Contrary to the popular belief that has largely been shaped by the media, nervous breakdown isn’t a one time ailment that manifests as unconsciousness as a response to a stressful event. In fact, nervous breakdown is not a medical term and it is not indicative of a mental illness. Basically, nervous breakdown is an umbrella term used to refer to a period of stress that affects a person to an extent that they are unable to function properly in their everyday life. Although nervous breakdown is not a mental illness per se, it could be indicative of underlying mental health issues that warrant attention, such as anxiety or depression. Signs of a nervous breakdown vary from person to person and depend largely on the underlying cause. Here are some mental, emotional, and physical signs that could be indicative of a nervous breakdown:
1- Lack of Focus
Constant stress meddles with your attention span, causing you to lose your ability to concentrate on the task at hand. In extreme cases, the constant release of the stress hormone cortisol may even adversely affect your memory.
Doctors say that nervous breakdowns can lead to other mental issues as well. There is a risk of losing sense of your surrounding and forgetting stuff that you would normally remember. You can also have issues with taking decisions and solving problems.
2- Not Caring About How You Look
If you no longer care about how you look, it could be a sign of an emotional breakdown. Stress depletes your energy levels. This often leads to indifference. You no longer take pleasure in things you once enjoyed such as dressing up. Simple tasks such as self-maintenance become a chore for people with mental health problems.
3- Paranoia
If you are constantly engulfed by a fear that something bad is about to happen, it could be sign of a nervous breakdown. When you are under stress, you develop a habit of magnifying your problems. Paranoia is often a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder.
4- Overeating
When you are under stress, you may experience an adrenaline rush that energizes your body for a fight or flight response. Once that’s over, cortisol makes your body crave food to replenish lost energy stores. So, your body tricks you into eating when you may not really need to. You start finding solace in sugary comfort foods. Eating becomes a way of coping with stress. So, in essence, un-diagnosed mental disorders can even set you up for physical disorders.
5- Oversensitive Nose
If your sense of smell suddenly seems to be getting stronger, it could be because of stress. The brain starts perceiving neutral smells as repugnant ones.
6- Poor Posture
Poor posture is also a sign of depression. In fact, poor posture can drain your energy levels and further worsen your mood, whereas a good posture can improve your outlook towards things.
7- Anxiety and Depression
A person may experience depressive symptoms such as hopelessness and a temptation to inflict self-harm, or anxiety along with high blood pressure, dizziness, and upset stomach.
8- Irregular sleeping pattern
If you notice your sleeping pattern change, chances are you are going through a nervous breakdown.
It is problematic because sometimes you might sleep too much because that becomes a way of shutting out the negativity. Other times, you might not sleep at all or sleep very little. You might stay up thinking about scenarios and getting tense. Either of these are harmful to your health.
9- Tiredness
Feeling fatigued can also indicate that you are going through extreme stress. This can be mental and physical tiredness. Your body can also become feeble.
This can interfere with your daily routine. You might not be able to do your daily tasks easily. There is also a chance that you might lose interest in pleasurable activities including sex.
10- Breathing issues
This a telltale sign of any nervousness or anxiety. Quick breathing can amp up the effects of stress on your body. Chest tightness can also indicate anxiety so look out for that as well.
Severe breathing trouble can be indicative of something much worse. Make sure to get that checked from a doctor. Otherwise, a breathing exercise can help slow down your breathing and ease your body’s stress response.
11- Pain
Any sort of pain can be related to a nervous breakdown. These include the common stomach and head aches. According to specialists, stomachaches and related issues like constipation are common in people who are stressed out.
If you have been under a lot of stress lately and find it hard to cope with it, it is recommended that you visit a specialist doctor and get help. You can book an appointment with a top Physician in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad through oladoc.com. You can also call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT Doctor for your health concerns.
