nervous breakdown
Psychological crisis point
A nervous breakdown is a period of severe mental distress that disrupts normal functioning—an informal term rather than a clinical diagnosis.
It typically involves overwhelming anxiety, depression, or inability to cope with daily life: She had a nervous breakdown after the divorce.
The phrase is somewhat dated; mental health professionals prefer specific diagnoses.
Catastrophic loss of control
- crack-upCollapse or laughing fit
- breaking pointMoment of collapse
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
- crumblingBreaking down gradually
falling apart · snapping · decompensation · coming undone · unraveling · implosion · caving in · giving way
Acute fear episodes
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
- exhaustionState of utter depletion
palpitations · hyperventilation · dissociation · numbness · withdrawal · racing thoughts · confusion · irritability
Chronic occupational depletion
- overloadBurden beyond capacity
- overstimulationExcessive sensory input
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
- depletionReduction of supply
overwork · sensory overload · crushing pressure · drowning · suffocation · paralysis · shutdown
Curative mental treatment
- restCessation of activity
- medicationTherapeutic substance for illness
- hospitalizationFormal entry into medical care
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
healing · counseling · support system · self-care · recuperation · stabilization · psychiatric care · convalescence
Severe psychological distress episode
- emotional crisisAcute psychological distress
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- critical pointDecisive juncture in events
- rock bottomLowest possible level
dark night · breaking point · intervention · hospitalization · emergency · trauma · ordeal · distress
meltdown
Catastrophic loss of control
- crack-upCollapse or laughing fit
- breaking pointMoment of collapse
- disintegrationProcess of breaking apart
crumbling · falling apart · snapping · decompensation · coming undone · unraveling · implosion · caving in · giving way · shattering
panic attacks
Acute fear episodes
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- insomniaPersistent inability to rest
exhaustion · palpitations · hyperventilation · dissociation · numbness · withdrawal · racing thoughts · confusion · irritability · appetite changes
burnout
Chronic occupational depletion
- overloadBurden beyond capacity
- overstimulationExcessive sensory input
- inundationOverwhelming surge of water
depletion · overwork · sensory overload · crushing pressure · drowning · suffocation · paralysis · shutdown
therapy
Curative mental treatment
- restCessation of activity
- medicationTherapeutic substance for illness
- hospitalizationFormal entry into medical care
rehabilitation · healing · counseling · support system · self-care · recuperation · stabilization · psychiatric care · convalescence · treatment
mental health crisis
Severe psychological distress episode
- emotional crisisAcute psychological distress
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- critical pointDecisive juncture in events
rock bottom · dark night · breaking point · intervention · hospitalization · emergency · trauma · ordeal · distress
- Anxietyanxiety, panic, worry, generalized anxiety, dread
- extreme reactionsfreakout, meltdown, hysteria, panic, outrage
- lost controllost control, lost it, snapped, went crazy, went nuts
- panicpanic attack, alarm, terror, fright, hysteria
- breakdownsbreakdown, mental breakdown, failure, emotional collapse, meltdown
- Literary Madnessmadness, insanity, hysteria, melancholia, psychosis
nervous breakdownmental health
Emotional and cognitive well-being
emotional stability · mental wellness · equilibrium · sanity · composure
nervous breakdownrecovery
Regaining what was lost
breakthrough · resilience · psychological recovery · mental fortitude · coping
nervous breakdownmental wellness
Healthy state of mind
thriving · wellbeing · emotional health · sound mind · mental fitness
nerve, nervous, nerves, nervousness, neurotic, nerved, nerveless, neurosis, neural