Nervous Breakdown Symptoms and Treatment

Maybe you've heard about someone "having a nervous breakdown" and you've asked yourself. what is it? So, let me explain...




Nervous breakdowns are part of a family of mental disorders known as anxiety disorders. Nervous breakdowns can happen when you are experiencing sudden, extreme, or prolonged stress. When a nervous breakdown happens, you may feel like you lose control of your feelings and give in to stress, anxiety, or worry.

Nervous breakdown isn't a medical term, however, nor does it indicate a specific mental illness. But that doesn't mean it's a normal or a healthy response to stress. A nervous breakdown may indicate an underlying mental health problem that needs attention, such as depression or anxiety.

Here are 10 Common physical nervous breakdown symptoms.

1. Insomnia. One of the most common symptoms is insomnia or the inability to fall asleep.  This is due to overstimulation and high amounts of stress.  The person literally cannot calm their brain down to help themselves get a good night’s sleep.
2. Feelings of worry, fear, anxiety or stress.
3. Irregular heart beat. You can feel your heart pounding. You may think you're gravely ill, yet tests are unlikely to be convincing.
4. Tensed or painful muscles.
5. Clammy hands, sweating.
6. Dizziness or light-headedness.
7. Trembling or shaking. You may feel these are the most embarrassing symptoms of a nervous breakdown as you worry people may notice.
8. Upset stomach and bowel problems or Nausea with or without vomiting. Your body or mind reacts as if your life is in danger and digestion is secondary to survival.
9. Exhaustion. All your energy is being used trying to manage or cope with this crisis.
10. Coughs and colds. You seem to be catching every bug that's floating around.

Treatments for Nervous Breakdown.

In addition to following the treatment plan developed by your health care providers, you may be able to lessen the frequency and severity of your nervous breakdowns by:

1. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol and drugs.
2. Getting counseling for stress management.
3. Getting regular exercise. Some would argue that the effects of intense aerobic exercise can actually make symptoms of a nervous breakdown more intense. However, the cumulative effects of exercise over time are generally good for the brain and body.
4. Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation.
5. Psychotherapy. Getting yourself in to a psychologist of licensed psychotherapist can be beneficial for your recovery.
6. Medications. You may benefit from taking an antidepressant or anti-anxiety drug to help you cope with the symptoms.