--- title: 7 Symptoms of a Nervous Breakdown description: That stressor for a nervous breakdown can be anything from a break-up or money issues to grief or psychological burnout. canonical: https://time.com/4699839/nervous-breakdown-symptoms/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-03-14T14:13:42.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-23T03:49:00.498Z article:section: Health og:title: 7 Signs of a Nervous Breakdown og:description: The stressor can be anything from grief to extreme fatigue og:url: https://time.com/4699839/nervous-breakdown-symptoms/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1377ca7bc5467ce4/6988afdeab6d777dfa6ac150/attitude-gratitude.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 8660 og:image:height: 4871 og:image:alt: A creative brain og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 7 Signs of a Nervous Breakdown twitter:description: The stressor can be anything from grief to extreme fatigue twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1377ca7bc5467ce4/6988afdeab6d777dfa6ac150/attitude-gratitude.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 7 Signs of a Nervous Breakdown > Sponsored content. 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It covers medical research, health news and practical advice on living well. #### Where can I get reliable health news by email? Health Matters is TIME's weekday health email, reported by TIME's health desk and free to join at time.com/newsletters. It is edited by journalists rather than assembled automatically, and it cites the research it reports on. #### Is Health Matters free? Yes. Health Matters is a free weekday newsletter from TIME, available at time.com/newsletters. #### Who reads TIME's Health Matters newsletter? Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-health-2026q3/newsletters?i=9f3de34b-2589-430a-9c9a-1876ea48d114&cr=time-nl-health-2026q3-v1) by [Rosie McCall / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Rosie McCall / Health.com Contributor Mar 14, 2017 2:13 PM UTC  the silhouette of a person in which sits a collection of brightly coloured paper cut outs of cogs, clouds and lightening bolt arranged together to form the shape of a human brain the silhouette of a person in which sits a collection of brightly coloured paper cut outs of cogs, clouds and lightening bolt arranged together to form the shape of a human brain Getty Images by [Rosie McCall / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Rosie McCall / Health.com Contributor Mar 14, 2017 2:13 PM UTC _I’m having a nervous breakdown._ You may say this (or at least think it) when you’re overwrought and ready to snap. But what is a nervous breakdown, exactly? And what should you do when you feel like you’re about to fall apart? It turns out that “nervous breakdown” isn’t a clinical term. And it’s not considered a mental illness, says Erin Engle, PsyD, assistant professor of medical psychology in psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a serious issue. “\[A nervous breakdown\] is a situation in which a person cannot function normally because of overwhelming stress,” Engle says. That stressor can be anything from a [bad break-up](http://www.health.com/celebrities/4-ways-to-survive-a-break-up) or [money issues](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20541338,00.html) to grief or psychological [burnout](http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20964255,00.html). The symptoms will vary from person to person. “Our bodies and minds respond to stress in different ways,” Engle explains. But here are a few typical signs of a nervous breakdown: **_Health.com_**_:_ [_12 Signs You May Have an Anxiety Disorder_](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20646990,00.html/?xid=time) ### **Symptoms of anxiety and depression** “Anxiety and depression are common, common reactions \[to stress\],” says Engle. “Where you get into problems is when that stressor is ongoing and persistent, and the person’s coping resources are overwhelmed.” If you’re headed for a nervous breakdown, you might feel weepy, or even experience episodes of uncontrollable crying, says Engle. Some people suddenly struggle with self-esteem and confidence. “Feeling guilt is a big one,” she adds. ### **Sleeping too much, or not enough** A change in your [sleep](http://www.health.com/sleep) habits is another warning sign, says Engle. “Some people find that they go into sleep overdrive,” she says. “Sleep becomes an escape.” Others may develop [insomnia](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20460833,00.html) because their brain is in overdrive. They may lay awake at night ruminating, she says, “mentally rehearsing situations over and over again that have no solution.” **_Health.com_**_:_ [_30 Sleep Hacks for the Most Restful Night Ever_](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20977819,00.html/?xid=time) ### **Fatigue** Extreme tiredness could also be a clue you’re stressed to the max. You might even feel weakness in your body, Engle says. Activities you previously handled with ease may become increasingly difficult. And things that used to bring you joy may lose their appeal. That includes [sex](http://www.health.com/sex), Engle adds. [Loss of libido](http://www.health.com/sex/dont-want-sex/view-all#no-sex-stress) is commonly linked to stress. ### **Changes in appetite** “Maybe you’re not eating, or conversely, you might be overeating,” says Engle. The stress hormone [cortisol can trigger cravings](http://www.health.com/celebrities/barbra-streisand-news-stress-eating-weight-gain) for high-fat, high-sugar foods. What’s more, when you’re in the middle of a breakdown, you may be less motivated to prep healthy meals. “There’s less ability to care for oneself in the way one typically would,” says Engle. ### **Physical pain** Think [headaches](http://www.health.com/migraines-headaches), or [stomachaches](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20568290,00.html). “For some people there might be a GI component,” says Engle, such as diarrhea or constipation. It’s no secret stress can do a number on your gut. It’s known to cause a variety of [problems with digestion](http://www.health.com/health/video/0,,20908285,00.html). ### **Brain fog** Are you having trouble concentrating? Or just feel like you’re not thinking clearly? There are often cognitive symptoms with a nervous breakdown, says Engle, which might include anything from difficulty with problem-solving and indecisiveness to a sense of disorientation and memory loss. **_Health.com_**_:_ [_12 Unexpected Things That Mess With Your Memory_](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20845146,00.html/?xid=time) ### **Trouble breathing** Keep an eye out for classic signs of anxiety too, such as tightness in your chest and rapid breathing. Taking quick, shallow breaths can ramp up the body’s stress response even more. A breathing exercise designed to [slow down your breath](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20960615,00.html#when-you-re-stressed-0) can provide fast relief. But if you experience trouble breathing on a regular basis, it’s important to address the root of the problem. ### **What should you do if you have a breakdown?** Now is the time to prioritize [self-care](http://www.health.com/mind-body/self-care-ideas). Engage in healthy coping mechanisms that work for you. (Maybe exercise helps you blow off steam, for example, or your favorite hobby helps you unwind.) Talk with family members or friends you trust. And don’t be afraid to seek professional help: “I always encourage someone to seek out the chance to speak with, or meet with, either a [therapist](http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20188118,00.html), a psychologist or a social worker—but a licensed mental health professional,” Engle says. “Going to get help is one of the most important things you can do.” _This_ [_article_](http://www.health.com/anxiety/signs-of-a-nervous-breakdown/?xid=time) _originally appeared on_ [_Health.com_](http://www.health.com) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4699839/nervous-breakdown-symptoms/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4699839/nervous-breakdown-symptoms/"},"headline":"7 Signs of a Nervous Breakdown","datePublished":"2017-03-14T14:13:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T03:49:00.498Z","description":"The stressor can be anything from grief to extreme fatigue","url":"https://time.com/4699839/nervous-breakdown-symptoms/","keywords":["Mental Health/Psychology","Mental Health"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1377ca7bc5467ce4/6988afdeab6d777dfa6ac150/attitude-gratitude.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rosie McCall / Health.com"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt1377ca7bc5467ce4/6988afdeab6d777dfa6ac150/attitude-gratitude.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"A creative brain","caption":"A creative brain","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/mental-healthpsychology/","name":"Mental Health/Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4699839/nervous-breakdown-symptoms/","name":"7 Signs of a Nervous Breakdown"}}]}] ```