What Are The Symptoms Of A Mental Breakdown?
A mental breakdown, also called a nervous breakdown, is a type of intense mental health crisis, though it isn’t a medical diagnosis. You may be experiencing a tremendous amount of stress, depression, or anxiety you can’t cope with properly, which prevents you from functioning in your daily life. Mental breakdowns typically feel like being mentally, emotionally, and physically overwhelmed by the stress in your life.
You can experience a mental breakdown even if there are no specific stressors in your life at the moment. Over time, pressure accumulates on your nervous system and can eventually lead to you losing the ability to function as you should, causing a mental breakdown. While the process leading to a mental breakdown can take a long time, the onset often feels sudden when circumstances reach the breaking point.
What is a mental breakdown?
During a mental health crisis, you may feel out of control, afraid, anxious, worried, nervous, or depressed. These emotions can lead to feeling stuck, incapacitated, and overwhelmed, leaving you unable to cope and function in your daily life.
A mental breakdown is an extreme reaction to stress, and it can be influenced by other factors in your life. Some people have a family or personal history of anxiety disorders and may be more prone to intense reactions to stress. Disease and other medical conditions can affect physical ability, which can prompt a severe emotional response. A previous mental health condition, such as adjustment disorder, depression, or anxiety, can also impact the frequency and intensity of a mental breakdown.
What causes a mental breakdown?
There is no single cause for a mental breakdown. The point at which an individual’s response to stress stops functioning varies with each person. However, it is not an indication of weakness. Sometimes, the human nervous system needs to release the built-up pressure, forcing you to stop and address the issue.
Everyone experiences stress differently, and it can cause a widely varied response from one person to another. Working with a therapist can help you determine your mental stress triggers, how to recognize future breakdowns, and how to avoid them taking full effect.
Common mental stressors include:
- Death of a loved one
- Underlying mental health conditions
- Toxic work environment
- Medical trauma and rapidly changing circumstances
- Financial stress
- Breakup or divorce
- Burnout
- Family-related stress
- Lack of emotional support
Mental breakdown signs and symptoms
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a mental breakdown can make it easier to identify when it’s time to seek help. It can be challenging to make decisions, even for self-care, during a mental breakdown. The earlier you seek help, the more effective your efforts will likely be.
You may be heading toward a mental breakdown or another mental health condition if you find yourself losing interest in hobbies and other activities, changing your eating habits, withdrawing from others, isolating yourself, and finding it challenging to cope well with changes. Untreated stress can accumulate over time and spill over into other parts of your life.
Symptoms of a mental breakdown can include:
- Trouble with healthy sleep, eating, and hygiene patterns
- Calling in sick to work for days at a time
- Avoiding social engagements and missing appointments
- Inability to form or maintain a positive outlook
- Harmful, intrusive thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Physical ailments like insomnia, exhaustion, muscle pain, stomach problems, etc.
- Feelings of isolation, disconnection, being overwhelmed or out of control, paranoia, fear, etc.
- Fluctuating moods with emotional outbursts
- Sleeping too much, too little, or having nightmares
Coping with a mental breakdown
The coping strategies that will work best for you are as individual as you are. However, if you approach your mental breakdown recovery with self-compassion, you may be able to mitigate some potential damage to your mental and emotional health. Coping with a mental breakdown can be challenging, but a qualified therapist can guide and support you through the process.
Identify and manage stressors
The root cause of a mental breakdown is often an overwhelming amount of stress. Identify the factors contributing to your stress and work to establish coping skills and healthy boundaries to prevent the same intense reaction to the stressor in the future. Stressors can be unavoidable, and stress management should help you find a balance so you can react appropriately to circumstances beyond your control.
Ensure your basic needs are met
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a person’s basic needs must be met before they have the capacity to enjoy hobbies or devote energy to their emotional needs. When it feels like you can’t manage anything, reach out to friends and family for support to ensure your basic needs are met. If you need additional help, look into organizations in your community for assistance with food, shelter, clothing, or other necessities.
When should you seek help for a mental breakdown?
“Mental health conditions cannot be overcome through willpower and are not related to a person’s character or intelligence, but they are treatable. Most people diagnosed with a serious mental illness can experience relief from their symptoms by actively participating in an individual treatment plan,” said the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
If you recognize that you’re so overwhelmed that you can’t function in your everyday life as you usually do, it may be time to reach out for professional help. One of the best ways to avoid future mental breakdowns is to maintain your mental health even after you recover from the breakdown. Recognizing the steps early and seeking treatment can often help you avoid a mental breakdown.
Emergency resources if you are experiencing a mental breakdown
While a mental breakdown is uncommon for you on an individual level, it is not unusual in general, and help is available. Reach out and speak with mental health experts who can help you through this crisis.
- Visit the emergency room at your local hospital for an immediate crisis.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.
- If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, and help is available 24/7.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Call 1-800-273-8255 (and press 1) or text 838255. For support for the deaf and hard of hearing community, please use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255.
Mental breakdown treatment options
There are several ways to approach mental breakdown treatment options. Many symptoms typical for mental or nervous breakdowns align with anxiety disorders, but contributing factors will influence your treatment plan. A therapist can help you decide the best fit for your situation.
Recent research shows that dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may be an effective way to counter overwhelming feelings. DBT involves identifying emotions and how they make you act, then acting opposite to your typical behavior. For example, if you typically procrastinate to avoid completing a task you feel anxious over, tackle it directly and remove the potential stressor.
Ways to treat anxiety
Here are some ways to treat anxiety.
- Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can help you learn coping strategies to manage ongoing anxiety and support you through any mental health concerns.
- Medication for anxiety can help mitigate some symptoms that may contribute to a mental breakdown if you have an underlying condition. Speak to your doctor about your concerns to see if anxiety medication fits your situation.
- Many people find comfort in mindfulness and meditation. Developing a mindful, balanced approach to life can lower anxiety and help develop your emotional awareness.
How therapy can help you through a mental breakdown
A licensed therapist is trained to help you through a mental breakdown. Trust the experts to guide and support you as you identify and work through your emotions. Therapy can teach you coping skills and help you shape a positive perspective for the future.
Many people prefer online therapy over in-person sessions. Speaking to a professional from the comfortable, familiar settings of home can make it easier to reach out for help. Virtual therapy providers like BetterHelp offer flexible appointments over the phone, via video call, or online chat to maximize user comfort and convenience. Online therapy also puts professional help at your fingertips anywhere you have an internet connection, bypassing potential months on a waiting list.
Therapists treat various mental health conditions with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Recent studies show that online CBT can be as effective as in-person treatments and is frequently more cost-effective and accessible. Patients have reported discretion and convenience as factors to the desirability of online therapy.
Takeaway
How do you know if you had a mental breakdown?
Mental breakdowns, sometimes referred to as nervous breakdowns, may not always be easy to notice. In some cases, you may only realize one has occurred once another person tells you. Many individuals determine they are having a mental breakdown when they recognize they are experiencing significant stress. In some cases, this is due to a single event, like a car accident or witnessing an act of violence. In other cases, this stress may come over a long period of time due to problems at work or relationship conflicts. As a result, a person undergoing a mental breakdown may be unable to keep up with life’s demands.
What happens during a mental breakdown?
What constitutes a mental breakdown can vary based on what the source of the breakdown is and what mental health conditions they are experiencing. While “mental breakdown” is not technically a medical term nor can it be diagnosed medically, it can still have common characteristics one could think of as symptoms.
Here are some common symptoms one may experience during a mental breakdown.
- Paranoia
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Mood Swings
- Anxiety
- Social Withdrawal
- Exhaustion
- Insomnia
- Muscle Pain
- Increased Heart Rate
Other situations can occur as a result of mental breakdowns, including emotional outbursts, poor hygiene, and conflicts with friends and family. If you notice any of these signs of a breakdown in your or a loved one, it may be beneficial to reach out for support.
What can trigger a mental breakdown?
A nervous or mental breakdown can be caused by a variety of situations and conditions, including:
- Acute Trauma: Sudden tragedy or traumatic events, such as severe injury, the death of a loved one, witnessing violent events, or being abused, have the potential to overwhelm a person and cause a mental breakdown.
- Stress: In addition to the overpowering experience of a traumatic event, too much stress over a long period of time can build up and eventually cause a breakdown. This stress may come from any number of sources, including work, conflicts at home, relationship difficulties, or family struggles.
- Untreated Mental Illness: Leaving any mental illness untreated may cause challenges, but untreated anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder are conditions that are commonly associated with mental breakdowns. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one in five US adults live with a mental illness, which could indicate that the probability of a breakdown co-occurring with a mental illness is significant.
- Major Life Events: Significant changes in one’s life may also cause a breakdown, even if they seem like positive events. These situations can vary but may include starting a new job, moving across the country, or getting into a prestigious college. The pressures associated with succeeding may weigh on an individual, causing them to struggle with their psychological stability.
How do you deal with mental breakdowns?
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, it's essential to reach out for support immediately. Here are several emergency resources you can use.
- Crisis Text Line: The Crisis Text Line is available 24/7 by texting HOME to 741741.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can contact the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: For those struggling with substance use or the substance use of a loved one, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available 24/7 by dialing 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
- Trevor Project Lifeline: For members of the LGBTQIA+ community experiencing a crisis, the 24/7 Trevor Lifeline can be reached by dialing 1-866-488-7386.
If you are not in immediate need of assistance, it may still be helpful to reach out to a mental healthcare professional. Therapists and counselors can help you identify the source of your breakdown and offer resources that may help you find relief.
Does a mental breakdown mean crying?
A mental breakdown may involve crying, but crying by itself does not necessarily indicate someone is having a mental breakdown. Because breakdowns typically start with overwhelming or prolonged stress, it's not uncommon to have an emotional response. This response may involve crying due partly to its ability to relieve life's stresses and soothe a person’s emotions. Crying can also signal to others that you are in emotional distress, even if you are unable or uncomfortable discussing your feelings; this may help alert those around you that you are in need of assistance.
What are the 5 stages of mental breakdown?
How a person experiences a mental breakdown is unique and may not follow five distinct stages. However, it may be possible to categorize the typical phases one goes through during a breakdown. Here are five stages a person may experience.
- Stress: The first stage of many mental breakdowns is acute or prolonged stress. Whether it be from a traumatic event like a car crash or the gradual stress of a demanding job, a person headed toward a breakdown will often become overwhelmed before feeling the initial symptoms of mental distress.
- Mild Symptoms: As the breakdown begins to gain strength, individuals may start to feel changes in their mental and physical state. These symptoms will vary, but may include trouble sleeping, mood swings, and issues with performance at work or school.
- Severe Symptoms: Left untreated, a mental breakdown can increase in strength and result in more severe symptoms. These may include emotional outbursts, intense fear, feelings of hopelessness, uncontrollable crying, paranoia, panic attacks, and hallucinations.
- Consequences: As a person comes out of their breakdown, they may have done significant damage to their lives. Whether it be through an outburst at work, missing assignments at school, or lashing out at family, recovering from a breakdown may be more difficult due to the actions one took while experiencing their condition.
- Recovery: The final stage of a mental breakdown usually involves recovery. Individuals may do this in a number of ways, including through the help of loved ones or by joining support groups, but the most effective may be to seek out the assistance of a mental health professional. A mental healthcare provider can help an individual understand what happened during their breakdown, which may allow them to recognize when another one might occur. By understanding the early signs of a breakdown, people can recognize the need for help sooner and get the support they need.
How long do breakdowns last?
Everyone’s mental breakdown experience is different, and there is no set length of time for how long a breakdown will last. In some cases, breakdowns can last for only a few days, while others may last for months or even years. One fact that may affect how long a breakdown lasts is when a person gets help. Seeking out support during the early signs of a breakdown may help to lessen its impact or avoid it altogether. Left untreated, a mental breakdown may persist for longer periods of time. This could negatively affect a person’s normal daily functions, specifically those at work, school, or in social settings.
What is an example of a mental breakdown?
Mental breakdowns can manifest in a variety of ways depending on the cause. For example, if a person has a breakdown due to stress they are feeling at work, they may lose the ability to work productively, start missing scheduled appointments, or engage in outbursts involving coworkers. If someone is stressed out because of school, their breakdown could involve them failing to turn in assignments, not showing up for tests, or withdrawing from friends and classmates. These situations may further increase their stress and anxiety, which may worsen the severity of their breakdown.
Can you recover from a mental breakdown?
Yes, it is possible to recover from a mental breakdown. How you recover may depend on the reason you experienced a breakdown, as well as any mental health conditions you may be experiencing. Lifestyle changes and certain techniques may help with specific symptoms of a mental breakdown. One example that could help the sleeplessness many experience during a breakdown is progressive muscle relaxation. This technique focuses on relaxing muscle groups in order to help a person sleep.
In most cases, recovery will likely involve getting the help of a mental health professional. If your breakdown is a result of an undiagnosed mental health condition like depression or anxiety, a professional may recommend cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been shown to be effective at treating a number of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder.
Can a mental breakdown damage your brain?
Mental breakdowns are typically associated with significant stress, which may cause changes in brain structure. Studies have shown that chronic stress can decrease the weight of the brain due to the process of atrophy. In turn, this can change how a person responds to stress and affect their memory and cognitive abilities. These effects may hinder a person’s ability to function at work or school and could lead to other negative outcomes like relationship or financial problems.
- Previous Article
- Next Article