Life stressors, such as divorce or trauma, may add to the situation and be the trigger for the breakdown. A nervous breakdown can also be the product of a gradual build-up of stress, commonly arising from pressures related to work, relationships or financial difficulties — divorce or unemployment may be factors.
Some examples of stress and situations that may lead to a nervous breakdown include: Feeling pressure and stress at work, and having a lot of work responsibilities. Academic pressure and responsibilities. Family duties that become stressful and overwhelming, such as caring for an aging parent.
However, there are many different experiences that individuals experience when going through this kind of crisis. A breakdown may be sudden or build slowly; it may be the result of mental illness; it may be a psychotic breakdown; or it could be a panic attack.
You may have difficulty concentrating, remembering things or feel unable to make decisions if you're having a mental breakdown. Your cognitive symptoms may impair your ability to deal with the stress that you're experiencing.
Any sudden change in a person's mental or emotional well-being is cause for concern. When you notice unusual signs or symptoms in a loved one, take them seriously and seek help. A sudden crisis can be confusing and scary, but it's important to know that treatment and recovery are possible.
Psychosis is characterized as disruptions to a person's thoughts and perceptions that make it difficult for them to recognize what is real and what isn't. These disruptions are often experienced as seeing, hearing and believing things that aren't real or having strange, persistent thoughts, behaviors and emotions.
People experiencing a nervous breakdown may dissociate or have suicidal thoughts. Unable to perform the activities of everyday life, they usually require treatment from a mental health professional. A nervous breakdown may last for days, weeks, months—even years.
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.
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.
Make sure both physically and emotionally the individual is in a safe place. Take away distractions and unnecessary things or people. Listen without judgment. A person enduring a nervous breakdown will be much more likely to listen to you if you approach them with a calm, non-judgemental attitude.
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.
When experiencing mental health problems, you should visit an ER if you worry about your safety. For instance, if you share thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide, you should immediately go to an ER.
With the right treatment, you, or your loved one, can recover and begin to heal. If you want to learn more about Futures' Mental Health program and how it can help you or a loved one contact us today.
Nervous breakdown isn't a medical term. What some people call a nervous breakdown may indicate a mental health problem that's causing a mental health crisis and needs attention. Two examples are depression and anxiety, which can be treated by medicines, talk therapy, also called psychotherapy, or both.
These changes happen gradually, typically in three phases: early, acute, and recovery. The onset of first episode psychosis typically presents when an individual is between the ages of 18-25, however, may present between the ages of 15-40. It is uncommon for first episode psychosis to present in childhood.
For some people, a meltdown may look like crying uncontrollably. For others it may look like snapping at others or lashing out angrily. And for others it may involve panicking or running away from a stressful situation.
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.
Your team of mental health professionals will determine a working diagnosis and plan of action for treatment. Depending on your evaluation, you may be given medication, provided crisis counseling, or receive a referral for treatment after leaving the hospital.
People once used the term “nervous breakdown” to describe a wide range of mental illnesses. The medical community no longer uses the term, but a so-called nervous breakdown remains a sign of an underlying mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Manipulation isn't a formal symptom of bipolar disorder, although some people with the condition may exhibit this behavior. In some cases, manipulative behavior is a result of living with another mental health condition, such as personality disorders, substance use disorders, or trauma.