7 Signs You Are Having A Mental Breakdown

7 Signs of Mental Breakdown

Have you ever found yourself in a period of intense mental distress? If you have, that’s what a mental breakdown can feel like. Additionally, you may also be unable to perform daily tasks due to the feeling of being overwhelmed (Scaccia, 2020). In this article, I will be going through some of the signs that you might be having a mental break down, so let’s get right to it!

1. Slowing Down of Speech

According to Bollas and Bollas (2013), one of the earliest signs of breakdown is the changes in speech patterns. It can come in the form of hesitation, in terms of speech, due to the intrusions of thoughts or the emergence of strong emotions that a person may find difficult to express. Some examples of responses may include ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I just don’t feel right’ when they are asked about their feelings. Have you had a similar experience?

2. Absent-Mindedness

Have you ever been really caught up in your thoughts? Adding mental distress to that equation, can be an indicator of a mental breakdown. Why is this so? That’s because mental distress can cause us to ruminate. Thus, a person on the verge of a breakdown can seem preoccupied as their mind is elsewhere. Additionally, this sign can also be displayed when a person finds themselves in a spaced-out state, accompanied with a long period of silence, while staring into an open space. This is usually common in adolescent breakdown (Bollas & Bollas, 2013).

3. Depressive Symptoms

Do you find yourself losing interest in the things you used to enjoy? If you do, you may be developing symptoms of depression. How does this relate to mentally breaking down? Well symptoms of depression are usually associated with loss of interest as well as the inability to carry out daily tasks (WHO, 2020). These signs can be indicative of a change in feelings when an individual is mentally overwhelmed, which could progressively lead to a mental breakdown (HealthDirect, 2020).

4. Panic Attacks

Panic attacks can be a critical warning sign in foreshadowing a mental breakdown. As mental breakdowns are periods of intense mental distress associated with anxiety and depression, frequent panic attacks can seem like a precursor, especially if it occurs within a short span of time (Brody, 2020).

5. Paranoia

What is paranoia? Paranoia is “a thought process that causes you to have an irrational suspicion or mistrust of others” (DePietro, 2020). So why is it a sign of a mental breakdown? Well as paranoia is also known as having constant anxiety-related beliefs, it can show that the individual is under rather severe forms of stress to have developed symptoms of paranoia. If you find yourself having similar symptoms, you might want to take a break.

6. Isolation

Ever find yourself avoiding social gatherings or wanting to be alone? While wanting to be alone from time to time is perfectly normal, constant isolation can be a sign of mental breakdown. If you begin to completely avoid hanging out with friends or even skipping work, you might want to reach out. According to Novotney (2019), premature mortality is often associated with social isolation and loneliness. Therefore, it can have a severe impact on our mental and physical health if it remains unchecked.

7. Unhealthy Lifestyle Changes

Many things fall under this category. From sleep hygiene to eating habits, severe unhealthy lifestyle changes can be a sign of mental breakdown. These can include, suddenly sleeping late, snacking too much or not exercising due to a sudden loss of motivation. It can be an indication of poor mental health. Thus, if you find yourself having sudden unhealthy lifestyle changes, you might want to check on your mental well-being.

Summary

Do you relate to any of these signs mentioned above? Mental breakdown can be a severe experience for people. Some experience it progressively, while some breakdowns can be sudden. It is important to recognize early signs of a mental breakdown so that we are able to handle it properly. If you enjoyed reading this article, please feel free to visit our homepage for more articles related to psychology or mental health.

References

Bollas, C. and Bollas, S., 2013. Catch Them Before They Fall. London: Routledge.

Brody, B., 2020. 6 Signs You’re Headed For A Nervous Breakdown. [online] Prevention. Available at: <https://www.prevention.com/life/a20452311/signs-of-a-nervous-breakdown/> [Accessed 22 April 2020].

DePietro, M., 2020. Paranoia | Definition And Patient Education. [online] Healthline. Available at: <https://www.healthline.com/health/paranoia> [Accessed 25 April 2020].

Healthdirect.gov.au. 2020. Signs And Symptoms Of A Nervous Breakdown. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/signs-and-symptoms-of-a-nervous-breakdown> [Accessed 22 April 2020].

Novotney, A., 2019. [online] Apa.org. Available at: <https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation> [Accessed 25 April 2020].

Scaccia, A., 2020. How to Recognize And Treat The Symptoms Of A Nervous Breakdown. [online] Healthline. Available at: <https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/nervous-breakdown> [Accessed 22 April 2020].

Who.int. 2020. Depression. [online] Available at: <https://www.who.int/health-topics/depression#tab=tab_1> [Accessed 22 April 2020].