mental breakdown
Severe emotional collapse
A mental breakdown is a period of severe psychological distress that overwhelms a person's ability to function normally.
The term is informal rather than clinical, covering everything from acute anxiety episodes to complete emotional collapse: She had a mental breakdown after the divorce.
Someone might use it loosely for any overwhelming stress, or seriously for hospitalization-level crisis.
Catastrophic loss of control
- collapseSudden structural failure
- hospitalizationFormal entry into medical care
- snapSudden sharp sound
- crack-upCollapse or laughing fit
decompensation · emotional crisis · breaking point · losing it · falling apart · coming undone · unraveling · destabilization
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- cryingEmotional tear release
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
paranoia · insomnia · withdrawal · numbness · racing thoughts · hyperventilation · despair · hopelessness
Pressure, mental or vocal
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
pressure · exhaustion · grief · loss · abuse · isolation · overwork · sleep deprivation
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- psychiatristMental disorder physician
- medicationTherapeutic substance for illness
- support systemNetwork providing assistance
rest · hospitalization · self-care · healing · rehabilitation · stabilization · outpatient care · inpatient treatment
Easily broken or damaged
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
- stretched thinExtended beyond comfortable limits
- running on emptyOperating without remaining resources
emotionally raw · worn down · susceptible · on the brink · teetering · precarious · hanging by a thread · at capacity
meltdown
Catastrophic loss of control
- collapseSudden structural failure
- hospitalizationFormal entry into medical care
- snapSudden sharp sound
crack-up · decompensation · emotional crisis · breaking point · losing it · falling apart · coming undone · unraveling · destabilization · dissociation
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- dissociationMental separation from surroundings
- cryingEmotional tear release
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
confusion · paranoia · insomnia · withdrawal · numbness · racing thoughts · hyperventilation · despair · hopelessness · irritability
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- burnoutChronic occupational depletion
- traumaLasting psychological wound
overwhelm · pressure · exhaustion · grief · loss · abuse · isolation · overwork · sleep deprivation · chronic stress
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
- psychiatristMental disorder physician
- medicationTherapeutic substance for illness
support system · rest · hospitalization · self-care · healing · rehabilitation · stabilization · outpatient care · inpatient treatment · crisis counseling
fragile
Easily broken or damaged
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- depletedSeverely reduced or emptied
- stretched thinExtended beyond comfortable limits
running on empty · emotionally raw · worn down · susceptible · on the brink · teetering · precarious · hanging by a thread · at capacity
- mental healthpsychiatry, psychotherapy, psychiatrist, therapist, therapists
- breakdownsfailure, emotional collapse, meltdown, crisis, collapse
- outburstsoutburst, burst, eruption, tantrum, meltdown
- mind tropesmad scientist, mind control, multiple personality, padded cell, psych ward
- mental crisesemotional collapse, crisis, meltdown, manic episode, depressive episode
- collapsecollapse, cave in, cave-in, fall in, give way
mental breakdownmental health
Emotional and cognitive well-being
emotional stability · sanity · peace of mind · composure · equanimity
mental breakdownresilience
Capacity to recover quickly
psychological resilience · mental toughness · stress tolerance · hardiness · adaptability
mental breakdownrecovery
Regaining what was lost
mental health recovery · breakthrough · healing · psychological recovery · renewal
mental, breakdown, dismantle, mentality, mentally, dismantled, dismantling, mentalism, mentalists