Do you also feel like "my head is spinning"? Let's learn exactly what a Nervous Breakdown is?

We all say things like, "I feel like I'm going crazy right now" or "I'm really confused." You've probably said the same thing, right? What exactly is a 'nervous breakdown', or as some people call it, a 'nervous breakdown' ? It's a scary word to hear, but it's important to know what it is. So, let's talk about it in a little more detail today, shall we?

What exactly is a "nervous breakdown"?

Simply put, "nervous breakdown" is not a medically recognized name for an illness . That is, when you go to a doctor, they will not write down, "You are having a nervous breakdown." However, we use this word a lot in our daily lives, especially in newspapers and on TV. Over time, this word has acquired a slightly ominous, bad meaning.

So if this is not an illness, what is it? Actually, we call a "nervous breakdown" a mental crisis in which a person is unable to perform their daily activities due to severe mental and physical stress , and feels helpless and helpless. To be precise, it is a state of feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted , unable to cope with the problems and pressures of life.

When a mental crisis like this occurs, there are several other underlying mental conditions that could be causing it. Your doctor will look into these. For example:

• Depression: It means being constantly sad and hopeless.
• Anxiety: Constantly feeling afraid and uneasy.
• Adjustment disorder: This is a set of psychiatric symptoms that occur in response to a stressful or traumatic event.

What happens when a mental crisis occurs?

When you have a mental crisis like this, or what we call a "nervous breakdown," you may feel like everything is spinning out of control . You may be under a lot of stress because of an event or change in your life, which can lead to symptoms like fear, anxiety, sadness, restlessness, and depression. You may feel like "I'm stuck in this," "I can't do anything," and you may find yourself unable to cope with the tasks of daily life.

What are the reasons for this kind of situation?

Some people are more susceptible to this type of stress than others. There are several reasons why:

• You or someone in your family has a history of anxiety disorders .
• Being unable to perform daily tasks properly, either because of an illness you have or because an illness has become severe.
• Aggravation of an existing psychiatric disorder due to ongoing events.

How serious can a "nervous breakdown" be?

Actually, this can be quite serious . Especially if you can't handle this stress, you can't cope with it, and you can't even do simple things like daily tasks, getting up in the morning, brushing your teeth, going to work, it's a serious situation.

Remember, everyone deals with stress differently. Some can handle it well, some can't. It varies from person to person.

However, if it is so severe that you are unable to perform daily activities, you should definitely seek medical advice .

Some people may have thoughts of harming themselves at times like this. This is an emergency. If you feel this way, please immediately see your nearest doctor, go to a hospital, or contact an organization like Friends of Sri Lanka (0112692909, 0112696666, 0112682535) , or call the national mental health helpline number 1926 .

What are the symptoms of a mental crisis?

The symptoms of this type of mental crisis can vary from person to person. It depends on the underlying cause. Here are some common symptoms:

Symptoms of social withdrawal

• Not going to work for a day or two, faking an illness.
• Avoiding things like doctor's appointments and friends' parties.
• Getting into bad habits, such as poor eating habits (eating unhealthy foods), not getting enough sleep, not taking care of cleanliness, and not exercising.
• Losing interest in previously enjoyed activities and hobbies.
• Not wanting to leave the house or hang out with other people.

Symptoms of Depression

• Feeling very sad, hopeless, helpless, or constantly worried.
• To get angry quickly, to get agitated, to suddenly explode.
• Having difficulty concentrating on something.
• Feelings of harming yourself or having suicidal thoughts . (This is very dangerous, get help immediately!)

Symptoms of Anxiety

• Feeling pain, fear, and anxiety.
• Having bad dreams.
• Inability to stay calm in one place, constant restlessness.
• Feeling nauseous.
• Heart palpitations .
• Cold hands and feet, sweating.
• Feeling dizzy.
• An upset stomach, a feeling like your stomach is turning over.
• Body shaking.
• Difficulty breathing.

Other mental health symptoms

• Panic attack: A sudden, intense fear and associated physical symptoms.
• Paranoia: An unreasonable fear that others will harm you or plot against you.
• Hallucinations: Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not really there.
• Recurrent recollections of a traumatic event (this may be due to an undiagnosed condition called Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD ).

What causes this situation?

There are many reasons why stress can become unbearable, and there are a few examples:

• A recent severe personal trauma, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a home, or major financial loss.
• Family crises, problems in romantic relationships.
• Ongoing stress at work (burnout) or problems at school or university.
• A chronic medical condition or worsening of an existing illness.
• Insomnia and/or inability to relax.

The "threshold" at which this condition occurs varies from person to person. Therefore, one or more possible causes may combine to cause this condition.

How does a doctor diagnose this?

When you go to see a doctor, he or she will do these things:

• Ask about your and your family's medical history.
• We will look at what medications you are currently taking.
• They ask if you take any additional herbs, vitamins, or supplements.
• Asks about drug and alcohol use.
• They will perform a physical examination and, if necessary, order tests to see if another medical condition is causing or worsening these symptoms.
• They will talk to you about your symptoms and what's going on in your life these days.

Then, your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist, who are people who have received special training in treating emotional, behavioral, and mental health problems.

How is a "nervous breakdown" (mental crisis) treated?

The main treatment for this type of mental or behavioral stress is psychotherapy , which is a form of talk therapy. One of the most commonly used methods is Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) . The main goal of CBT is to help you manage your severe stress and anxiety by changing the way you think, feel, and behave.

During CBT treatment, you will be able to:

• Talk about your symptoms and how you feel.
• Talk deeply about your stress and understand how you respond to it.
• Learn to identify your thoughts and behaviors, reevaluate them, and change them.
• Learn how to deal with these situations using problem-solving skills.
• Learn ways to calm your mind and body.

Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medications to manage your anxiety, depression, or help you sleep better.

What should I do if I feel like this is happening to me?

You may be feeling like, "I can't handle this anymore." If you're in a stressful environment, the best thing you can do is get away from it for a while . This is like giving yourself a "time out." Give your mind and body some time to calm down.

Do deep breathing exercises . Close your mouth and take a deep breath through your nose, hold it for about three seconds, and then slowly exhale through your mouth (as if you were whistling with your upper lip). Do this several times.

Call your doctor immediately. If you think you are in crisis, call a doctor immediately.

If you have thoughts of harming yourself , please go to the nearest hospital immediately, or call 1926 (National Mental Health Helpline) , or an organisation such as Sumithrayo (0112692909, 0112696666, 0112682535) . These services are free and confidential. These services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What can be done to prevent or reduce this kind of mental crisis?

While we can't completely prevent these uncontrollable stress, anxiety, or depression situations, there are many things we can do to reduce their intensity and frequency. Many of these are related to changes in our lifestyle.

• Learn ways to relax your mind: Try breathing exercises, meditation , yoga , mindfulness , progressive muscle relaxation (that is, tensing and then slowly relaxing muscle groups in your body). Think about something that brings you peace, and focus on it.
• Take care of yourself: Eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep (follow good sleep habits), and exercise for 30 minutes at least five days a week (walking is a great exercise). Avoid drugs, alcohol, and excessive caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate). These things can put stress on your body.
• Organize your work, take breaks: Take back control of your life. Make a to-do list. Organize things in order of importance. Take regular breaks (for example, a five-minute break every hour). At the end of the day, look back on what you did. Don't beat yourself up for not being able to do everything on the list. Refresh that list. Remember, every day is a new beginning, a new opportunity.
• Get counseling: See a mental health counselor to learn more ways to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. Ask your counselor about support groups.

How long can this situation last?

This stress response, which we call a "nervous breakdown," is usually a temporary state caused by an external event. Your response may be characterized by a combination of anxiety and depression, and may be accompanied by an inability to adapt to the situation and cope.

No one can say exactly how long it will take to recover from a mental and emotional crisis like this. Each person is different, the stressors that affect them are different, and their ability to learn to cope with them is different. However, if you are properly diagnosed, your stressors are identified, and you receive appropriate treatment, your symptoms will likely resolve within six months. However, if your stress is caused by something else, such as the loss of a loved one, recovery may take longer.

What is the best time to see a doctor?

If you feel like you can't cope with the stresses and challenges of life in a healthy way, or that you're having a hard time even doing your daily tasks, it's time to seek help. You may be in a situation where you can't manage it on your own. Your primary healthcare provider, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist can help you understand your symptoms and provide the help you need.

If you think a friend or family member is having this kind of problem, how can you help?

If you feel like your loved one is suffering from excessive stress, there are several ways you can help:

• Listen carefully to what your loved one has to say. This is one of the most important things you can do.
• Try to understand how they're feeling. Say something like, "You really have a lot of work to do, don't you?"
• Don't go around giving your advice. Instead, ask, "What can I do to help you?"
• Kindly encourage them to seek professional help. Maybe say something like, "I feel bad for you, what do you think about talking to a doctor?" Don't argue or try to force them.
• If your loved one is talking about harming themselves, consider getting professional help . If they are talking about harming themselves or committing suicide, talk to their doctor, or call 1926 or Sumitrayo. If you think the risk of harming themselves is serious and immediate, call 1990 (the emergency ambulance service) immediately and take them to a hospital.

What is the difference between a "psychotic break" and a "nervous breakdown"?

A "psychotic break" is a condition in which a person loses touch with reality, experiencing delusions (i.e., strong beliefs in things that are not true), hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), and paranoia.

Most likely, someone who is exhausted by the stresses and challenges of life (having what we call a "nervous breakdown") is not losing touch with reality . They are simply losing their ability to cope with these stresses, making it difficult to carry out everyday tasks.

Finally, a few things to remember

People use words like "nervous breakdown" or "mental breakdown" to describe when someone is having trouble coping with everyday life. Although these words are not medical diagnoses, the feelings you feel, your reactions, and your symptoms are real. If the intense mental and emotional stress caused by excessive stress prevents you from working, playing, or enjoying life, it is a medical condition. These are not signs of personal weakness or failure. If you are experiencing these feelings and symptoms, you are not alone. See your doctor for help.

Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

` Mental health, stress, anxiety, depression, nervous breakdown, mental crisis, counseling