All of the above reactions can be summed up by the term nervous breakdown, and together in this article we will learn about the concept of nervous breakdown more broadly by identifying its symptoms, causes, methods of prevention and treatment, so follow up with us.
What is a nervous breakdown?
The term nervous breakdown is a popular term known among people, and this term does not have any scientific and medical reference. It is used to describe the severe and sudden psychological decline that may occur to a person when hearing bad news, or when experiencing a specific accident without being able to bear the impact of what happened. Also, the nervous breakdown is associated with a defect that affects the functioning of the natural nervous system as a result of severe psychological stress.
This term is also used to refer to a variety of psychiatric and mental conditions, including:
- Depression.
- Worrying.
- Acute stress disorder.
It should be noted that nervous breakdown is not an official medical term or diagnosis of a particular condition, and it does not have an agreed-upon common definition, but it is used by many people to describe the symptoms of severe stress and the inability to cope with the stresses, challenges, and setbacks of life.
Also, what people see as a nervous breakdown may be a mental or psychological condition that has not yet been diagnosed or not properly diagnosed.
Symptoms and signs of nervous breakdown:
Indications of nervous breakdown vary from person to person, and its symptoms vary according to the factors causing it. There are three symptoms, and the symptoms can be physical. In other cases, the symptoms may be psychological, in addition to being behavioral symptoms. Because the term nervous breakdown has no medical reference, the group of symptoms that we will learn about has been described by the term nervous breakdown, These symptoms are:
1. Depressive symptoms:
Such as constant sadness or despair, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, low energy, fatigue, loss of interest and passion for usual hobbies or usual activities, in addition to low self-esteem and uncontrolled crying, the manifestation of dark thoughts and thinking about self-harm or even suicide.
2. Anxiety symptoms:
These include muscle tension, distress, irritability, shivering hands, dizziness, and upset stomach or intestines.
3. Insomnia symptoms:
These include difficulties sleeping or sleeping all day and staying up all night.
4. Panic attacks:
Such as severe fear or feeling of near death accompanied by breathing difficulties, as breathing becomes rapid and shallow, trembling, rapid heart rate, or palpitations, sweating, etc begins.
5. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms:
They occur after a person has experienced a traumatic event including intrusive thoughts, flashbacks from the past, event-related nightmares, avoiding places or situations that evoke event-related memories, in addition to feelings of guilt or shame about the event and others.
Reckless or self-destructive behaviors such as drug use, alcohol, or smoking.
Severe mood swings such as, sudden nervousness or sudden sadness, crying and others.
6. Unexplained outbursts such as:
starting by smashing what people see in front of them or hitting someone and others.
7. Hallucinations:
It means hearing voices, seeing things, or smelling smells that do not have a real physical existence.
8. Paranoia:
Like believing someone is watching or chasing them.
People who suffer from a nervous breakdown may withdraw from their surrounding community and isolate themselves. The symptoms of withdrawal from the community include the following:
- Avoid daily work and duties.
- Avoid social engagements and appointments.
- Irregular eating and sleeping.
- Neglecting personal hygiene.
- Self-isolation and not leaving the room and staying in bed.
And many more.
Causes, triggers, and risk factors for nervous breakdown:
The causes of nervous breakdown are associated with external effects and include:
- A specific physical injury or illness that changes lifestyle and prevents daily and personal routines.
- A shocking event, such as the death of a family member or friend.
- Constant stress at work or study.
- Changes in social relationships, such as divorce, betrayal, or treachery of friends.
- Loss of job, business, or personal project.
- Exposure to violence, discrimination, bullying, harassment, etc.
- Bankruptcy or major financial problems such as, huge debts, rent claims, threat, or mortgage entry as a result of non-payment of installments, and others.
- Changing the environment, such as moving from where a person grew up to a completely new and strange place.
- Chronic health conditions associated with chronic pain, insomnia, and lifestyle change.
- Personal or family history of mental or psychiatric disorders increases the risk of having a nervous breakdown.
- Lack of social and family support.
Many other causes and risk factors for nervous breakdown also vary from person to person.
When should the doctor be contacted?
It is very common to feel unable to deal with life's pressures and challenges from time to time. This is normal, but stress can become a source of anxiety and a serious health condition if it starts to interfere with our ability to start or complete our daily tasks.
A nervous breakdown may be a sign of a mental health condition; therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor as soon as you notice any sign of collapse. A doctor can help treat physical symptoms, and may refer the patient to a psychiatrist to treat and manage emotional, psychological, behavioral, and mental symptoms.
Primary caregivers should contact a doctor as soon as possible if they are concerned about the behavior, mental, or psychological state of a family member.
Treatment of nervous breakdown:
The doctor's visit is one of the most important steps that must be taken by those who suffer from problems of nervous breakdown in order to evaluate the patient's condition clinically and to identify the individual's health history in the event of a specific genetic problem. After a comprehensive clinical examination, the doctor looks at the list of medicines that the patient is taking, whether they are chronic or non-chronic medicines to ensure that the medicines that can be given to them will not conflict with other medicines previously prescribed to them.
After a clinical diagnosis, the examining physician transforms the person suffering from a nervous breakdown to a specialized psychiatrist or psychotherapist to conduct a wider psychological evaluation and accurately diagnose the case to provide the appropriate treatment for the case completely. The methods of treating the psychological collapse can be multiplied according to the patient's condition, as follows:
1. Speech processing:
Speech therapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which has proven to be effective in treating anxiety, depression, and other mental and psychological health conditions. It involves identifying problematic thinking patterns, learning coping skills for mobility, and better overcoming difficult situations.
2. Medications:
In addition to speech therapy, your doctor may recommend some prescription medications to treat symptoms or diagnosed mental or psychiatric conditions, including antidepressants, anxiety medication, tranquilizers, and others.
3. Change lifestyle:
If you are feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of collapse, consider the following strategies for controlling and managing symptoms:
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol as they may exacerbate symptoms of psychological and mental conditions, interfere with medications, and affect sleep quality.
- Regular exercise helps to combat stress and improve sleep quality. Physical activity has also been shown to relieve and improve the symptoms of many psychological and mental conditions.
- A healthy and balanced diet includes eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, pulses, nuts, seeds, fat-free proteins and more.
- Create a routine sleep schedule, as it helps improve sleep quality. Take a warm bath, turn off electronic devices, read a book and more.
- Practice relaxation and stress-relief techniques, such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, massages, and others.
Methods of prevention and mitigation of nervous breakdown:
Lifestyle adjustments can help prevent or reduce the severity and frequency of nervous breakdowns. These modifications include the following:
- Exercise regularly at least 3 times a week. Do activities like walking, jogging, or cycling.
- Attend speech therapy sessions, counseling sessions, and manage individual or group anxiety.
- Avoid alcohol, drugs, smoking, caffeine, and other substances that cause stress, cause addiction, and affect the body's health.
- Sleep for at least 7 hours a day.
- Practice relaxation, deep breathing, and meditation exercises daily for 5 to 15 minutes.
- Relieve the level of daily stress by organizing daily activities and appointments and creating and adhering to a daily task list.
- Spend time in nature.
- Going on recreational trips with family, friends, or even only with oneself.
These changes can be made on your own, but it is best to work with a mental health professional to develop an appropriate treatment plan that best meets your specific needs because the doctor knows what to do and what to avoid, monitors progress or setbacks, and evaluates whether or not the plan is effective.
In conclusion:
In this article, we talked about the nature of nervous breakdown, its signs, and symptoms. We talked about its causes, motivations, risk factors, and treatment methods, in addition to the importance of consulting a doctor when symptoms of nervous breakdown appear and some methods of preventing it.
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