All You Need to Know About Mental Breakdowns & Mental Health Disorders

Do you have extreme mood changes with highs and lows? Low energy, sleeping problems, or feeling sad now and then?

Wondering what is happening? Maybe you should take care of your mental health a little more.

Imagine having a mental breakdown out of nowhere and not understanding anything at all. How long would it last? What would you do?

How would you handle it? Who would you tell about this? Would you even be able to understand what exactly is happening to you? Would you feel comfortable sharing all the minute details with anyone?

Seeing yourself in that situation and feeling helplessly worried—aren’t these thoughts scaring you? Aren’t you thinking about how to deal with it? Do you need some help figuring out how to handle all these thoughts?

So, maybe relax your mind and gain some information on mental health from this article.

In this article, we’ve explored mental health from all different perspectives of everyone going through a mental health crisis.

The information provided in this article is based on complete research and report studies with scientific and psychological conclusions.

1. Mental Health:

Mental Health refers to a person’s well-being in terms of cognitive and emotional aspects¹. Clarity is essential when it comes to terms like “Mental Health. It is important to note that “Mental health” and “Mental Illness” are two distinct terms.

It is also very important to focus on the point: Physical and Mental Health are co-related.

For ages, Mental Health has always been hidden and treated in a very different way than physical health. Mental Health is a topic of least concern and is always ignored in our country.

Taking treatment for physical health issues² is a concern for everybody, but treatment for Mental Health is taboo and often ignored.

But, in the last few years, people have become aware of their mental health and are taking care of it to avoid mental health disorders.

The attitude of people towards Mental Health Awareness has gradually changed, and they are being more open about it without any discrimination. It is no longer considered a Taboo in this generation.

Moreover, taking care of mental health is a concern for every individual rather than only the people going through mental disorders.

The point to remember here is that mental health is similar to physical health in many ways and should not be ignored. Good mental well-being determines a person’s ability to think, feel, act, and react normally.

So, poor mental health is the vice versa, where the person’s ability to think, feel, act, and react becomes difficult. Sometimes, it becomes impossible to process and cope in a certain way, as a person with good mental health does.

Mental Health Illness is considered one of the most common illnesses all over the world.

After understanding what mental health is, we need to understand the importance mental health holds in our daily lives at the following points:

1. Good Mental Health can improve your Quality of life³.

2. It promotes a better relationship with everyone in our lives.

3. It helps to handle stress.

4. Good mental health allows you to experience more happiness, love, and compassion.

2. Mental Health Crisis

There are several problems associated with mental health, which include Nervous breakdowns, Mental breakdowns, Emotional breakdowns, Anxiety Disorders, Panic Attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, Mental Health crises, Emotional Outbursts, Extreme stress, uncontrollable Stress, self-harm, and much more.

Getting to know the problems associated with mental health will help us gain knowledge about mental health and try to prevent them.

It is very important to acknowledge the fact that Mental Health problems can directly affect the way you process and cope with everyday life.

Mental Health problems can happen to anyone. According to the data, approximately one in five adults and one in four children undergo mental health crises⁴.

The National Mental Health Survey (2016) report says that almost one hundred fifty to two hundred million citizens of India need support, care, and treatment for their mental health.

It was also noticed that more than ninety percent of people undergoing mental health crises do not treat them and often ignore them. It is also said that most people fail to receive early and quality treatment for the same.

So, we can safely say Mental Health problems can happen to any age, income, race, and religion.

According to WHO, Common Mental Health Problems, which include Depression and Anxiety, are the most highlighted topics discussed.

Also, according to a study based on Mental Health, Depression is one of the most common disorders often seen and diagnosed in many individuals. Anxiety, Schizophrenia, and Bipolar Disorder then follow it.

Depression is often a disorder associated with mood swings. Though it is very common, it is related to severe serious health issues.

There are different types of depression, which include Dysthmia, Pregnancy Depression, Major Depression, Postpartum Depression, Maniac depression, and so on.

Symptoms of depression include No Motivation to do anything, Sadness, Indecisive, suicidal or self-harm thoughts, and so on.

Physical Symptoms include Lack of energy, Body pains and aches, Insomnia, and so on.

It is advised to seek help from a doctor if the symptoms of depression persist for more than 2-3 weeks and should never be left untreated or ignored.

2.1 Anxiety Disorder:

Moving to anxiety disorders, according to research, half of mental illness is caused due to anxiety. Anxiety disorders include OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), Social Phobia, Panic Attacks, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

There are physical symptoms to recognize if an individual has an anxiety disorder or not. The person having anxiety disorder feels weak and tired. They usually sweat a lot. They are always restless and nervous.

Moreover, there are a few types of anxiety disorders, such as:

1. Panic Disorder.

2. Social Phobia.

3. Specific Phobias.

It is recommended to seek emergency medical care treatment if any person has suicidal thoughts⁵.

We often notice that a few people have Mental Breakdowns, and we wonder what happened to them and how we can make them feel better.

2.2 Nervous or Mental Breakdown

So, here’s a clarity on Mental breakdown.

Some people have uncontrollable cries, some people may lash out angrily, and some people struggle with stress and anxiety. These are all the signs of Mental Breakdown⁶. If Mental breakdown is left untreated, it may lead to serious mental issues like substance abuse, self-harm (suicide), and poor quality of life.

Studies show that mental breakdown affects your mind as well as your body. The person having a mental breakdown often has suicidal thoughts, insomnia, loss of appetite, lack of concentration, a sense of disappointment, and much more.

Anybody can have a mental breakdown due to:

• Insomnia: It hurts mental well-being.
• Stress: Stress at Home or the Workplace may be overwhelming and cause burnout.
• Anxiety and Depression.

2.2.1 How can one reduce Mental Breakdown?

• Try out exercising regularly.
• Have a nutritious diet to keep the body and mind healthy.
• Avoid recreational drugs and Alcohol.

2.2.2 How to Treat Mental Breakdown?

Anybody facing Mental Breakdown issues should identify the core reason for the breakdown and make peace with it within themselves. Nowadays, individuals find it difficult to analyze their problems, can not handle their stress, and rely on external factors to reduce their stress.

For such individuals, visiting a Registered Psychiatrist, psychologist, or Mental Health Professional who practices regularly in everyday life and provides therapy is highly recommended.

Keep in mind, never go to a non-registered medical practitioner or an influencer who is not qualified to treat mental illness. Never take Mental Health lightly. It will cost us in future.

These days, mental breakdown is also known as Nervous Breakdown. It is a non-clinical term not generally used by the medical community.

There is no difference between a Nervous Breakdown and a Mental Breakdown, as it is the same.

If you exaggerate a normal response to stress, excitement, or danger, then you are having a panic attack.

The physical symptoms during a panic attack include increased heartbeat, sweating, feelings of disconnection, pain in the chest, and chills. Traumas, caffeine, substance abuse, and medications often trigger these attacks.

Panic attacks usually occur for less than 20 minutes and can be treated through various breathing exercises.⁷

Nervous breakdown or panic attacks are often caused by underlying post-traumatic stress.

Imagine that you just recovered from a horrifying accident. Are those visuals still disturbing you? Do you still feel the pain you went through?

Maybe you have PTSD, which means post-traumatic stress disorder.

It develops when an individual does not recover completely from a terrifying event. It still triggers and brings back the trauma with even more extreme and intense reactions. It may be due to severe accidents, sexual assault, and much more.

PTSD is treated by mental health professionals who have gained experience over the years. The treatment includes Psychotherapy and Medications.

3. Digging Deep

During a mental health crisis, there are rapid mood swings, isolation from everything, and an inability to process usually. It is mainly caused by an Illness, the loss of loved ones, or unexpected life changes.

But how does one recover from it? Well, practice gratitude, stay around positive people, laugh more often, and appreciate the beauty of life.

Visit a psychologist if required. If you are experiencing any of the mental health conditions mentioned below, please seek help and reach out to a mental health professional.

3.1 Schizophrenia:

It is a serious mental disorder that results in hallucinations, delusions, and thinking disorders. It involves Lifelong Treatment. Symptoms include a lack of motivation and isolation from friends and family. Usually, people with schizophrenia have suicidal thoughts.

3.2 Personality Disorders:

An individual who is diagnosed with a personality disorder usually has the signs and symptoms of being overwhelmed by negativity, feeling disconnected, feeling empty, and losing contact with close ones.

Many people have mild symptoms, which get better over time. However, some show moderate to severe symptoms and need a doctor’s attention.

The treatment usually involves psychological therapies and medications.

Psychological Therapies are beneficial to people with personality disorders, but they should be delivered only by a trained and experienced professional.

It is important to consult a Psychiatrist or a Psychologist because people with disorders like personality disorders, mental distress, or emotional stress often tend to self-harm.

Psychological therapies, which are also known as Talk Therapy, are the only way to treat Personality disorders because no medications are currently licensed for this treatment.

However, some medications, like antidepressants, can be used only after the psychiatrist recommends them. However, it is important to remember that there is no medication licensed yet.

There are times when a person is constantly getting irritated in daily life, gets easily offended, can not take criticism, is always aggressive and does not compromise, finds it difficult to forgive people, can not forget the past easily, and always has arguments.

These are the signs of another mental disorder known as Paranoia. The exact causes of Paranoia are unclear.

But how do we understand the underlying mental health condition? It’s often seen that there are very confusing signs and symptoms.

How is mental health diagnosis done? It’s also noticed that there are signs of all the disorders. Sometimes, it gets extremely difficult to figure out what exactly the problem is and what exactly is happening to your mental health.

In such situations, it is highly recommended to seek help from a Registered Medical practitioner who is a psychiatrist or a Psychologist. Do not take medications that a Doctor does not prescribe. Do not practice the steps suggested by somebody who is not trained to help people who are going through Mental Illness.

It is recommended that social media be avoided during the treatment process and that negativity and toxicity be avoided, as social media is a platform that easily influences everyone.

It’s better to stay away from negative vibes and just focus on your mental well-being.

It is necessary to take time and put in efforts to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment for mental illness.

The treatment usually depends on the type and severity of the mental illness, and the symptoms vary.

Few people have a very mild level of mental illness with very controlled signs and symptoms, and in such cases, treatment provided by a primary care provider can work, and it is not really necessary to visit a high-end specialist. The treatment may take a few hours to a few weeks.

But for people with moderate to severe levels of mental illness who have intense stress and visible signs and symptoms of Mental disorders, it is highly recommended to seek help from a mental health specialist who can identify and diagnose the illness correctly and provide accurate treatment and help to cure it soon.

But how do we understand whom to seek help from? Always go for a qualified person for the treatment.

There is a difference between a Psychiatrist and a Psychologist. A Psychiatrist is one who has completed his MBBS, or MD in Psychiatry and a psychologist is one who has completed a Master’s and Ph.D. in Psychology. Both of them are trained to treat mental illness.

A Psychologist takes therapy sessions, and you must tell them your concerns. They are the therapist. However, a Psychiatrist is someone who has seen severe levels of mental illness and is trained to prescribe medications, shocks, and much more. These are only two professional help who are trained to provide help to mentally disturbed patients.

National suicide prevention lifeline is always there to support you and prevent suicidal thoughts.

Let’s take a scenario of a person who is suffering from Anxiety Disorder.

The first step is Self-Diagnosis. The person has understood that something is wrong with him and has considered taking immediate action. Now, he will do some research about the signs and symptoms that he has.

He comes to the decision to seek medical help from a mental health practitioner. He has researched well-known and established Psychiatrists.

He makes an appointment for the same and visits him.

Steps of Treatment:

1. Counselling.

2. Talk Therapy.

3. Psychological Interventions.

(Talk Therapy and Psychological Interventions are together known as Psychotherapies)

After psychotherapy begins, the psychiatrist checks the patient’s medical, personal, and family histories.

The most effective form of Psychotherapy includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It is formed to treat Anxiety Disorders. It is usually known as CBT.

In CBT, there is Exposure Therapy. So basically, in Exposure Therapy, there is exposure to the things or the talks that trigger the anxiety.

So now the person will get gradually exposed to the things that triggered him and caused anxiety. By doing this, the person will build the confidence to talk about the things that triggered him. He will even be able to manage it confidently.

4. After Psychotherapy, the doctor will prescribe certain medications to him. The medications and their doses completely depend upon the severity of the anxiety disorder. Also, it is necessary to note the allergies and previous medications taken during medical history to prevent further problems.

The medications usually are:

1. Antidepressants:

The class of Antidepressants given is known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. (SSRIs).

The most commonly given SSRIs are Citalopram, generally known as Celexa; escitalopram, generally known as Lexapro; Fluoxetine, generally known as Prozac; Sertraline, generally known as Zoloft; and Paroxetine, generally known as Paxil.

It is said that Antidepressants help calm down the anxiety.

2. Anti-Anxiety Drugs:

A drug known as Buspirone is prescribed as an anti-anxiety drug for anxiety disorders.

3. In some cases, Sedatives are prescribed. The most common sedatives(Benzodiazepines) are Midazolam and diazepam.

So, this would be the entire treatment cycle for treating anxiety disorder.

As we know, prevention is better than cure, and it is always appreciated if you take care of your mental well-being, just like physical well-being.

Surround yourself with Good people who spread Positivity and Good Vibes Only. Reduce stress and make lifestyle changes. Learn to appreciate and Value yourself and not Underestimate.

Known your worth. Seek Social Support. Know your breaking point and act on it. Focus on your physical activity and mental well-being. Stop losing control over anything.

Face the stressful situation. Maintain a good sleep cycle. Maintain your blood pressure and personal hygiene. Maintain a Healthy Diet. Avoid stress-leading and other risk factors. Learn to deal with and handle your own stress. Set only realistic goals.

Know your emotional breakdown factors and how long a nervous breakdown lasts. Avoid Alcohol and drugs as said previously.

Do not ignore if you have difficulty breathing, an upset stomach, chest pain, low or high blood pressure, any warning signs, severe breakdown, overwhelming stress, or you are guessing the underlying cause. Do not be ashamed or afraid when you see any sign or symptoms of a mental disorder. Have a proper treatment plan. Don’t recall stressful or traumatic events.

Talk to whoever you are comfortable with, and seek help from a professional therapist as soon as possible. Have a regular check-up and medical diagnosis. Be vocal and have effective conversations about mental illness.

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Last Updated on March 6, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology