A nervous breakdown occurs when you experience a period of intense mental distress. This can be triggered by ongoing conditions like anxiety or depression when it feels like you cannot function with your everyday activities. By knowing how to manage a nervous breakdown, you can be more in control of your mental illness.
Signs of a Nervous Breakdown
When you are experiencing a nervous breakdown, mental health symptoms become more severe. Depressive symptoms like having trouble sleeping, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, can cloud your thinking. People with anxiety who are suffering from a nervous breakdown could experience high blood pressure, muscle tension, or dizziness.
If you have undiagnosed PTSD, you might also experience flashbacks during a nervous breakdown. A nervous breakdown might also mean withdrawing from the activities or people you used to enjoy being with.
Causes of Nervous Breakdowns
A person has a nervous breakdown when the stress in their lives overwhelms their ability to cope. The daily stresses of work and family life can become too much to bear. Forces beyond their control, like if there was a death in the family, might be sources of stress as well.
Chronic medical conditions that interfere with your daily tasks or significant life changes can also cause a nervous breakdown. Unfamiliarity and uncertainty increase stress. The likelihood of having a nervous breakdown can be related to your personal history of anxiety or even your family’s history.
How to Manage a Nervous Breakdown
Seeking professional help is always advisable during a nervous breakdown. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be effective in changing your negative thoughts that trigger a nervous breakdown into positive ones.
Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications can help ease symptoms along with alternative methods of therapy like yoga or massage therapy. Deep breathing is a great way to achieve a sense of calmness if you experience a nervous breakdown. Knowing how to handle a nervous breakdown can give you a sense of control.
Experiencing a nervous breakdown can feel intense and overwhelming. Having no control over your symptoms can make it very hard to go about your everyday tasks. At Alta Loma, we understand how frustrating a nervous breakdown can be, and we are here to help you. Speaking to a therapist and taking medication will help ease your symptoms. Our transformative treatment center in Georgetown, Texas, can provide you with individualized therapy, medication management, coping skills, education, and more. Give us a call at (866) 457-3843 to learn more about our services.