Nervous breakdown: symptoms and consequences. 5 questions for a psychiatrist
You've probably experienced a nervous breakdown at least once in your life. And some - more than once. What to do if you have a nervous breakdown, if it comes again?
Many people think - what kind of nervous breakdowns do you have in the spring?! Well, okay, in the fall and winter, when it’s dark, cold and dreary. However, March is also a difficult month for the psyche. Gray outside the window, slush underfoot, vitamin deficiency, short daylight hours - all this has a bad effect on your mood. Every trifle makes you angry, every little thing makes you angry and offended. How to recognize a nervous breakdown?
Causes and symptoms of a nervous breakdown in women
1. What are the symptoms of a nervous breakdown?
There is no official diagnosis of a nervous breakdown. This is more of an everyday concept. The symptoms of a nervous breakdown are quite vague. Usually this definition means increased excitability, irritability, touchiness, and psychological stress. There may also be somatic problems, such as headaches.
In Soviet times, such a diagnosis was popular - neurasthenia. It is still listed in the classification of diseases. So, the symptoms of a nervous breakdown are close to the symptoms of neurasthenia - a mental disorder that manifests itself in increased irritability, fatigue, and poor tolerance to prolonged mental and physical stress.
2. How to recognize a nervous breakdown in women? And is it true that the fairer sex has breakdowns much more often than men?
The symptoms have already been discussed. But neuroses and neurasthenia do occur more often in women due to their physiological characteristics. For example, due to hormonal changes, many women, 10-12 days before the onset of their critical days, suffer from manifestations of premenstrual syndrome, which is characterized by increased excitability and irritability. During menopause, against the background of decreased production of female hormones, nervous breakdowns are also possible: hormonal levels significantly affect the state of the nervous system.
3. Are the causes of a nervous breakdown just emotional and physical overload? Or something else?
There are several causes of a nervous breakdown. There are objective reasons - intense mental and physical stress, a large amount of work, overwork, lack of sleep and rest... All this can lead to a nervous breakdown. However, not everyone has it - much depends on the individual characteristics of the person. Imagine the situation: your car was cut off on the road. Or they try to cut in line at the checkout. Some people will not react to this, but people with a high level of excitability will instantly lose their temper. Therefore, another cause of a nervous breakdown is the so-called personality disorders.
In addition, many consider a symptom of a nervous breakdown to be something that may actually be a symptom of an illness. Let's say panic disorder. Patients who suffer from it experience panic attacks (panic attacks), accompanied by rapid heartbeat, a feeling of shortness of breath, fear of losing control... People at this moment think: “I had a nervous breakdown,” but in fact it is a panic attack.
What to do if a teenager has a nervous breakdown
4. What are the signs of a nervous breakdown in a teenager? Does this happen to children too?
It happens. And teenage meltdowns should be taken seriously, as they can mask serious illnesses. Parents think that the child is simply tired of studying, and that’s why he is “freaking out,” however, abnormal behavioral reactions may be a symptom of hidden depression or another disease. Many mental disorders (anxiety, bipolar, depressive, personality disorders) debut at 15–20 years of age.
Therefore, if a child has become agitated, irritable, aggressive, or, conversely, complains of constant fatigue and apathy, consult a psychotherapist. You need to figure out whether these are signs of a nervous breakdown in a teenager, youthful maximalism, hormonal changes, or some kind of disease.
5. What to do if you have a nervous breakdown? Could you give any recommendations?
To begin with, change your lifestyle. Normalize sleep and rest patterns, avoid work or sitting at the computer in the evening (especially if signs of a nervous breakdown are observed in a teenager). Physical activity is encouraged, but not too intense. Preferably in the first half of the day, so as not to excite the nervous system before bedtime.
Now about what not to do during a nervous breakdown. You should definitely not take medications containing phenobarbital. In most European countries such drugs are not produced, but in America they are generally classified as narcotic drugs. In our country, they drink almost liters of them, especially older people. This can lead to an addiction that can be difficult to break.
It is not forbidden to drink soothing herbal infusions. But if you take them constantly and they don't help, consult a psychotherapist. The doctor will select medications that will actually be effective. After all, it’s one thing when a person has a one-time emotional outburst (then you can really drink a sedative drink) and quite another thing if the symptoms of a nervous breakdown bother you for several weeks or months. This will lead to poor tolerance to stress, rapid exhaustion and inevitable conflicts with others.
Puberty is a difficult time. And not only for the teenager himself, but also for everyone around him, especially for parents. How to survive hormonal explosions, mood swings, and most importantly, the constant hysterics of your beloved child? And how should we treat them in general?
Cheryl Feinstein, author of Inside the Teen Brain: The Work of Parents Continues, calls tantrums an immature way to express anger. And indeed, it is precisely at puberty that the “maturation” of the personality occurs most intensively. But yesterday’s child does not yet know how to cope with the new feelings, thoughts, and sensations that have washed over him. He is at a loss - and very often this confusion is outwardly expressed in arguments, screams and tears that frighten adults so much. What types of tantrums are there? • Hysteria as self-affirmation. Your recently calm and easy-going child suddenly gains new authority. Yesterday your will was decisive, and your word was the last. But now the teenager has other advisers who also know “how to live.” This “break of the pattern” leads to such emotional explosions that until now you could not even dream of in a nightmare. • Hysteria as manipulation. It is quite possible that from a very tender age the following was written into the child’s subcortex: if you sob and stomp your feet properly, you can get everything. And during puberty, you want a lot, much more than before - from a “sophisticated” device to permission to hang out until the morning at a disco. So why not apply a strategy that was once proven? • Hysteria as a message to the world. A teenager learns to think abstractly, but with this skill comes increased emotionality and what experts call social anxiety. A teenager constantly thinks about how he looks in the eyes of other people, especially his peers; any, even the most insignificant criticism, hurts him like an arrow. At the same time, he reflects that “I am the center of the universe, but this universe is no good!” All this turmoil in the head cannot but lead to violent outbursts of emotions. During puberty, hormonal levels undergo global changes. In particular, it stimulates the production of oxytocin, which is often called the “bonding hormone,” but oxytocin has also been associated with a sense of self-awareness. It is this hormone that is “to blame” for the fact that a teenager has the feeling that everyone around him is looking at him under a microscope. These unpleasant sensations usually reach their peak by the age of 15. It is important! Use the energy, or lose it Of course, it can be difficult for parents, exhausted by the antics of their beloved child, to look at the situation from the outside. And yet, sometimes this is urgently necessary - if only to make sure that nothing out of the ordinary is happening in your family. Oddly enough, being a teenager who “spits fire” has its advantages. And the most important thing is that your child continues to be frank with you and is not afraid to show his weaknesses to mom and dad. This means that dialogue is possible, trust has not been lost. In addition, you are still a support for him, perhaps precisely the last resort to which they unconsciously resort to help in moments of special mental turmoil. And only in your power to give useful advice in a timely manner, provide moral support and unobtrusively demonstrate your love. In addition, teenage “freaks” indicate that a normal process of growing up is underway, without which the formation of personality is impossible. After all, remember yourself at the same age: surely you, too, were not a “sweet carrot” for your own mom and dad? Calm, and only calm Cheryl Feinstein warns: “Your teenager is watching you.” If you yourself show common sense in difficult life situations, do not lose your head under stress, and know how to firmly but politely convey your position to your interlocutor, it means that your child will quite easily adopt this model of behavior from you. It’s only a matter of time, but in the meantime, try to remain calm, no matter how much the teenager “harasss” you. Here are some more important tips to help you connect with your child and deal with his tantrums. 1. Under no circumstances react with abuse or shouting or shouting. Even in the case of an acute conflict, you need to communicate with your child in an even voice. 2. If your child is crying, let him cry it out. If he doesn't protest physical contact, give him a gentle hug. Leave all conversations for later. 3. Cases when a teenager tries to raise a hand against you are very individual: perhaps, for your own safety, it is better for you to immediately “evacuate”. If there is no real aggression, try shaking the child slightly to bring him to his senses. The key word is slightly. 3. It is believed that a tantrum can be stopped with a couple of slaps in the face. This is not the best option - instead, press on the sensitive point at the base of your thumb and index finger. 4. Offer to take out your anger by hitting a pillow or punching bag. The method is old, but it works. You can also tear up a stack of old magazines. 5. If there is a prolonged hysteria, leave the teenager alone for a while. It is quite possible that after this he will open a dialogue. 6. When the passions subside, pet the child, hug, kiss him - just like in childhood. “Hugs” help restore peace of mind not only for children, but also for adults. 7. Go to a constructive dialogue - talk to your child about his problems, try to find the right solution together. And don't remind me of what just happened. 8. For the future: teenagers need at least 9-10 hours of sleep, just like kids, but, of course, teenagers rarely stick to this schedule. And in vain - lack of sleep aggravates nervousness. Some online resources recommend giving teenagers “mild sedatives so that after a tantrum they can fall asleep and regain strength.” Do not engage in such amateur activities under any circumstances; even taking regular valerian should be agreed with your doctor. It is important!
The material was prepared by teacher-psychologist Kalmykova S.A. (Internet resource) [email protected]
