[Skip to content]

Listen to our site| Site map| Switch to text only| Change the screen width| print friendly| Larger text| Normal text| Smaller text|
.

Nervous breakdown

'Nervous breakdown' is a layman's term, used to describe the point when you reach and then pass the end of your tether.

 

In practical terms, it usually means you are no longer able to cope with the demands of life and you stop even trying. 

There are many factors which may contribute to a breakdown, including

 

  • stressful life events

  • biological make up

  • other medical conditions

  • a combination of all of these.

 

Psychiatrists do not use the term nervous breakdown, preferring to use terms such as anxious or depressive collapse.

 

The collapse may be symptomatic of a wide range of underlying conditions including anxiety, depression, manic depression, post traumatic stress disorder or schizophrenia.

 

Written in 2003

Donate to the Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation relies on donations to continue helping thousands of people survive, recover from and prevent mental health problems.

If you have found this information useful and would like to make a donation to enable us to help more people please go to our donation page