What is a nervous breakdown?

‘Nervous breakdown’ is a lay term, not an official diagnosis, so there’s no specific definition, and it’s meaning may vary. The general public seems to use it as a catch-all term to describe an acute emotional or psychological collapse.

When I've heard people referring to a nervous breakdown – either their own or someone else's – they usually seem to be describing a sudden onset (or worsening) of depression or an acute stress reaction. The person's emotional depletion may have been accompanied by physical exhaustion. Sometimes, though, the term is used in a slightly mysterious way, ‘My auntie Joan had a nervous breakdown and was never the same again’. There may be little knowledge of exactly what symptoms auntie Joan had, much less what caused them.

It seems less likely for the term to be applied to a psychotic episode in which someone loses his or her grasp on reality, although it's possible that ‘nervous breakdown’ might sometimes be used to describe a manic or schizophrenic episode.

Given the vague nature of the term (despite its common usage), it's hard for me to describe general warning symptoms. If you feel you or someone you love is severely mentally distressed, your best bet is to seek help, starting with a GP.

Live Q&A on Ask The Expert
Employment lawyer Rachel Lewis advises on your work-related issues

iVillage Recommends Womens briefcases