What Is a Nervous Breakdown?

As a psychotherapist, I perform a general mental health assessment toward the beginning of treatment. This is done in order to gain an understanding of a person’s mental health history and current conditions that might underlie their presenting complaint. Sometimes, when asked about a person’s psychiatric history, I am told that there was a nervous breakdown in the past. A “nervous breakdown” could mean a number of different things.

A nervous breakdown is not a disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). So what is a nervous breakdown? The term refers to an intense, time-limited disorder that causes an impairment in the ability to function in daily life, and is generally caused by an external stressor. It may present itself in the form of depression, anxiety or overwhelming stress. The causes of a breakdown could be divorce or marital separation, problems at work and school, or financial problems. By definition, the breakdown improves when the stress is either lifted or a solution is found.

Unfortunately, life often presents itself with stressors that seem overwhelming. A breakdown occurs when you are faced with a stressor that you feel unable to cope with. The news is packed full of stories of hardship in which people are faced with trauma. As I read CNN today, there are stories of mob murders, the Boston bombing, mass murder in Ohio, a gator clamping down on a worker’s arm, and a death at an amusement park. Being the victim or a family member of any of these events could cause intense distress. But on the bright side, the royal baby was born.

What would cause you to become so overwhelmed that you could not function? I hope that if you are faced with trauma, you have a support network that will hold you in their arms and make you feel safe until you can function again. Your support network may include your physician, a counselor, a church community, family and friends. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help.