Nervous Breakdown: Symptoms, Triggers and Recovery Strategies

A nervous breakdown is a non-technical term that was used to describe a person who experienced prolonged and profoundly disruptive emotional states, such as episodes of severe anxiety and panic, often leading to clinical depression, such that the person could no longer function in their daily activities.

Nervous Breakdown – A Cultural Term – Not A Medical One

There is no longer a medical or psychological term that defines a “nervous breakdown,” nor does the term represent a clinical category within the DSM which is the leading authority on diagnosing mental health disorders. Notwithstanding, people still use the term as a derogatory description of someone suffering from serious anxiety disorders.

Another common non-medical non-technical term associated that has been associated with a nervous breakdown is burnout. Today, lay people commonly use the term burnout as a way of describing someone who can no longer perform their job due to the stress and anxiety caused by the job.

No clinical definition for a nervous breakdown

When the general population thinks of someone having a “nervous breakdown,” they usually think of someone who blew a fuse in their brain and can no longer function normally. Images of a mental hospital quickly come to mind with patients sitting around with blank stares looking out of windows that aren’t there.

Generally, it describes a person who has gone through intense anxiety and emotional distress that the person can no longer manage life’s challenges. It has sometimes been referred to severe burnout – another common non-technical term.

Fear-inducing life-changing events

The following types of life-changing events have been known to induce high levels of stress and anxiety, especially if experienced over sustained periods of time:

• Sudden Job Loss
• Painful And Protracted Divorce
• Sudden Death In Family
• Suffering A Disabling Injury
• Severe Learning Disabilities
• Financial Hardship
• Facing Or Being Homeless
• Over-Working At High-Stress Job
• Constant Creditor Harassment
• Facing Eviction
• Home Foreclosure
• Victim Of A Violent Crime
• Epidemic Fears
• Other Emotional Traumas

Common features associated with symptoms

• Loss of Hope And Suicidal Ideation.
• Intense Anxiety Resulting In Uncontrollable Shaking
• Detachment From Reality
• Flashbacks Of The Traumatic Event
• Insomnia
• Self-Isolation
• Poor Hygiene
• Substance Abuse

Risk factors, character traits, and conditions

• Sensitive Empathetic Personality
• Suffered Past Emotional Trauma
• Personal History of Anxiety Disorders
• Family History of Anxiety Disorder
• Overly Fearful

Ways Of Healing From Emotional Trauma

Get a complete physical, including hormone tests

People can develop thyroid conditions at different stages of their lives. The first step is to visit your family physician and obtain a complete physical. Make sure to get the Thyroid Test (TSH–T4) lab test, indicating whether your thyroid levels are within normal limits. If it is determined that you are Hypothyroid, this could be the reason you feel tired, depressed, and depleted of energy. The condition can be easily corrected with the proper dosage of Synthroid.

Consult with licensed and experienced mental health care professional

Once you know your underlying physical condition, we urge you to reach out to a qualified psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed therapist who can gauge your level of anxiety and determine whether medication will help reduce your symptoms.

Medication alone is only sometimes effective as a single remedy. Consider cognitive and behavioral therapy as well as holistic healing practices as a part of your overall health and recovery plan.

Alternative healing practices

Some helpful forms of alternative practices include:

• Deep Breathing Exercises
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Regular Exercise
• Eliminate Alcohol
• Eliminate Caffeine
• Give Your Smart Phone A Rest
• Avoid Negative People
• Visualize Your Ideal Life
• Give Yourself A Rest – Lots of it.