what exactly is a nervous breakdown and how do you know if you're having one?

Answer 1

A nervous breakdown, also known as a mental 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.

Answer 2

In short, a breakdown is when you are no longer capable of functioning. You are drained of all resources. Your body and mind feel switched off and you are physically and mentally unable to do even the simplest of chores. You are completely burned out. Severe breakdowns are usually treated in hospital and can take years to fully recover from. Though coming through a breakdown brings new strengths and a better more healthy way of living. You learn to recognize your limits and take care not to take on too much. Before a breakdown you think your mind is invincible, then you realize that unless you take a break, your mind will do it for you. A breakdown is not a passing feeling that it's all too much, most people experience this. It's when your mind and body says no.

Answer 3

I guess the best way to describe a nervous breakdown in layman terms is this way. It feels like the walls are closing in on you, and you are being smothered. You have lost contact with reality. Some people with nervous breakdowns actually are comatose. The just stand there in a vegetative state staring. What I have described is a worst case scenario. But in the mild cases, it still feels like you are being squeezed to death by anxiety and fear of the uncentainty of what is going to happen next.

Answer 4

A nervous breakdown has numerous causes including depression, excessive stress or purely any mental health problem.

The symptons include confused thinking, inability to concentrate, paranoia, irrational fear, feelings of low self-esteem etc., etc.

One thing is certain; if you think you are having a nervous breakdown you almost certainly are not! The reason is that you are still rational enough to recognise the symptoms!

Answer 5

Its like you just have had enough with everything in your life and you breakdown into tears, you hyperventilate, start shaking...like a bad panic attack..sometimes depressing thoughts.

This is what happens to me, when I get a nervous breakdown. Trust me you would know...cause you literally breakdown.

Answer 6

I suppose these breakdowns manifest themselves in many different ways because my husband had one and this is the way it manifested itself for him.
He was stressed at work and had just returned from a hectic holiday (instead of a relaxing one). His car ran out of petrol. He tried to phone home but I was away at work. He was convinced that I was dead and that he had to find me before the end of the world happened at midnight. He started running home (25 miles) and to speed himself up he took off all his clothes, threw them in the canal, and was arrested by police wearing only his underpants. He told the police that I was dead so they thought he had killed me. So they put him in a cell. I came home to our house surrounded by police who said they were really glad that I was alive as they were about to break the door down. Husband ended up in a mental hospital for two weeks and had a further two weeks off work. He is fine now (20 years later) and these symptoms have never returned.
Some people just break down crying at work and are fine after a good rest.
I hope you will seek help from your doctor if you are feeling that things are getting on top of you and you can't cope.

Answer 7

You will know. You will feel like just collapsing & crying and it doesn't matter who is around or where you are at. If it happens to you don't be ashamed. It happens to the best of us & when it is over it can be stress relieveing.

Answer 8

If your having one you'd know it.

Answer 9

if you're asking that question you might need to see a doctor

Answer 10

A nervous breakdown is the rapid firing of senors in your brain. Basically its when your body starts acting up, you may have shortness of breath, you may feel like your going insane, or hypochondria. You may crash afterwards.