Nervous Breakdown: Symptoms and Treatment

Imagine a situation where the person sitting next to you is behaving in a normal way. Suddenly, his mobile phone rings, he listens nervously and is frozen in his position. You try and jolt him back from this state and he breaks down into uncontrollable sobs. Well, you've just had a first hand experience of a nervous breakdown.

Nervous breakdown, usually occurs when a person breaks down under pressure. It is like all the circuits going haywire causing physical, mental and emotional overload. The person suffering from nervous breakdown finds it difficult to work at normal level.

Nervous breakdown is a sort of mental disorder. It is not a disease by itself. It is just a figurative to a larger problem. The major depressive episode can have similar symptoms of the characteristics of a breakdown.

Nervous breakdown can be a result of overload of emotions and stress at personal or professional front. The individual develops loss of interest in all activities. He suffers from confusion, disorientation, uncontrollable crying. The person may also lose his self-confidence and self-esteem. In extreme cases, catatonic posturing is seen. In this condition, the person is unable to move.

There are different symptoms of nervous breakdown. Some suffer from insomnia and appetite loss. Breakdown makes the person emotionally drained and he becomes mentally unstable. This may lead to anxiety attacks or depression. Individuals may also show the signs of delirium, amnesia and may have frequent nightmares. They might also show a state of narcissism, that is, extreme self-adoration and vanity.

Nervous breakdown is usually caused by the factors that affect an individual's life dramatically. For example, death of a loved one, loss of job, severe debt, broken relationships, demanding job and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some other factors that contribute to the onset of breakdown include stress, drugs, alcohol and a family history of psychological disorders. In certain individuals, Schizophrenia and bipolar episodes also trigger a nervous breakdown.

The most difficult part in treating nervous breakdown is getting the individual to visit the doctor. People who have suffered silently for years find themselves getting better after speaking to psychotherapists. To treat a nervous breakdown, psychotropic medications, psychotherapy and counseling is used. Anti-depressants and tranquilizers may also be advised by the doctor. There is no standard cure, but these measures are effective enough in treating majority of the people and getting them back on the normal track.

One can always prevent nervous breakdown by recognizing the signs of breakdown and seeking professional psychological help at the earliest. When stress levels increase and mood dips are frequent, it is the time to be on a high alert. One can take a vacation and spend more time in various recreational activities with family and friends. Exercise, meditation, maintaining proper sleep hours and a healthy diet will help you to stay away from breakdown. Also, cutting down on smoking, alcohol and drugs will decrease the chances of a nervous breakdown. Aromatherapy is also an effective method to curb nervous breakdown.

Though nervous breakdown is inevitable in certain situations, you can always make sure that you stay positive and maintain a healthy lifestyle to cope with the ups and downs of life.