What Happens When Someone Has a Nervous Breakdown?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesOriginsRelated TermsProper TerminologyTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Origins

Related Terms

Proper Terminology

Treatment

Coping

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Nervous breakdown is a term that is sometimes used to describe symptoms of intense mental andemotional distress. These feelings make it difficult or even impossible to carry on normal functioning and complete daily tasks.

Instead, the term nervous breakdown is a colloquial catchall intended to describe symptoms that may represent a number of differentpsychiatric conditions. The key characteristic of a “nervous breakdown” is that the symptoms are intense and make it very difficult for the person to function normally.

While the term nervous breakdown lacks clinical significance, there are a number of physical and mental symptoms that are most often associated with such periods of intense distress. These include, but are not limited to:

Because nervous breakdown is such a nebulous term, it may indicate symptoms of anything from depression to anxiety to schizophrenia. Use of the term often suggests that a person is having a great deal of trouble coping and has “checked out” from their normal routine. They may have stopped socializing or might be unable to manage daily self-care routines including eating, getting out of bed, or showering.

The symptoms people experience during a “breakdown” may range from mild to much more severe. Some people may experiencethoughts of suicideorself-harmduring a breakdown period.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to what is referred to as a nervous breakdown. Underlying mental health conditions are often a contributing factor, but life stresses often also play a role.

Sometimes thisstress is chronicand seems to build up over time until a person simply cannot cope anymore. In other cases, crisis situations can trigger an acute period of intense distress that leads to symptoms of a breakdown.

Some factors that might contribute to a breakdown include:

While some people are able to cope with such struggles, others may be less resilient when faced with extreme stress. Poor coping skills, lack of self-care, low social support, poor interpersonal relationships, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and untreated mental illness may all contribute to the onset of what people refer to as a nervous breakdown.

According to Dr. Nwayieze Chisara Ndukwe, Psychiatry Fellow at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, the term “nervous breakdown” gained popularity in the early 20th century. “Colloquially, it was usually used to describe a major personal crisis of almost any kind,” she says.

She says that this would later give rise to theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM), the manual psychiatrists use to assist in diagnosing mental health conditions. “The DSM then gave specific names to specific disorders that in the past would have all been lumped into ‘nervous breakdown.’ As mental health became better understood and less stigmatized, the general population’s exposure and adoption of these more specific terms (depression, anxiety, panic attack, etc.) became more commonplace.”

Lastly, she notes that “we now know there are several situations, genetic factors, and experiences that are more commonly associated with a decline in functioning, and result in a ‘nervous breakdown,’ but there are also several factors that are unknown.”

Today, the term “nervous breakdown” has no clinical meaning or value. It is often used as a layman’s term to describe periods when people experience symptoms of severe distress. Unfortunately, this usage often dismisses people’s emotional turmoil in a way that is pejorative or even stigmatizing.

“Typically, it’s used in the lay press to denote some acute episode of psychiatric symptoms,” says Dr. Sean Luo, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, “however, this is not a medical term and…it’s certainly not clinically precise.”

There are some other terms and phrases related to the term nervous breakdown that are often used synonymously.

‘Nervous Diseases’

In the late 19th century, throughhis famous experimentsinvolving salivation in dogs as a response to the ringing of a bell, he was able to link the physiological, environmental, and intrapsychic effects on our nervous system (for example, rapid heartbeat as a symptom in anxiety disorders or specific phobias).

Around this same time, terms such as “nervous disease,” “nervous exhaustion,” and “nervous breakdown” would eventually work their way into our everyday vernacular.

‘Breakdown’

The term “breakdown” was first recorded in 1825 as a noun form of the verb phrasebreak down.Today, it is often used to describe a mental breakdown in which a person’s normal functioning is severely impaired.

The Importance of Proper Terminology

“As the mental health fields have advanced, we have come up with scientific, valid, and meaningful descriptors for mental health problems and disorders,” says Dr. Katie Davis. “Now, when we talk about depression, we can label the disorder itself, and we can describe the specific symptoms, like insomnia, suicidal thoughts, loss of energy, and sleep problems.”

Davis stresses the importance of using proper and specific terminology so that we reduce the stigma of mental health issues and get into the habit of talking about these disorders openly, honestly, and objectively. “The language we use to describe mental health disorders can either maintain or reduce the stigma attached to mental health disorders,” says Davis. “We need to choose our words precisely.”

What Is Mental Illness Stigma?

When people seek treatment for a “nervous breakdown,” it is often because they are experiencing severe symptoms that require immediate intervention. In severe cases,hospitalizationmay be necessary for immediate, short-term stabilization and then longer-term therapy and medications may be utilized. In other cases, outpatient treatment is enough to help the person manage and cope with their symptoms.

The exact type of treatment used depends on the person’s diagnosis. Treatment might involve individual counseling, group therapy, family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, or some other form of psychotherapy.Psychotropic medicationssuch as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics may also be prescribed alone or in conjunction with therapy.

If you are experiencing psychological or behavioral symptoms of distress, there are some things that you can do.

It is not uncommon for people to struggle to cope with life’s stresses. When stress starts to interfere with your ability to function it might be a sign of a mental health condition or that you need help finding ways to cope.

If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of what is sometimes referred to as a nervous breakdown, don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor. Reaching out to a physician or mental health professional can lead to appropriate diagnosis, support, and treatment.

If you or a loved one are struggling with a mental health condition, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

Mental Health Diagnosis: Symptoms, Types, and Treatments

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gantt WH.Principles of nervous breakdown–schizokinesis and autokinesis.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1953 Feb;56(2):143-163. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1953.tb30213.xGantt WH.Measures of susceptibility to nervous breakdown.Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Apr;99(6):839-849. doi:10.1176/ajp.99.6.839Additional ReadingBarke M, Fribush R, Stearns PN.Nervous breakdown in 20th-century American culture.Journal of Social History.2000;33(3):565-584.doi:10.1353/jsh.2000.0001Parker G.Mechanics of a breakdown.American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007; 164(11):1646-1647. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07030522

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gantt WH.Principles of nervous breakdown–schizokinesis and autokinesis.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1953 Feb;56(2):143-163. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1953.tb30213.xGantt WH.Measures of susceptibility to nervous breakdown.Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Apr;99(6):839-849. doi:10.1176/ajp.99.6.839Additional ReadingBarke M, Fribush R, Stearns PN.Nervous breakdown in 20th-century American culture.Journal of Social History.2000;33(3):565-584.doi:10.1353/jsh.2000.0001Parker G.Mechanics of a breakdown.American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007; 164(11):1646-1647. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07030522

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gantt WH.Principles of nervous breakdown–schizokinesis and autokinesis.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1953 Feb;56(2):143-163. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1953.tb30213.xGantt WH.Measures of susceptibility to nervous breakdown.Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Apr;99(6):839-849. doi:10.1176/ajp.99.6.839

Gantt WH.Principles of nervous breakdown–schizokinesis and autokinesis.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1953 Feb;56(2):143-163. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1953.tb30213.x

Gantt WH.Measures of susceptibility to nervous breakdown.Am J Psychiatry. 2006 Apr;99(6):839-849. doi:10.1176/ajp.99.6.839

Barke M, Fribush R, Stearns PN.Nervous breakdown in 20th-century American culture.Journal of Social History.2000;33(3):565-584.doi:10.1353/jsh.2000.0001Parker G.Mechanics of a breakdown.American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007; 164(11):1646-1647. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07030522

Barke M, Fribush R, Stearns PN.Nervous breakdown in 20th-century American culture.Journal of Social History.2000;33(3):565-584.doi:10.1353/jsh.2000.0001

Parker G.Mechanics of a breakdown.American Journal of Psychiatry. 2007; 164(11):1646-1647. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07030522

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