experiencing agitation and muscle tension. sleeping too much or too little.
A psychotic breakdown is any nervous breakdown that triggers symptoms of psychosis, which refers to losing touch with reality. Psychosis is more often associated with very serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, but anyone can experience these symptoms if stress becomes overwhelming, triggering a breakdown.
You may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if you have an experience, or experiences, that you find traumatic. The development of PTSD depends on different factors. These can include things such as any history of mental illness, the severity and type of trauma and how you individually experience it.
Since nervous breakdowns are not a formal clinical diagnosis there is not a formal expected recovery time. Most people have short episodes but the only way to ensure that it doesn't become a chronic problem is to spend time learning to process and cope with stress in a healthy way.
It's important to remember that even if you or a loved one is having or has had a mental breakdown, it is a temporary condition. With the right treatment, you, or your loved one, can recover and begin to heal.
Drugs such as Xanax (alprazolam), Klonopin (clonazepam), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam) work quickly, typically bringing relief within 30 minutes to an hour. That makes them very effective when taken during a panic attack or another overwhelming anxiety episode.
The Long-Term Effects of Untreated Mental Illness
However, there are some commonalities. When mental illness is left untreated, it can lead to long-term issues with emotional stability, behavior regulation, relationship difficulties, substance abuse, and even physical illness.
Some event or change in your life is causing you an intense amount of stress, which is causing symptoms such as fear, anxiety, worry, nervousness and depression. You may feel “stuck,” overwhelmed or incapacitated, which makes you unable to cope and function with life.
A nervous breakdown, in some cases, may require a hospital stay to stabilize and treat you.
According to recent studies, Emotional Trauma and PTSD do cause both brain and physical damage. Neuropathologists have seen overlapping effects of physical and emotional trauma upon the brain.
It is possible to recover from mental health problems, and many people do – especially after accessing support. Your symptoms may return from time to time, but when you've discovered which self-care techniques and treatments work best for you, you're more likely to feel confident in managing them.
Summary: Pathological anxiety and chronic stress lead to structural degeneration and impaired functioning of the hippocampus and the PFC, which may account for the increased risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia.
Major depression.
Without getting diagnosed and treated, depression can easily be a triggering factor in a nervous breakdown and an inability to function normally.
A manic breakdown or episode is an emotional state where an elevated or irritable mood exists for at least one week. The symptoms can disrupt your daily life and relationships. While manic episodes are not a disorder in themselves, they may be a symptom of bipolar and should be taken seriously.
If the spouse with the mental illness refuses to seek treatment despite understanding the toll the illness has taken on them and their family, recognizing that help is available, and having access to a licensed treatment center, then the individual may need to leave to protect their own mental health.
A nervous breakdown, also known as a mental breakdown, is neither a medical term nor a clinical diagnosis of any mental health condition; instead, it's used by many people to describe a period of intense stress and an inability to cope with life's challenges.
Secondly, the term emotional breakdown can be used to describe a personal meltdown of an individual who just doesn't know how to cope with present circumstances. This can include episodes of uncontrollable weeping, withdrawal from loved ones and an inability to connect with everyday life.