What are the signs of a nervous breakdown?

“Nervous breakdown” and “mental breakdown” are dated terms. They refer to stress temporarily preventing a person from feeling that they can function day to day.

People once used the term “nervous breakdown” to describe a wide range of mental illnesses.

The medical community no longer uses the term, but a so-called nervous breakdown remains a sign of an underlying mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The exact features of what people might call a nervous breakdown vary from person to person, depending on the underlying health issue responsible.

21 signs

A nervous or mental breakdown does not have any defined symptoms, aside from difficulty or inability to function “normally.”

But what qualifies as functioning normally or being “fully functioning” differs among people from different regions, cultures, and even families.

The characteristics of a breakdown depending on the underlying health issue and how the person generally experiences stress.

However, below are 21 common features of a nervous breakdown:

feeling anxious, depressed, tearful, or irritable
feeling emotionally and physically exhausted
experiencing agitation and muscle tension
sleeping too much or too little
having unexplained, general aches and pains
trembling and shaking
feeling helpless, hopeless, and having low self-esteem
moving or speaking more slowly than usual
withdrawing, or avoiding routine social situations
frequently calling in sick to work or missing appointments
neglecting or forgetting to eat or wash
lacking motivation and interest
having difficulty getting along with or tolerating other people
losing interest in sex
having difficulty thinkingTrusted Source, focusing, or remembering
having physical indications of a fight-or-flight response — such as dry mouth and sweating — when there is no threat
having cardiovascular symptoms, such as a racing or irregular heartbeat
experiencing more frequent infections, as stress can affect the immune system
experiencing changes in appetite and weight
having gastrointestinal symptoms
having suicidal thoughts or thinking about harming oneself

Also, some people experience psychosis, which may involve hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, and a lack of insight.