what's a nervous breakdown...?

Question

explain in detail if you can, and where it comes from...

Answer 1

In the Middle Ages, it was called melancholia. In the early 1900s, it was known as neurasthenia. From the 1930s to about 1970, it was known as a nervous breakdown. "Nervous breakdown" is a term that the public uses to characterize a range of mental illnesses, but generally it describes the experience of "snapping" under immense pressure, mental collapse or mental and physical exhaustion.
"Nervous breakdown" is not a clinical term. There is no psychiatric definition of a nervous breakdown, and it has nothing to do with nerves. "Nervous breakdown" is an inexact and unscientific term that is no longer used in psychiatry. Much as modern medicine breaks down diseases into more specific definitions (not just "cancer," but "stage 1 ovarian cancer"), modern psychiatry is breaking the term "nervous breakdown" into more precise diagnoses.

The diagnosis that most closely resembles what the public calls a nervous breakdown is major depression. Depressive episodes may be caused by genetic and biological factors and are often triggered by social and environmental circumstances. Depression is defined as the "loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities" and "sustained fatigue without physical exertion." Depression is characterized by a lack of energy and motivation along with feelings of guilt or hopelessness. It is often brought on by stressful situations, such as relationship difficulties, health problems, the aftermath of an accident or the death of a loved one.

The mental illness known as a "nervous breakdown" may also be something like panic attacks, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or acute stress disorder.

Surveys show that about one-third of Americans feel on the verge of a nervous breakdown at some point. Studies estimate that 50-million Americans suffer some form of mental illness in their lifetime.

Depression is treated through medication and psychiatric counseling

Answer 2

To me a nervous breakdown means emotional distress really. The fact that there are too many un-dealt-with emotions ensures that you lose some control over yourself. you start crying at inapropriate times, you get angry very easily, you just cant handle it anymore and are not behaving very normally... that is sort of a nervous breakdown, although it can differ from person to person. For instance the difference between a short or long lasting breakdown. short if everything comes on you way too fast and very suddenly, and the long lasting one if you have been over achieving for too long... and then it takes longer to heal from that again. I had a real bad time and it took me years to really become strong again. but I did:) it is amazing how a breakdown can also make you really stronger. it is a learning experience and different for everybody.

Answer 3

If this is a serious question... Nervous breakdowns, if not all the time, result from stress. If someone is in an extremely stressful situation or state of mind, this "breakdown" can result in extreme behavior. Anything from complete non-"normal" social behavior to alcoholism to drugs to complete unexplainable behavior. Anymore detail needed?

Answer 4

There are different levels of a nervous breakdown.

Some people require hospitalization, as there mind will no longer function enough for them to even do daily activities such as showing, or eating.

Extreme stress, or shock, loss of a loved one can cause your mind to just go into a protective mode and shut down. Thank God we do have medications that can help prevent and help those who have suffered from such breakdowns.

Answer 5

I've had a few nervous breakdowns its when you feel like you can handle anything anymore and have bottled your emotions up for too long and one day they just all slip out.

Answer 6

I had one a few years ago. Felt great while I went nuts. Afterwards though i felt like an idiot. You pretty much scream and cry like a crazy person. Nothing stops you from speaking your mind. After it's all over people just look at you and say WOW. What triggered me was a long endurance of emotional abuse from a co worker. Took a few years for people to understand what I went through but they soon figured out she was driving me nuts.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

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Answer 9

When people get soo nervous that they have trouble breathing sometimes. they also cannot really control their bodies. Their body might start to shut down, not all the way, but they might have trouble talking too.

Answer 10

this is an older statement that was made when there werent correct diagnosis' for depression, anxiety disorders...etc.....i have never heard anyone dieing from a "nervous breakdown".....there are nervous disorders...etc.....