The term "nervous breakdown"
is used by the public to characterize a wide range of mental illnesses. Nervous
breakdown is not a medical
term and doesn''t indicate a specific mental illness. Generally, the term
describes a person who is severely and persistently emotionally distraught and
unable to function at his or her normal level.
Often, when people refer to having a nervous breakdown, they''re describing
severe depression. Signs and symptoms of severe depression
include:
Agitation or restlessnessDifficulty or inability to
stop cryingSleeping difficultiesDramatic appetite changesIndecision
The causes of mental illness usually aren''t clear. But these factors may
play a role:
StressDrug and alcohol useCoexisting medical
conditions, such as thyroid disorders and certain vitamin deficiencies( Blindness)Genetics