Nervous feelings lead to what. Nervous breakdown: symptoms and consequences from the point of view of psychology. Nervous breakdown: consequences

BreakdownThis is a nervous disorder that is associated with psychological overstrain, prolonged stress, or some kind of psychological trauma. For example, worries about being fired from work, severe overwork, everyday life that does not please, resentment, unfulfilled desires.

The reasons may be different, but the main criterion for nervous overstrain is a long stay in a certain situation that does not please a person, depletes his strength and energy.

Hysterics- an uncontrollable state, expressed by laughter or sobs that a person cannot stop himself. It can be caused by strong nervous tension for a long time and eventually a nervous breakdown.

Signs and causes of a nervous breakdown

Signs and causes:

If you find a hint of at least one of the points, take care to increase your psychological immunity, and contact a psychologist before it's too late. Signs of a nervous breakdown will not just appear.

After all, these are external causes of tantrums and nervous breakdowns, but what happens inside? In this article, I will try to explain to you the mechanisms that occur at the moment when something starts to bother you.

In response to a stressful situation, your nervous system sends out a warning signal, which is expressed in an inexplicable feeling of anxiety, fear or anxiety.

You may even realize that you are losing control of your emotions. Outwardly, it looks like a sudden outburst of anger, unexpected laughter or tears. This behavior can make your partner uneasy or even pissed off if these reactions happen all the time. It is also possible that you fall into a stupor - sit and do nothing, do not even move.

This means that the biochemical balance in the brain has been disturbed and it lacks certain substances, such as serotonin, adrenaline and norepinephrine. Serotonin is a hormone that regulates vigor and sleep, creates a good and cheerful mood. Adrenaline is a stress hormone and is produced only in stressful conditions, forcing you to either “fight”, fight a problem, or “run away”, withdraw into yourself, cry.

As a result, an overloaded brain is looking for an opportunity to "switch off". You become talkative (emotions turn off logical thinking and therefore it is difficult to prove your case), impudent or careless, you want to turn off the TV, radio and ensure that no one bothers you or, on the contrary, pays attention. Moreover, to achieve by any means up to the physical elimination of the irritant or a fight.

Any little thing can serve as an apparent reason for this condition. For example, a traffic jam, the loss of keys, or a quarrel with a wife or husband. But a stressful situation by itself is not capable of causing a breakdown. Stimuli must accumulate to a critical mass so that the nervous system can no longer cope with them.

How to overcome a nervous breakdown

If the nervous tension goes off scale, it is necessary to urgently calm the passions. We use deep breathing techniques: we perform ten slow breaths and the same number of sharp exhalations. We use a proven relaxation method: we strongly strain our muscles, hold the tension for a few seconds and completely relax.

A companion of a nervous breakdown is anger, rage, aggression. We urgently need to get rid of such negative feelings. The easiest way is vigorous exercise. It can be a run or swim for a long distance, fitness classes or dancing. If this is not possible at home, you can desperately beat the pillows.

Instant available remedy to cool the dust - cold water. As soon as he feels a rush of hostility, we drink a glass of chilled liquid, then take a shower with ice water.

As soon as we feel that a burst of indignation is close, our task is to shift our attention from internal experiences to external events. We choose some bright and extraordinary events, for example: attending a match of your favorite football team, a karaoke contest, watching a new blockbuster.

In the evening hours, when anxious thoughts plague us, we definitely arrange a relaxing procedure: we plunge into a warm bath, adding a few drops of lavender oil or pine extract to the water.

Without what it is impossible to overcome a nervous breakdown? Without establishing the true culprits of psycho-emotional stress. We should carefully analyze our own experiences. Establish a chain: cause - effect. If it is not possible to independently determine the factors that provoked a nervous breakdown, you should seek help from a professional psychologist.

After we managed to find the instigators of mental discord, we should “reboot” our brain, replacing the destructive components of thinking with functional elements. We must consciously relive the traumatic event in our thoughts. However, now do not act as the main actors but to be bystanders. A look from the outside will allow you to interpret the drama in a different way and reduce the urgency of the problem.

The statement of anxieties on a piece of paper can reduce the significance of stressful circumstances. We divide the page into three columns. In the first column, we try to state the tragedy as honestly as possible. In the second column, we write down our feelings and the consequences of the disaster.
The third column is assigned to indicate emotions and behavior " perfect person».

That is, we describe how, in our opinion, our perfect hero acted in such a stressful situation: what would he feel, what he said, how he acted. Then we make assumptions about what the outcome of such behavior would be. After that, we try to act as our ideal: the daily practice of new behavior will change the worldview.

Accepts as an axiom: any life event has some purpose. Even the most terrible catastrophe brings some acquisitions. At first, an attempt to recognize such a fact brings desperate internal resistance. Then a divine insight comes, and you begin to understand that the tragedy was not so catastrophic. The drama allowed me to discover some new qualities in myself, stimulated me to take some actions, motivated me to acquire other values.

If the benefit from the misfortune cannot be found in any way, we recognize the accomplished drama as a test sent from above. We understand that the events destined by fate, we are not able to predict and change. It is in our power to change our attitude to this phenomenon, to learn a lesson, to develop such qualities in ourselves that in the future we will bypass the evil irony of fate. The main rule: do not blame or reproach yourself, but find in yourself such character traits that will allow you to crawl out of the swamp with your head held high.

How to get rid of a nervous breakdown? You need to reduce the severity of your feelings. To do this, we become cartoonists: we draw our resentment, anger, hatred, despair and transform them into funny funny characters in the picture.

Let our grief become a small roaring baby in the picture, next to which is a brave cheerful little boy. Next to the evil indignant old woman we place a kind noble old man. Thus, we will clearly prove to ourselves that grief always goes along with happiness. And it is in our power to change our perception of reality.

If we have found symptoms of nervous stress in ourselves, we should definitely have a heart-to-heart talk with the person we trust. Our silence, self-isolation, solitude will only worsen our well-being and cause depression. This does not mean that we should surround ourselves with a crowd of friends and be in public 24 hours a day. However, a friendly conversation in a cozy cafe will save our inner world from worries. Even if it seems to us that there is no strength at all for meetings with friends, it is necessary to overpower ourselves and set aside at least an hour for communication.

If in the past there have already been severe nervous breakdowns that you could not cope with on your own, it is better to contact a psychologist or psychotherapist at the first signs of a crisis. The doctor will select the best scheme to correct the problem situation and suggest the most effective ways getting rid of the disorder.

Anyone prone to malfunction nervous system, you need to reconsider your diet, including foods with essential vitamins and minerals in the menu. For most of us, the high levels of cortisol that are common when we are stressed cause our appetite to decrease. In turn, poor nutrition further impairs the functioning of the body, exacerbating stress reactions.

Most important condition to prevent nervous stress: avoid overload. Learn to relax and fully rest. Timely pay attention to the deterioration of the psycho-emotional state and eliminate problems that lead to nervous tension. One useful habit to develop is to say “no” to requests that throw us off balance. Clearly define the limits of your capabilities and consciously not cross the line that deprives you of moral stability.

What to do if someone near you has a tantrum?

Of course, it is often impossible to figure it out on your own - the actor in front of you is “breaking a comedy” or a sick person is in distress. And this once again confirms the fact that, be that as it may, there is little you can do to calm him down. But there are some general recommendations regarding what will help to quickly end the attack or scene of the game.

  1. Do not persuade him to calm down, do not regret and do not fall into hysterics yourself - this will only incite the hysteroid. Be indifferent or even go somewhere else until the scene is over.
  2. If the scene goes off scale in all respects, and this is seen, for example, by children, you can try to stop the attack with some sharp action - pour a glass of water on the person, give a slight slap in the face, press the pain point on the arm just below the cubital fossa.
  3. After the seizure, give the person a glass of cold water or persuade them to sniff ammonia. Be sure to seek help from doctors if we are talking about your relative - the disease can progress.

If you yourself know your craving for arranging ugly scenes just for the sake of relaxation, and even more so you find some kind of “charm” in this, it’s better to try to direct your energy in another direction - for example, get relaxation by playing sports, dancing, walking with a dog .

A nervous breakdown occurs suddenly, but this state does not last forever. Remember: each person can prevent a nervous breakdown and is able to cope with its unpleasant symptoms. Belief in yourself and purposeful work works wonders.

Many people face moments in their lives when any action does not bring proper pleasure and joy. In such a state, a person begins to vent his accumulated emotions to the immediate environment. The state of emotional instability can be complicated by prolonged depression and disruption of the nervous system. Everyone who faces stressful situations is familiar with the symptoms of a nervous breakdown. But not every individual is aware of the danger of this condition and possible consequences for the body. In this article, we will look at how a nervous breakdown manifests itself, the symptoms and consequences of a nervous breakdown.

A nervous breakdown is a serious psychological disorder that is associated with psychological overstrain, long-term stress or trauma.

How do nervous breakdowns manifest?

Nervous breakdowns are a kind of protective reaction of the psyche to the action of various irritating factors. In this state, a person loses the ability to adequately analyze the ongoing action, because under the pressure of circumstances, the individual loses control over his behavior. Frequent nervous tension is reflected not only in the emotional perception of a person, but also affects the physiological state. The most common consequences of a stressful situation are exhaustion of the nervous system, combined with physical fatigue.

If various stressful situations are an integral part of your life, you need to pay increased attention to your own psycho-emotional state. In order to prevent the development of mental disorders, you should visit a psychologist and use medical preparations. However, it is important to pay attention to the fact that nervous breakdowns are a natural reaction of the body to the pressure of various stress factors.

Clinical picture

After we have dealt with the question of what a nervous breakdown is, let's look at how such disorders affect physical and mental health. According to experts in the field of psychology, the symptoms of a nervous breakdown are divided into three categories.

The physical consequences of the nervous system disorder are manifested in the form of sleep problems, diarrhea, flatulence, and migraine attacks. Often, people who are often faced with stress have problems with the functioning of the respiratory organs, lack of libido and chronic fatigue syndrome. This condition can be aggravated by a rapid increase in body temperature, lack of appetite, menstrual irregularities, and panic attacks.

The second group of symptoms affects the behavioral model of the individual. Under the influence of nervous tension, the patient develops unreasonable attacks of aggression and anger, as well as sudden changes in mood. In addition to the symptoms described above, inappropriate behavior and problems with concentration should be added. Symptoms of a nervous breakdown in women are most often related to the emotional sphere. Various life difficulties lead to the appearance of prolonged depression, anxious thoughts and unreasonable anxiety. Patients exhibit excessive sentimentality, paranoid tendencies and a lack of vital interest.

Many people try to get rid of this condition with the help of alcoholic beverages, strong stimulants and drugs. However, all the measures taken only exacerbate the situation and lead to the appearance of suicidal thoughts.


A breakdown can be attributed to a protective reaction of the body to a constant state of stress.

Causes of the development of a disorder of the nervous system

Signs of a nervous breakdown are manifested in a person under the influence of prolonged psycho-emotional stress. The constant impact of stress on the psyche leads to the launch of protective reactions, with the help of which the body tries to avoid catastrophic consequences. At the initial stages of the development of the disease, a person experiences severe anxiety, which is a kind of harbinger of a nervous system disorder. This condition manifests itself in the form of panic attacks, prolonged depression, unreasonable phobias and general anxiety disorder. In addition to stress, nervous breakdown can be caused by the following reasons:

  1. Prolonged use of potent medications that affect the human psyche.
  2. Abuse of sedatives and alcoholic products.
  3. Psychosomatic illnesses and vivid emotional upheavals.

Causes of nervous breakdown in adults

According to statistics, the risk group of people prone to various disorders of the nervous system includes representatives of both sexes aged twenty to fifty years. This is due to the fact that most people of this age are faced with various events every day that leave a kind of imprint on the nervous system. Every person is familiar with the phrase “blockage at work”, in which nervous tension spills out in the form of a negative attitude towards others and loved ones.

According to experts, a nervous breakdown at this age can be caused by various catastrophic events that led to physical or mental injury. In addition, a nervous breakdown can be a consequence of parting with a spouse, as well as various domestic conflicts. Often, various professional difficulties and diseases that are difficult to treat lead to the development of the considered emotional state. Financial position and social status also play an important role in this matter. Much less often, nervous breakdowns occur when the correct daily routine is violated.


Any nervous tension sooner or later ends in a breakdown.

Nervous breakdowns in teenagers and children

It is quite difficult to determine a nervous breakdown in children, since the nervous system in childhood is not yet sufficiently developed. . Often, the onset of the disease is preceded by various events of a global nature. In most cases, a psychological breakdown in a child's life is caused by a quarrel or divorce of the parents. In more early age, the disease can be caused by a strong fright, which can lead to the appearance of stuttering.

Also plays an important role social adaptation child. Problems in relationships with peers and unhappy love can negatively affect the psycho-emotional state of a teenager. In addition, the use of harsh pedagogical methods for educational purposes can only aggravate the child's condition. It is very important for parents to understand the problems that concern the child and help to overcome them. b. Otherwise, there is a possibility of developing more severe complications of nervous disorders, which may affect the health of the child.

Nervous breakdown during gestation

Let's pay attention to how a nervous breakdown manifests itself during pregnancy. The main reason for the development of a nervous system disorder is colossal changes in the body and the restructuring of hormones. Every little thing can throw a pregnant woman out of emotional balance. Many women during childbearing become too sensitive to the action of various irritants. This is due to an increase in the level of hormones that are necessary for the proper development of the embryo. It is they who act as "provocateurs" of a nervous breakdown.

In the first month of gestation, the synthesis of gonadotropin increases in the woman's body, which, having reached a certain level, leads to a feeling of nausea. In addition, this irritating substance affects the central nervous system, which causes excessive aggressiveness. At a certain stage of pregnancy, the amount of progesterone in a woman's body increases. Elevated levels of this hormone cause rapid loss of efficiency and the appearance of chronic fatigue. In addition, an increase in the level of estriol in the blood, increases emotional sensitivity and changes the psychological perception of the world around.

Possible Complications

Before we talk about how to recover from a nervous breakdown, let's look at possible complications disorders of the nervous system. Most often, problems of the psycho-emotional plan lead to the appearance of such pathologies as:

  • diabetes mellitus and gastritis;
  • decreased or absent libido;
  • prolonged depression;
  • anorexia.

One of the most terrible consequences of a nervous breakdown is the appearance of suicidal tendencies, as well as unjustified cruelty towards people around. Most often, these complications are observed in women aged thirty to forty years. According to experts, most women who have reached this age show a strong dependence on the emotions that overcome them.


Nervous breakdown is a fairly common phenomenon of our time.

Treatment of a nervous breakdown at home should be aimed at eliminating all irritating factors. In the presence of the first harbingers of a developing nervous breakdown, you should change your own life as much as possible. Most often, the provocateur of mental disorders is daily stress. That is why it is very important to try to change your own living conditions. Many experts recommend that people take short breaks from work duties to attend to their own needs.

In order to return the psycho-emotional balance to normal, you should not only take a break from work, but also sleep well. You can add positive emotions to your life by changing the type of activity or going on a trip. Many people, under the control of emotions, begin to suffer from self-pity, but do not try to change the situation. To bring positive into your own life, you should go beyond the limits that a person limits himself. Only by disconnecting from negative thoughts can you normalize your condition and discover the world around you in a new way.

Methods of conservative treatment

Drug treatment of nervous disorders is used only in the case of severe forms of the disease. One of the important components of treatment is the complete completion of the prescribed course and the regular use of medicines. It should be noted that the treatment process must be fully controlled by a specialist. For the treatment of nervous disorders, various antidepressants are used to help get out of a state of depression. It should be mentioned that not all types of depressive syndrome are amenable to drug therapy, so it is very important to get expert advice.

In addition, as part of complex treatment, antipsychotic drugs are used, which are prescribed only after passing a diagnostic examination. To eliminate anxiety, patients are prescribed anxiolytics. In order to restore the functionality of the nervous system, stimulants and vitamin complexes are used.


In a state of nervous breakdown, a person is not able to control his feelings

Alternative treatment methods

Remember! Any folk methods in the treatment of nervous breakdowns should be used only after consultation with a specialist.

Let's look at how to treat a nervous breakdown folk methods. For this purpose, there are many medicinal herbs from which you can prepare sedative infusions and decoctions. One of the best folk recipes for the treatment of nervous disorders - motherwort infusion. To prepare it, you will need a small amount of dried grass, which must be poured with several glasses of boiling water. Take a decoction should be three times a day, one tablespoon.

In a similar way, you can prepare an infusion of valerian root. However, in this case, vodka is used instead of boiling water. In order for the infusion to gain the necessary strength, it must be infused for two weeks in a dark and cool place. Drink tincture should be in the evening. The maximum daily dose should not exceed one hundred grams.

You can get rid of a psychological breakdown through hardening. Cold water has a positive effect on muscle tissue, strengthening their tone. Under the influence of cold water, blood circulation in the body increases, which helps to increase the quality of the metabolism.

Content

There are moments when everything around infuriates, nothing brings joy, satisfaction. People who are in the immediate environment begin to suffer from your sudden mental breakdowns. All this can be accompanied by prolonged depression and hopeless disorders of the nervous system. What is a nervous breakdown is more or less familiar to every person, because everyone deals with stress. However, few people understand what it is fraught with and how to deal with it.

What is a nervous breakdown and how does it manifest?

A nervous breakdown is essentially a reaction of an organism tired of frequent stresses. A person at this time becomes unable to adequately relate to a particular situation, the circumstances around begin to put pressure both from an emotional point of view and from a physical point of view, control over one's feelings, the situation is lost. With a nervous breakdown, tremendous stress, nervous exhaustion, physical fatigue are experienced.

If with specific person this happens often, then you should take care of the psycho-emotional state, appoint a consultation with a psychologist, start taking medicines. But on the other hand, such a reaction in the form of psychological breakdowns is protective, used by our body during constant stressful situations.

Symptoms and signs

The manifestation of nervous tension can be expressed in the physical state, well-being, behavioral, and also emotional. The physical manifestations of a nervous breakdown include:

  • Insomnia or drowsiness
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Difficulty breathing to some extent
  • Severe headaches
  • Memory losses
  • Decreased sex drive
  • , elevated temperature
  • Violation of the periodicity of the menstrual cycle
  • Anxious feelings that are accompanied by panic attacks
  • Refusal to eat

Behavioral state:

  1. Inappropriate behaviour.
  2. Sudden change of mood.
  3. Unexpected outbursts of anger.

Emotional:

  • Protracted depression.
  • Anxiety, anxiety, paranoia.
  • Excessive sentimentality, feeling of guilt.
  • Work and life around completely ceases to interest.
  • Increasing need for drugs and alcohol.
  • Suicidal thoughts.

Below, view an auxiliary video guide that clearly talks about some disorders of the nervous system, signs of human mental disorders, the causes of anxiety neurosis, emotional and nervous overwork, and treatment methods. Also, the video will help you learn how to act in a situation of a nervous breakdown of your loved one or relative:

Causes of nervous breakdown

The main cause of any nervous breakdown is constant stress. On one of these stressful days, the nervous system simply cannot stand it, an increased feeling of anxiety (anxiety neurosis) begins and ends with a serious nervous breakdown. Anxiety neuroses can be classified as follows:

  • phobias;
  • post-traumatic depression;
  • panic;
  • general anxiety disorder.

There are also other causes of nervous disorders, for example:

  • breakdown due to long-term use of certain drugs that affect the human psyche;
  • with the abuse of alcohol or any sedative drugs;
  • bad memories;
  • long-term stress, illness, etc.

In adults

Adults are most prone to nervous breakdowns, because every day they face stressful situations, experience certain negative events, try to solve intractable situations. For example, everyone is familiar with the situation: at work, a person does not keep up with deadlines, completing tasks, and then he transfers negative feelings into relationships with loved ones. Here are some causes of general nervous breakdown that are common:

  1. An unexpected catastrophic event.
  2. Difficult parting with a loved one or divorce.
  3. Getting seriously injured.
  4. Long-term events that upset (illness, work, family troubles).
  5. Negative economic and political situations.
  6. Violation of the daily routine.

In children and adolescents

In children, the occurrence of nervous disorders is due to global events in life associated with loved ones, or situations for which the nervous system of a young, fragile organism is not yet ready. This is often why a psychological breakdown occurs. Here are the specific causes and situations that can lead to nervous disorders in children of different ages:

  1. An angry dog ​​rushed at the baby, as a result of which he received a strong fright, began to stutter.
  2. A mother who forces a two-year-old child to eat something that he cannot stand, but eats through force, can provoke anorexia and an aversion to food in general.
  3. Divorce of parents and subsequent court history of who the children stay with.
  4. Problems at school: study, relationships with classmates, teachers.
  5. First unhappy love in adolescence.

The main cause of mental disorders in children is improper upbringing. The fact is that parents rarely understand all the mental, physiological, age characteristics of their child, do not always try to figure it out correctly, show indifference to the reasons for certain actions of children. As a result, the child's nervous breakdown does not keep itself waiting.

In women during pregnancy

Due to the tremendous changes in the body of pregnant women, nervous strain, frustration and breakdowns are not a rare case. The reason for this can be any insignificant situation, a trifle, which would used to be a woman did not pay attention. Literally everything starts to get annoying. Hormones in significant quantities, which the body produces to ensure the normal functioning of the fetus in the womb, simply do not give a quiet life. Here's how it goes:

  1. In the first weeks, gonadotropin is actively produced, the concentration of which reaches its peak, provokes nausea, irritates the nervous system of women, and leads to a breakdown.
  2. In the future, there is an active production of progesterone, which is responsible for the normal conditions of gestation and leads to increased fatigue.
  3. The production of estriol occurs all the time during pregnancy, this hormone actively affects the emotions of the pregnant woman, making her sensitive to external factors.

Why a nervous breakdown is dangerous: possible consequences

A nervous breakdown does not go away just like that without consequences for human health, it necessarily manifests itself. Often these can be:

  • severe form of gastritis,
  • diabetes,
  • anorexia,
  • deep depression,
  • sexual disorders, etc.

The most dangerous consequence for a person who has suffered a nervous strain, breakdown is suicide, physical attacks on other loved ones or strangers. Women (30-40 years old) are included in the group of increased risk and tendency to nervous disorders, because they are more emotionally dependent.

Ways to treat a nervous breakdown at home

If your close person or you yourself begin to experience similar symptoms of a breakdown, approaching mental overstrain, you see that you are literally on the verge, try to take a few preventive steps, actions. The most important thing is to get away from the usual course of affairs, everyday life, for example:

  • Pull yourself or this person out of an environment in which he is constantly immersed and receives intense stress. A good panacea would be a vacation, at least without traveling, to give yourself the opportunity to sleep, take a break from work.
  • Traveling is a great option to avoid a mental breakdown by changing activities and getting positive emotions.
  • Do not fall into melancholy, especially if you are a woman, stop reveling in self-pity, drive away all the bad thoughts that cause breakdowns.
  • Get out of your usual environment (home, office) and raise your head, inhale the air deeply into your lungs, enjoy the nature around you, disconnect from heavy thoughts.

Medical treatment: pills, injections

In advanced cases, medical intervention is simply not enough. It is necessary to undergo a special course of treatment, which should not last a strictly defined number of days. Therefore, it is important that the process of medical treatment of a mental breakdown is carefully monitored by a doctor in a hospital. As a rule, the following drugs are prescribed:

  1. An antidepressant that treats a person's depression. It is important to know that not every depression can be treated in this way, in some situations it is contraindicated.
  2. A drug to relieve feelings of constant anxiety (anxiolytic).
  3. An antipsychotic drug is needed to treat a serious nerve disorder. In order to have a reason to appoint him, it is necessary to undergo a qualitative examination.
  4. Vitamins to restore the cells of nerve tissues.

Folk remedies

Treatment of nervous disorders by folk methods involves taking sedative herbal decoctions, tinctures. Most From this disease- it's a wasteland. From time immemorial, our grandparents have always prepared it in this way: a glass of dry grass is poured with boiling water and infused, and then they drink it three times a day. But other folk remedies for mental disorders:

  • Valerian root is poured with vodka and infused for two weeks. Drink it before going to bed, 100 grams.
  • In ancient times, mentally unbalanced people were suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water and forced to run, it was especially effective in winter period time. From a scientific point of view, this is quite an adequate situation for breakdowns, because cold water acts on the muscles, causing them to contract. This is how the vessels are activated, the blood circulates faster and the person becomes adequate, correctly analyzing the situation.

Which doctor to contact

Most nerve disorders that require diagnosis and treatment are the specialty of a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or psychologist (depending on the severity of the condition). In many cases, a simple conversation with a psychologist is enough. Reception necessarily contains recommendations, advice.

When necessary, in addition to sessions of a conversational nature, in addition, this doctor can prescribe medications that will help to quickly relieve a depressive state and support the patient's psyche. If it is urgently needed, the psychologist will involve other colleagues in medical practice, for example, psychotherapists, etc.

Nervous disorder, although it does not have a term in medical practice, however, causes very serious diseases. It is dangerous not to react to it. In simple situations and forms of this mental state, a person is able to cope with the problem himself. In a situation close to a mental disorder, you should not be negligent about your health. Carefully monitor the state of your nervous system, help yourself and people in time!

Attention! The information provided in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and give recommendations for treatment, based on the individual characteristics of a particular patient.

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Discuss

A nervous breakdown is one that is primarily associated with a strong psychological overstrain that has arisen, a long stay in a stressful situation, or a psychological trauma.

Quite often, these experiences in a person can arise due to professional activities (when something does not work out at work), severe overwork of the whole organism, resentment, quarrels with loved ones, pipe dreams or hopes for something.

There can be many reasons for the development of this pathology. However, according to experts, it is very important to timely identify the first signs of a nervous breakdown and begin its treatment.

What does the nervous system signal?

It may seem surprising, but doctors refer to a nervous breakdown as a positive emotion, as a result of which the protective function of the human body is performed. Tears and acquired immunity, which becomes the result of prolonged emotional stress, can also be attributed to this type of reaction.

In a similar non-standard way, the nervous system tries to notify that human body some danger threatens, or certain pathological disorders begin to occur in the system, requiring urgent medical intervention.

Factors provoking the development of the disorder

The causes of the development of a nervous breakdown can be a variety of phenomena that occur daily in the life of every person. In this case, stress, nervous and mental overstrain are of great importance.

The American Association of Scientists has identified a group of underlying causes that in most cases lead to a nervous breakdown in humans. These include:

Also, the causes of a breakdown can be the result of an incorrect lifestyle of a person, negative impact environment and innate features of the body:

  • heredity (close relatives previously had problems affecting the work of the nervous system);
  • disease of the thyroid gland and central nervous system;
  • malfunctioning or lack of neurotransmitters;
  • lack of vitamins, amino acids and trace elements taken with food;
  • defeat by pathogenic viruses and that affect the human brain;
  • irregular sleep and rest;
  • frequent drinking and smoking;
  • individual characteristics of a person's personality (character, temperament).

A nervous breakdown can manifest itself in both women and men, however, in most cases, it is women who are most susceptible to mental disorders of this type, since their emotional sphere is more intense and not constant.

What it looks like - inside and out

In order to take timely measures to prevent and progress the disorder, it is imperative to be aware of the signs of a nervous breakdown. It is customary to subdivide all symptoms into three levels: physical, mental and behavioral.

Symptoms that belong to the mental and behavioral groups of signs of a nervous breakdown:

Physical symptoms include the following:

  • long course and intense manifestation;
  • feeling of discomfort in the abdomen and chest area;
  • " " appear;
  • jumps in blood pressure;
  • frequent;
  • vestibular disorders:
  • refusal to eat or vice versa overeating;
  • lack of sleep;
  • hypochondria develops (concern about the state of one's own health);
  • violation of menstruation in women;

Timely detection of failure in oneself

Modern psychologists have long established the main signs by which a nervous breakdown in a person can be determined:

  • rapid fatigue and a feeling of fatigue in a person;
  • any requests can cause irritation and discontent;
  • a person who is prone to a nervous breakdown is quite self-critical;
  • severe irritability and nervousness can also be a harbinger of a breakdown;
  • the feeling that a person is surrounded by only ill-wishers;
  • a constant feeling that they want to do badly to a person or offend him (by words or deeds);
  • disruption of the digestive system;
  • persistent headaches;
  • insomnia and depression are also concomitant conditions of a nervous breakdown;
  • a feeling of helplessness develops, just before the breakdown;
  • there are constant fluctuations in body weight.

Features of the disorder in the female

In most cases, a nervous breakdown occurs only in the female sex. Moreover, the age of 30 to 40 years is considered the most dangerous, because women in this age range are the most impressive and emotional.

A single symptom that rarely appears cannot be attributed to the development of pathologies of the nervous system. Only signs that appear together and regularly can be considered harbingers of the development of a breakdown, which requires urgent intervention by a medical specialist.

Often, mental disorders that manifest themselves in women are associated with changes in the hormonal system, for example, during pregnancy.

In addition to the main signs, a woman may experience the following symptoms, indicating a nervous breakdown:

  • violation of the menstrual cycle or its complete absence;
  • sudden weight gain or loss;
  • feeling that the chest is very full and heavy.

It is very important to carefully monitor your own well-being and, if the above symptoms appear in the aggregate, urgently seek medical help.

Oh those kids...

Nervous breakdowns are often associated with the underdevelopment and unpreparedness of the nervous system for the ongoing events of everyday life. Important importance is given to the situation in the family and the upbringing of parents.

According to doctors, a nervous breakdown in a child may develop due to the incorrect treatment of his own parents.

Quite often, parents make the following mistakes in raising their child:

  • the child is sent simultaneously to a large number of circles, because of this, an increased load is placed on his body;
  • noticing manifestation negative traits the nature of the baby, parents immediately begin to eliminate them;
  • lack of maternal love and care;
  • excessive guardianship also causes violations of the emotional sphere of the baby;
  • constant family quarrels, conflicts.

Men have their risks.

A nervous breakdown in males is rare, but it does happen. Due to the fact that psychological and mental stress increase daily, it is quite difficult for the male body to cope with this and the result of this can be a nervous breakdown.

Among the reasons that can provoke a breakdown in a man, the following are distinguished:

  • problems at work;
  • decreased sexual activity;
  • lack of regular sexual life;
  • receiving;
  • somatic diseases;
  • psychological trauma.

The sooner the cause that provokes the development of a breakdown is eliminated, the more likely it is to avoid the negative consequences of a mental disorder.

Help yourself and your loved ones

At the time of the course of a nervous breakdown, it is necessary to provide a person with first aid, which consists in performing the following measures:

  • it is important not to escalate the situation and keep yourself in control (you should not show the patient that the person next to him is also very worried and nervous);
  • during a nervous breakdown, you should try to talk to a person in calm tones, do not make sudden movements with your hands and do not shout at him;
  • you can sit next to a person and take his hand, this will slightly soften the tense situation;
  • it is important to be at the same level during the conversation (that is, sit or stand together);
  • you should not give advice to a person or try to prove something to him, this will only aggravate his condition;
  • if possible, it is necessary to distract a person (try to draw his attention to the surrounding nature);
  • it is best to be in the fresh air during a breakdown, this will help a person recover more quickly.

Effective treatment

Competent treatment of nervous breakdowns is carried out on the basis of exactly what causes preceded this condition of the patient. With reactive psychoses, treatment will need to be carried out under the strict supervision of specialists in specialized institutions.

Treatment consists of taking antipsychotics and tranquilizers. In case of overwork, treatment is best carried out in sanatoriums.

Special relaxation treatments and surrounding nature in this case, they will only benefit, and will contribute to a speedy recovery.

Any therapy will not give any results without psychotherapy. It can be done both individually and in groups. If desired, close relatives of the patient can also be present at psychological classes. Support from loved ones will never be superfluous!

What is the danger?

The consequences of a nervous breakdown can significantly affect both the mental and physiological health of a person.

In particular, heart pains, changes in work heart rate, jumps in blood pressure, headaches often begin, the likelihood of developing ulcers and other psychosomatic diseases increases.

In order not to aggravate the situation and maintain clarity of mind, you need to pay a lot of attention to your own health, nutrition and daily routine - these are the main components on the path to recovery and maintaining the whole body in a vigorous state.

Preventive actions

Prevention of a nervous breakdown is to follow the following recommendations:

  • frequent and long walks in the fresh air (hiking in the park, etc.);
  • try to ignore past failures and problems;
  • in order not to think about the bad, you can do a new business (knitting, embroidery, growing flowers);
  • it is important to rest regularly and sleep at least 8 hours a day;
  • it is necessary to avoid stressful situations and conflicts, both at work and in the family circle.

A nervous breakdown is not a dangerous threat to a person, but despite this, this mental state must be controlled in order to avoid negative consequences!

Human existence is inconceivable without nervous tension. The resulting excitement motivates to overcome difficulties, achieve goals, self-improvement and development. Moderate, episodic and manageable stresses help to keep the zest for life and give a chance to discover hidden talents. However, such gifts of fate, provoking nervous tension, should be in moderation.
Just as an unbearable physical burden can deprive us of strength and cause health problems, chronic overexcitation of the psyche can provoke an imbalance in the functioning of body systems. One of the common problems of contemporaries is a nervous breakdown, which deprives us of our usual activity and rewards us with negative experiences.

Although a nervous breakdown is not recognized as an independent psycho-emotional disorder, such a condition has clearly defined symptoms. At its core, a nervous breakdown is an acute reactive stage that informs about the development of some abnormal process in the body. A nervous breakdown is the first stage at which the harmonious interaction in the functioning of organs and systems is disrupted. This is a kind of indicator that the human nervous system is exhausted, and the psyche performs the functions of its last strength.

A nervous breakdown is a strong sign indicating the approach:

  • depression;
  • phobic anxiety disorder;
  • neurosis;
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder;
  • neurasthenia.

  • Although a nervous breakdown rewards the subject with unpleasant and painful sensations, its occurrence performs positive protective functions for the body. In this way, an overly tense nervous system tries to throw off an unbearable burden, urging a person to take a break, relax, reconsider his lifestyle.

    Causes
    The factors initiating the development of the reactive state of the nervous system are diverse. At the same time, it does not matter how serious, by objective standards, the traumatic situation was. The leading role in the development of the crisis is played by the interpretation of the event by the subject: if he believes that the negative phenomenon is significant, the body reacts to this with dysfunction.

    The causes of a nervous breakdown can be minor but chronically acting stressors or sudden intense stress. Among the common factors that create the ground for the start of an imbalance in the body, the following circumstances:

  • global changes in the personal life of the subject that arose unexpectedly, for example: the death of a spouse;
  • long-term unfavorable atmosphere in the family, for example: husband's alcoholism;
  • negative climate in the workforce, excessively heavy work schedule;
  • worsening financial situation, for example: significant financial difficulties due to job loss;
  • pathologies of the nervous and endocrine systems of organic origin;
  • congenital defects of the central nervous system;
  • failures in neurotransmitter metabolism;
  • lack of nutrients due to a poor diet;
  • the negative impact of a viral or bacterial infection that affected the structures of the nervous system;
  • wrong daily routine, lack of rest;
  • Availability bad habits: drug addiction, alcoholism;
  • forced social isolation.

  • The risk of experiencing nervous exhaustion is present in persons with a special personal constitution, when the following features have reached accentuation in the character of a person:
  • anxiety;
  • suspiciousness, vulnerability;
  • uncompromising, intolerant of the opinions of others;
  • selfishness, dominance;
  • excessive criticality and exactingness to oneself;
  • excessive responsibility, diligence;
  • striving to do everything perfectly.

  • signs
    Symptoms of a nervous breakdown can be divided into three large groups:
  • mental and psychological;
  • physical;
  • behavioral.

  • For most people, the first messengers of a nervous breakdown appear in the form of changes in psycho-emotional status. A balanced person becomes an irritable person, reacts intensively to minor stimuli. Unusual sounds, the slightest noise, bright light deprives the subject of balance.
    He is distinguished by fussiness, impatience, inconsistency of actions. His performance is deteriorating due to the fact that he cannot concentrate on doing one thing. Unpleasant signs of nervous stress: absent-mindedness, “gaps” in memory, that is, the individual simply cannot remember what he intended to do, in what sequence he planned to do the work. A person with a nervous breakdown gets tired very quickly, while a night's rest does not give a surge of strength.

    New traits appear in character: indecision, low self-esteem. The person becomes suspicious, vulnerable and touchy. He is fixated on his experiences, he is overcome by irrational anxiety and anticipation of imminent troubles.
    A person with a nervous breakdown is distinguished by illogical bouts of tearfulness, which resemble a hysterical fit. Most often, a person’s mood is dreary and depressed, but periodically there are moments of “enlightenment”, when a person’s emotional background stabilizes.
    As the disorder aggravates, the subject may develop obsessive ideas of his own uselessness, worthlessness, and guilt. For some people, ideas about their own sinlessness, invincibility, greatness become dominant thoughts.

    The psycho-emotional signs of a nervous breakdown are gradually joined by symptoms felt at the somatic and vegetative level. Patients make complaints, including:

  • irresistible headache of a pressing, squeezing nature;
  • discomfort and pain in the heart area;
  • intense dizziness;
  • the appearance of "doubling", "flying flies" before the eyes;
  • drops in blood pressure;
  • increased heart rate;
  • problems in the functioning of the digestive tract;
  • frequent urge to urinate;
  • profuse sweating.

  • Among the mental and behavioral manifestations of a nervous breakdown, the leading role is assigned to a change in a person's eating habits, most often: a complete lack of appetite. The duration and quality of sleep undergoes changes. A person complains of persistent insomnia, frequent awakenings at night, excessively early rise, dreams with frightening content.
    The appearance of hypochondriacal inclusions can be determined in the form of an individual's excessive concern for his own health, his conviction that there is some kind of difficult to diagnose and incurable disease. Another sign of a nervous breakdown is a change in sexual behavior. The person loses or loses interest in opposite sex, the need for intimate relationships disappears. Men find problems with potency, women lose the ability to achieve orgasm.
    A noticeable behavioral symptom of a nervous breakdown is the inability of a person to motivate himself to work. As a result, a person cannot fulfill his professional duties, which negatively affects his career.
    A nervous breakdown has an extremely negative effect on the interaction of the subject in society. A person loses the ability to control his emotions, quickly loses self-control, demonstrates anger and aggressiveness.

    Treatment Methods
    The program on how to overcome a nervous breakdown is compiled by a doctor for each patient individually, depending on the severity of his condition and the dominant symptoms. In most cases, the patient is recommended to use the possibilities of psychotherapeutic techniques, including hypnosis. In some patients, a nervous breakdown requires medical treatment. From the means of the pharmaceutical industry use:

  • antidepressants;
  • anxionalists;
  • normotimics;
  • nootropics;
  • herbal sedatives;
  • vitamin and mineral complexes.

  • What to do when a nervous breakdown has reached its climax? We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the recommendations of psychologists that will help get rid of the painful symptoms of the disorder and will continue to prevent the development of a crisis.

    Tip 1
    If the nervous tension goes off scale, it is necessary to urgently calm the passions. We use deep breathing techniques: we perform ten slow breaths and the same number of sharp exhalations. We use a proven relaxation method: we strongly strain our muscles, hold the tension for a few seconds and completely relax.

    Tip 2
    A companion of a nervous breakdown is anger, rage, aggression. We urgently need to get rid of such negative feelings. The easiest way is vigorous exercise. It can be a run or swim for a long distance, fitness classes or dancing. If this is not possible at home, you can desperately beat the pillows.

    Tip 3
    The immediate available means for cooling the dust is cold water. As soon as he feels a rush of hostility, we drink a glass of chilled liquid, then take a shower with ice water.

    Tip 4
    As soon as we feel that a burst of indignation is close, our task is to shift our attention from internal experiences to external events. We choose some bright and extraordinary events, for example: attending a match of your favorite football team, a karaoke contest, watching a new blockbuster.

    Tip 5
    In the evening hours, when anxious thoughts plague us, we definitely arrange a relaxing procedure: we plunge into a warm bath, adding a few drops of lavender oil or pine extract to the water.

    Tip 6
    Without what it is impossible to overcome a nervous breakdown? Without establishing the true culprits of psycho-emotional stress. We should carefully analyze our own experiences. Establish a chain: cause - effect. If it is not possible to independently determine the factors that provoked a nervous breakdown, you should seek help from a professional psychologist.

    Tip 7
    After we managed to find the instigators of mental discord, we should “reboot” our brain, replacing the destructive components of thinking with functional elements. We must consciously relive the traumatic event in our thoughts. However, now not to act as the main characters, but to be outside observers. A look from the outside will allow you to interpret the drama in a different way and reduce the urgency of the problem.

    Tip 8
    The statement of anxieties on a piece of paper can reduce the significance of stressful circumstances. We divide the page into three columns. In the first column, we try to state the tragedy as honestly as possible. In the second column, we write down our feelings and the consequences of the disaster.
    The third column is assigned to indicate the emotions and behavior of the "ideal person". That is, we describe how, in our opinion, our perfect hero acted in such a stressful situation: what would he feel, what he said, how he acted. Then we make assumptions about what the outcome of such behavior would be. After that, we try to act as our ideal: the daily practice of new behavior will change the worldview.

    Tip 9
    Accepts as an axiom: any life event has some purpose. Even the most terrible catastrophe brings some acquisitions. At first, an attempt to recognize such a fact brings desperate internal resistance. Then a divine insight comes, and you begin to understand that the tragedy was not so catastrophic. The drama allowed me to discover some new qualities in myself, stimulated me to take some actions, motivated me to acquire other values.

    Tip 10
    If the benefit from the misfortune cannot be found in any way, we recognize the accomplished drama as a test sent from above. We understand that the events destined by fate, we are not able to predict and change. It is in our power to change our attitude to this phenomenon, to learn a lesson, to develop such qualities in ourselves that in the future we will bypass the evil irony of fate. The main rule: do not blame or reproach yourself, but find in yourself such character traits that will allow you to crawl out of the swamp with your head held high.

    Tip 11
    How to get rid of a nervous breakdown? You need to reduce the severity of your feelings. To do this, we become cartoonists: we draw our resentment, anger, hatred, despair and transform them into funny funny characters in the picture. Let our grief become a small roaring baby in the picture, next to which is a brave cheerful little boy. Next to the evil indignant old woman we place a kind noble old man. Thus, we will clearly prove to ourselves that grief always goes along with happiness. And it is in our power to change our perception of reality.

    Tip 12
    If we have found symptoms of nervous stress in ourselves, we should definitely have a heart-to-heart talk with the person we trust. Our silence, self-isolation, solitude will only worsen our well-being and cause depression. This does not mean that we should surround ourselves with a crowd of friends and be in public 24 hours a day. However, a friendly conversation in a cozy cafe will save our inner world from worries. Even if it seems to us that there is no strength at all for meetings with friends, it is necessary to overpower ourselves and set aside at least an hour for communication.

    Tip 13
    If in the past there have already been severe nervous breakdowns that you could not cope with on your own, it is better to contact a psychologist or psychotherapist at the first signs of a crisis. The doctor will select the best scheme for correcting the problem situation and suggest the most effective ways to get rid of the disorder.

    Tip 14
    Anyone who is prone to malfunctioning of the nervous system needs to reconsider their diet, including foods with essential vitamins and minerals in the menu. For most of us, the high levels of cortisol that are common when we are stressed cause our appetite to decrease. In turn, poor nutrition further impairs the functioning of the body, exacerbating stress reactions.

    Tip 15
    The most important condition for preventing nervous stress is to avoid overload. Learn to relax and fully rest. Timely pay attention to the deterioration of the psycho-emotional state and eliminate problems that lead to nervous tension. One useful habit to develop is to say “no” to requests that throw us off balance. Clearly define the limits of your capabilities and consciously not cross the line that deprives you of moral stability.

    Advice at the end
    A nervous breakdown occurs suddenly, but this state does not last forever. Remember: each person can prevent a nervous breakdown and is able to cope with its unpleasant symptoms. Belief in yourself and purposeful work works wonders.