Nervous Breakdown: Theories and Causes

Nervous breakdown, also known as mental breakdown, is really a non-clinical term used to refer to the sudden attack of a mental illness or disorder. Of course, the breakdown may appear sudden but the buildup actually takes much longer.

A nervous breakdown is actually a symptom of a mental disorder rather than a disorder itself. Thus, a nervous breakdown is a sign of an underlying problem. For this reason, a nervous breakdown is usually described in the vaguest of terms. Depending on the underlying medical condition, a nervous breakdown can refer to the simple inability to function normally or it can refer to the much more serious symptom of hearing voices and having visions – and these are, by no means, not the limit of the ways by which a nervous breakdown is manifested.

Theories on Nervous Breakdown

It is said that a nervous breakdown is mainly caused by extreme stress. The person who has a nervous breakdown is unable to cope with everything that needs his attention or everything that is causing him stress so he simply gives up.

Do all people experience a nervous breakdown? Everyone can succumb to a nervous breakdown. However, some people are more predisposed to the occurrence of a nervous breakdown than other people. The following are some of the general theories that can be used to gauge a person’s predisposition to a nervous breakdown.

Diathesis-Stress Model

A person’s genes may predispose him to anxiety disorder, depression or other disorders like them. Stressors or environmental factors are also primary influences in disorders that can lead to a nervous breakdown.

According to the diathesis-stress model, these two factors together can trigger a nervous breakdown. For instance, a person who has low serotonin and dopamine levels is much more likely to have a nervous breakdown than another person who has normal serotonin and dopamine levels. Extreme stress caused by the death of a loved one, divorce, the loss of job, etc. can then trigger a major depressive episode or any other disorder and, consequently, he suffers a nervous breakdown.

Biopsychosocial Model

This is another theory that can explain the occurrence of a nervous breakdown. In this model, a person experiences mental breakdown if his biological, psychological and social needs are neglected. The person feels isolated and perceives a distinct lack of love and support from other people, especially from those who are important to him. Consequently, he feels depressed, hopeless and anxious which may end up in total collapse or a nervous breakdown.

Pathological Explanation

There can also be a significant connection between the pathology of the brain and the occurrence of a nervous breakdown. Clinical depression, for instance, is a disorder that may be attributed to the abnormal supply of serotonin and epinephrine in the brain. These neurotransmitters play a crucial role in a person’s emotions and feelings of well being. The decrease in the supply of serotonin, epinephrine and dopamine can induce the onset of depression symptoms like fatigue, loss of interest and motivation, extreme sadness, and hopelessness. It is believed that when neurotransmitter levels remain consistently below normal levels, nervous breakdown can ensue.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Erik Erickson, the father of psychoanalytic theory, explains that a person who has unresolved internal and relational conflicts is at high risk for developing the disorders that can cause a nervous breakdown.

In the infant stage, the child should learn to trust his caregiver. In the event that the child experiences abuse, however, the child will find it difficult to trust not only his caregiver but other people as well. These trust issues, if left unresolved, can lead to graver problems in adulthood.

Specific Triggers of a Nervous Breakdown

A person may suffer a nervous breakdown because of one or a combination of the following specific triggers or stressors:

Long-term grief ( a person is unable to cope with the loss of a loved one especially a spouse or a child)
Personal problems (unwanted pregnancy, career stress, unresolved sexual identity, alcohol and drug abuse, chronic sleeping disorder, post-trauma or near-death experience)
Family Problems (divorce, separation, serious illness of a family member)
Financial and social problems (unemployment, homelessness, employment discrimination, poverty)
Loss of self-respect, self-confidence and trust
Medical illnesses (cancer, communicable diseases like AIDS or HIV, thyroid deficiencies and vitamin deficiencies as well as hormonal changes)
Substance abuse

A person who is experiencing any of the above mentioned ‘triggers’ is more likely to succumb to a nervous breakdown. Nevertheless, this is not to say that this person is certain to have a nervous breakdown. From the theories that have been discussed in the preceding section, it is clear that a nervous breakdown is not usually caused by a single factor or trigger. A nervous breakdown is usually a result of a combination of several factors. As a case in point, while some people who lose a loved one succumb to a nervous breakdown, some people do not have a nervous breakdown. One’s predisposition to a nervous breakdown is affected by various factors.

Complications of Nervous Breakdown

If a person having a nervous breakdown is not given the proper care and attention, his problem may become graver and other complications may set in. People who are having a nervous breakdown tend to shut themselves off. They will experience personal neglect (unable to eat, drink, bath or sleep) and medical problems like deep vein thrombosis (for catatonic patients) and malnutrition. In more serious cases, someone who is having a nervous breakdown can become a threat to himself (suicidal) or to others (aggression and violence).

Conclusion

The onset of a nervous breakdown is deemed to be sudden. Nevertheless, a person’s slide to a state of nervous breakdown does not happen overnight. A person usually has a nervous breakdown after he has ‘had enough’. This indicates that a person’s progression to a total collapse or nervous breakdown happens gradually. Thus, a person’s progression to the state of collapse can actually be arrested and prevented if those who love him are especially watchful and heed the signs.