Mental breakdown

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For the EP by Black Flag, see Nervous Breakdown.

Mental breakdown (also known as nervous breakdown or snapping) is a non-medical term used to describe a sudden, acute attack of mental illness such as depression or anxiety.

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Like the term "sanity," the terms "nervous breakdown" and "mental breakdown" do not have any medical definition and are not used in a clinical sense. A mental breakdown is not the same as a panic attack, though mental breakdowns can trigger panic.

Specific cases are usually described as a "breakdown" only after a person becomes unable to function in day-to-day life due to mental illness.^[1] The person's condition is then advanced, and seeking professional aid is advisable.

1 Causes
2 Aftermath
3 See also
4 References

[edit] Causes

Causes of breakdown might include:

bullying
chronic and unresolved grief
chronic or newly discovered illness/ailment
unemployment
academic problems
career burnout
social stress
unresolved sexual identity crisis
post-war trauma
chronic insomnia and other sleep disorders
serious or chronic illness of a family member
divorce
death of a family member
pregnancy
a traumatic, violent, or near-death experience
deception by a loved one.

The sudden, acute onset of the following mental illnesses might be classified as breakdowns:

[edit] Aftermath

It has been said that many people who suffer from a mental breakdown will most likely be fully recovered after the illness, as little signs seem to appear on most people.

[edit] See also

Causes of psychiatric disorder

[edit] References

^ Hallowell, Edward M & John Ratey. 2005. Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder. Ballentine Books. ISBN 0345442318