We all have bad days from time to time. You know, times where we feel sad or lack the desire to get out of bed. Sometimes, we feel really nervous or worried about something, bringing our entire mood down. However, these feelings are usually fleeting, lasting just for a few hours or days.
When a person does not know how to cope with negative feelings, events, or stress, though, the symptoms can become overwhelming. They can swallow you up and prevent you from functioning properly. They can last for longer periods of time.
Many people call this a mental breakdown.
What is a Mental Breakdown?
A mental breakdown, also called a nervous breakdown, is a mental health crisis that’s characterized by an overwhelming amount of stress, anxiety, and/or depression. It can cause an array of physical and psychological symptoms, and prevent a person from carrying out day-to-day tasks.
A mental breakdown is not a medical diagnosis, though it does typically stem from a mental health disorder. Those who experience a mental breakdown are typically facing other, deep-seated mental health conditions like depression or anxiety disorder. The mental breakdown occurs when the symptoms start to pile up, the stress becomes too intense to manage, and negative thoughts or emotions take over.
Most people know mental breakdowns to come on suddenly, but that is not always the case. While a mental breakdown is typically situational and short-lived, happening for a brief period of distress, it’s not always an abrupt or obvious outburst. Stress and anxiety can build gradually over time, leading up to a mental breakdown that overcomes a person’s ability to function properly.
What Causes a Mental Breakdown?
Mental breakdowns can be caused by various factors. However, they are often rooted in a mental health disorder like depression or anxiety. Still, certain triggers can cause a mental breakdown to occur. These include, but are not limited to:
- Lack of sleep
- Increased stress levels or burnout
- Major life changes or a sudden tragedy
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
- Constantly working or pressure to succeed
- Financial issues
- Relationship difficulties
- Loneliness and lack of purpose
- Diagnosis of serious illness or injury
Am I Having a Mental Breakdown?
A mental breakdown can look different for everyone, but if you are experiencing one, you’ll definitely feel it.
More than likely, if you’re having a mental breakdown, you’re having intense feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, hopelessness, and other psychological symptoms. You might have trouble sleeping, despite how tired you feel, as well as difficulty eating or taking care of yourself. Most of all, this mental breakdown might be affecting your ability to concentrate or carry out daily tasks.
Here’s a look at some of the main symptoms of a mental breakdown:
- Physical exhaustion
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hopelessness
- Paranoia
- Panic attacks
- Heart palpitations
- Feeling very sad, hopeless, or helpless
- Having outbursts of anger or intense crying
- Having thoughts of self-harm or suicide
- Trouble concentrating
- Physical symptoms like stomachaches, dizziness, headaches, or nausea
- Nightmares and flashbacks
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Not showing up for school, work, or scheduled appointments
- Lack of care or regard for personal hygiene and health
- Loss of interest in once-loved hobbies
- Changes in appetite
Note that you do not need to have all of the above symptoms to be considered having a mental breakdown. Even just a couple of these signs can indicate something is wrong. Reach out to your healthcare provider or a mental health treatment specialist (like Turnbridge) to discuss your symptoms in more depth and get advice on what to do next.
Signs You Should Reach Out to a Doctor for Help
Whenever you are struggling with a mental health related issue, it’s important to speak with a professional. Mental health is just as important as your physical health. And, left unaddressed, mental health issues can lead to other challenges in your life – physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. So, if you’re facing the above signs—including depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and a general inability to cope—do not hesitate to reach out and ask for support.
Turnbridge is a mental health treatment provider helping teens and young adults recover from issues like this. We are here for you if you do not know who to call. We can help talk you through your symptoms and discuss your treatment options, without any pressure.
How Long Does a Mental Breakdown Last?
If you are experiencing a mental breakdown, it might feel like it’ll never end. But fortunately, for most people, the intensity of nervous breakdowns lasts for just a few days or weeks. The physically taxing symptoms, whether that’s non-stop crying, panic attacks, or insomnia, will eventually subside and your body will calm back down.
However, even when the intense feelings fade, it’s possible you’ll still be facing struggles with depression, anxiety, and stress. Most mental health disorders do not go away on their own and require dedicated treatment, such as ongoing talk therapy. Treatment for mental health disorders can take months, but rest assured that mental illness is very manageable when it is addressed.
How to Recover from a Mental Breakdown
The best way to recover from a mental breakdown and prevent it from happening again is to treat the source of it. For most, this means getting treatment for an underlying mental illness, such as depression, anxiety, or a stress-related disorder. Even if you start to feel “okay” again, speaking with a treatment provider or therapist can help you navigate your recovery, identify your triggers, make lifestyle changes, and develop coping skills in case the symptoms arise again. These different focuses can prevent you from having a full-blown nervous breakdown a second time, and can give you the skills needed to channel and manage any negative thoughts or behaviors before they become too much.
Mental health treatment comes in a variety of forms, with both inpatient programs and outpatient therapy options available. The right treatment for you will depend on your needs. If you cannot escape the intense symptoms or you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms like suicide ideation, consider a residential treatment program where you can have access to 24/7 support and care, as you navigate your way out of this difficult time. If you are on the other side of a mental breakdown but looking to prevent these symptoms again, you might consider finding a talk therapist who can meet with you regularly.
In addition to mental health treatment, there are other steps you can take to prioritize your mental health at home and recover from a mental breakdown. These include:
- Establish a routine. Try to build (and stick to) some structure throughout your day, to make it a bit more predictable and attainable. Sometimes, it can be helpful for our brains to know what’s coming next, even if that means having meals, showers, or relaxation at certain times of day.
- Leave room for things you enjoy. Doing things that you enjoy, whether that’s crafting, playing music, playing with your dog, or going for a run, can offer a natural mood boost. The same can be said for spending time with loved ones—connecting, laughing, and finding comfort in company.
- Spend time outdoors. Natural sunlight and the outdoors, more generally, can have a significant impact on your mental health. Research shows spending time outside each day can reduce stress, anxiety, and the risk of depression. It can lead to better sleep, mood, and physical healing, too. Even just a walk around the block, or a picnic in the park, can make a big difference.
- Know your triggers and how to handle them. This one is more easily said than done, but it’s an important step in recovering from a mental breakdown. Now that you’ve had some time to reflect, what do you think led you to a breaking point? What caused you to feel so overwhelmed and incapacitated? Think about your triggers and make a plan for avoiding or coping with them. Talking to a therapist can help with this process, and together you can come up with strategies for avoiding a breakdown in the future again.
- Practice relaxation and grounding techniques. When you feel overwhelmed, how do you cope in that moment? Learning skills like meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and other methods of breathwork can make a world of difference when a mental breakdown begins to emerge. By using these tactics, you can stay focused on the present, ground yourself, and work through the emotions before they take over completely.
There are many ways you can improve your mental health and prioritize your well-being. Ultimately, though, it’s the interpersonal support that will carry you through recovery. Talking about your mental health struggles, with a therapist or with a trusted friend/family member, can take a huge weight off your shoulders and make you feel less alone. It can also provide you with perspective and help you make a plan to navigate any challenges down the road.If you are unsure who to turn to for support, or are still feeling overwhelmed mentally and emotionally, please do not hesitate to contact Turnbridge. We can talk to you about your options and help you on the road to recovery. Call 877-581-1793 to learn more today.