When society uses the term 'nervous breakdown' just what exactly does that mean?

Question

"Nervous Breakdown" is not a medical term. There is such a broad interpretation of this, can we clear up the misconception?

Answer 1

From a personal perspective it is thinking that everything in the world is falling apart all around them.. or beyond their control... And, not having the ability to find the answers for the impossible riddle the world has become. This brings on a lot of anxiety and fear that nothing can be done to right the wrongs that may not even be there to begin with. That was my experience .. Not fun at all.

Answer 2

yes it is a medical term..
Medical
nervous breakdown
n.
A severe or incapacitating emotional disorder, especially when occurring suddenly and marked by depression.


WordNet
The noun nervous breakdown has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a severe or incapacitating emotional disorder



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Wikipedia
nervous breakdown
A nervous breakdown is a sudden, acute attack of mental illness such as depression or anxiety. Like sanity, the term is not recognized by the psychological community. In part, this is because the term has pejorative connotations, while this phenomenon is a normal and relatively common response to chronic stress. Often, the emerging illness is only described as a "breakdown" when the person becomes unable to function, at which point the disorder is advanced. Often, the supposed breakdown is a manifestation of career burnout.

The psychiatric community rejects the term "nervous breakdown", in part, because it is not descriptive enough of the actual disorder and symptoms. A common diagnosis that follows such an event is brief reactive psychosis.

Causes of breakdown include chronic and unresolved grief, unemployment, academic or occupational stress, serious or chronic illness in a family member, divorce, death of a family member, and other sudden major life changes. Whatever the cause, the message to the sufferer is that they now become aware of their limits of tolerance to stress, the usual outcome eventually is a more robust personality that interacts with stresses of life with more self care, although this may take time—sometimes years.

Answer 3

When a person is going through mental stress all around them and can't seem to find a way out. It is usually cause by a stressful situation that a person makes worse by doting in it, instead of calming down, going to God, and knowing its not the end of the world.

Answer 4

usually it means in lay terms that one has had a break with reality and can longer function "normally" in society or participate in their own lives. it is also used when referring to some one who is being hospitalized for a suicide attempt.

Answer 5

when u get too stressed out theres a point in wich u snap like marge simpson in an episode

Answer 6

It usualy means somebody has lost their mind. Gone crazy , etc.