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"Nervous Breakdown" is a term which is no longer used by the medical community, but it is a great way to describe how it FEELS. I know because I've been there. Your doctor may refer to it as "situational depression" or "anxiety disorder". Others may call it "burn-out".
Whatever label you use, a breakdown is not something to take lightly. And, it does not mean that someone just needs a little break to rest. It is a serious situation. Here are some of my own insights into recognizing when you or someone you know is heading down that road, along with suggestions for how to get back on the healthy one. Its a long, uncomfortable trip down and one you will definitely want to avoid. But if you do find yourself there, take heart, you can come back to be completely healthy once again. Read on!
Well, for those of you who read this and can identify, know you are not alone. Just look at all the feedback at the end of this lens! Thanks to everyone.
Proud To Be Selected for a Lens of the Day!
Yeah!! Thank you to the Squidoo team for selecting this as the lens of the day for March 28, 2007! Thanks for recognizing this important issue. Expert Opinions
- Burnout: Signs, Symptoms and Prevention
- This is an excellent and comprehensive article on burnout, including links to several other informative articles, as well. It will help you understand the signs, symptoms, stages, and prevention of stress and burnout and is written by experts in the field.
- Test Your Stress Level
- You may have seen this before. It is an easy, interactive stress quiz. This popular test will give you an estimate of the level of stress you are under and relate that to the chances of a resulting illness, accident or burn-out.
- Burnout Quiz
- Unrelieved work stress can lead to burnout. Take this quiz and see if you're in danger of burning out.
- Chronic Stress May Boost Anxiety
- From the WebMD site, this article about a new study on the effects of chronic stress is so very relevant to this issue of burnout. Here is more proof that "extended periods of stress may increase anxiety".
- Physical Results of Chronic Stress
- Endocrinologist Dr. Stafford Lightman talks about how chronic stress can significantly damage your health. Wow, reading this makes me really think twice about allowing stressful situations to affect me.
- Stress In the Workplace
- This is a good article from Discovery Health about what makes a job too stressful. My favorite line is "...too much responsibility and too little authority...", because I think that is a huge source of stress for many people on the job.
This interesting article also offers suggestions for how to change the situation--from taking part in adjusting your written job description to taking it to the courts. - Stress Dynamics
- Founded by a fellow Squidoo member, Stress Dynamics is a website and store providing information on stress and offering stress management & relaxation products. Mercedes is trained in aromatherapy, nursing, workplace stress and has an MBA. Check out this page on her site to learn more about stress. She also has back copies of newsletters to read.
Disability Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- A good summary and recommendations from Met Life on what to look for in disabilty insurance.
Heading For a Breakdown
It Can Build Up Over Years
No one thing on its own would have been too much for me, but the glass can get too full too quickly and stay that way for too long. What is stressful for me might not necessarily be so for you. Think about how things are accumulating for you and change the things that can be changed.
- MAJOR MOVE: I moved from the Northwest to the Northeast--a pretty big change in culture. I went from a very laid-back environment to an intense and fast-paced one and, yet, I had not anticipated a problem with it. Investigate these sorts of changes before you make them and be realistic about your expectations.
- LOSS OF JOB: I think this is one of the more difficult things for us all to deal with. It is such a major part of our perceived identity. So many of us go through it and, yet, we feel lost and alone. Its best to get back up on your feet as quickly as you can.
- CHANGE IN LIVING SITUATION: After living alone for many years out west, when I moved east I married and moved into a home with extended family. I did not realize how hard it would be and did not prepare myself for the change. Know your limits.
- STRESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT: Not only was my career itself inherently stressful, but the specific situation was, as well. I did not have the autonomy I was used to in previous jobs. In addition, I had a long drive. I tried, perhaps too hard, to be good, to please. The lesson here is to take care of yourself first and don't put up with others who treat you badly.
- NO OPPORTUNITY FOR A BREAK: I spent long hours during holidays at work and was not able to take breaks when I needed them. It would have been a good idea to get myself out of such a stressful work environment.
- DEATH OF A CLOSE RELATIVE: I spent 5 days and nights with my father by his bedside while he lay in a coma. I tried to do too much on my own. I felt honored to be there for him and thought I would have a very spiritual response to his death, but I was a mess. The lesson here was: don't try to do it all alone.
- NO LET-UP: Of course, there were other stressors in there as well, some big, some small, but it was really the constant presence of stress that did me in, as well as the feeling of lack of control at work. My body was constantly pushing out stress hormones and did not have time to fully recover. Finally, my system just shut down.
"Peaceful"
Photos from Flickr tagged "Peaceful"
by "Elsie esq."
by "tony's pics"
by "wayfaring stranger"
by "bushie"
by "jawcey"
Watch for Symptoms
Try and catch it early!
Remember, when you are in the middle of it, you don't necessarily recognize it for what it is. If people start asking you what is wrong or saying you are just not yourself, pay attention.
- Difficulty focusing on things.
- When shifting from one thing to another, getting disoriented and forgetting what you are doing.
- Feeling angry and irritable much of the time.
- No longer wanting to go out for those get-togethers with co-workers. Spending more time by yourself.
- Being frequently late for work. Finding yourself behind and stressing yourself out further by hurrying to get there.
- You may stop finding joy in anything. Oh, you may still laugh at times, but, somehow nothing at all really interests you.
- Trouble with sleep: getting to sleep, staying asleep and difficulty getting up in the morning.
- Being frequently sick and having headaches.
- This may finally happen to you: One day you may go to work and feel extremely depressed. You may not be able to pull yourself out of it. You might feel panicky and and become almost non-functional. At this point you could be placed on an 2 to 8-week medical leave. You may crash so suddenly that it takes you by surprise. Don't you want to avoid this?
Books to Help You Deal With Stress
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness
This came highly recommended to me by Scott Pengally, a sports psychologist in Eugene, Oregon. Click on the book cover to learn more about the book, read reviews (5 stars) and take a look inside the book.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $20.00
The Highly Sensitive Person
This book is probably the single most helpful book I have ever found. If you would describe yourself as being intuitive, aware and sensitive to everything around you, this book is a goldmine of helpful, insightful information! An A+! Check it out.
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $15.00
Tao Te Ching, 25th-Anniversary Edition
Age-old inspiration and thought-provoking wisdom. If you are not familiar with the Tao Te Ching, it is worth getting to know. I love it.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $18.95
Undoing Perpetual Stress: The Missing Connection Between Depression, Anxiety and 21st Century Illness
Now, this is an interesting book I just discovered. He talks about the kind of perpetual stress which leads to total burnout and links it to all we have bombarding us in our fast-paced lives today. It helped me to understand it all much better.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $23.00
The Highly Sensitive Person
- The Highly Sensitive Person
- Elaine Aron, author of "The Highly Sensitive Person" has this website which can help you understand more about her studies. She includes a self test list where you can see if you fit in to this group which makes up 15 to 20% of the population. Her reference to being highly sensitive is about being very aware, intuitive and highly reactive to stimulation of any kind: light, sound, crowds, etc. . . . .
I have included her first book in the section above.
How to Help Yourself
- Know yourself: your limits, your particular stressors, what you can handle and can't. Don't fool yourself. (Sometimes, though, we learn the hard way, don't we?)
- Find a healthy outlet for stress. Exercise is a very good one. Get yourself out there in the world. See friends. Go for a walk. Even if you don't want to. Force yourself.
- Take time every day to create some calm in your life. Meditate. Try Yoga.
- Be familiar with your childhood fears. When irrational fears come to your head, talk to them as an adult with a rational response. Write it down.
- If you can keep a short diary every day, it will help you to see, on paper, what is causing you the most stress and how long it has been going on - shedding a little light of reality on the situation.
- When you find that a certain situation is causing you constant, unrelenting stress, find a way to get out of the situation or to alleviate it somehow.
- If you need help, get it. Its not worth holding out and thinking you can do it all by yourself. If the kind of help you are getting or the person who is helping you is not right for you, find someone else. Don't give up.
- If friends and family offer you help, take it. That is what we are here for - to help each other through this life.
- It takes time to recover, but you WILL recover. You may need to sleep A LOT. Get yourself out in the world as much as you can. Be patient and gentle with yourself.
- Consider helping other people. Studies show that this increases your own sense of well-being. Even if it is as simple as holding the door for someone and smiling, its a good start.
Helping Others
The Power of Kindness
- The Power of Kindness
- Visit this lens on the power of kindness for some inspiration on helping others.
Being Nice: the pros & cons
The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness
I just finished reading this book. It is very enlightening, well-written and an easy, quick read. It will show you, in a practical way, what a difference being nice can make in your world.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $17.95
Too Nice for Your Own Good : How to Stop Making 9 Self-Sabotaging Mistakes
Kindness is a wonderful trait and I could be a poster child for kind people. But, are some of us who have trouble coping with our society just too nice for our own good?
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 05/17/2008)
List Price: $14.99
Nurture Yourself
Take time to relax
Did you know that you can now buy Johnson's Baby Powder scented with lavender and chamomile? Try it. Its very soothing after a bath and before getting into bed.
Aromatherapy Massage Oil - Tranquility, 4 oz
Price: $6.49
Tranquility Massage Oil contains a soothing and relaxing blend of Lavender, Patchouli, Fir Needle, Chamomile and Geranium Palmarusa to help relieve st... more »
Dead Sea Bath Salts - Lavender, 2 lbs
Price: $10.99
Combine the relaxing and soothing benefits of aromatherapy, with the legendary therapeutic effects of the world-famous mineral baths from the Dead Sea... more »
Shower Gel - Rose & Chamomile, 8 oz
Price: $7.79
At EO, we make wholesome, plant based body care products for the whole family. Our Rose & Chamomile Shower Gel is soothing and relaxing. It contains n... more »
Creating Calm
Your Present: A Half Hour of Peace
I just ordered this highly recommended relaxation CD for myself. She has a very calming voice and it definitely is very helpful.
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $10.46 (as of 05/17/2008)
Reducing Stress: Get a Pet
- Stress Reduction Through Pets
- This page has a video program, which you can open, about the benefit of pets to your health and well-being. Dr. Edward Creagan, an oncologist and clinic director at the Mayo Clinic, talks about how having a pet may reduce your stress and improve your health. As, someone pointed out, make sure you are prepared to devote yourself to caring for your pet throughout its life.
A Feel-good Memory: The Northern Lights
Have you ever seen them? Aren't they amazing?
I have seen the Northern Lights, or Aurora-borealis, several times, all in upper Michigan. Years ago, I saw a night sky full of white airy lights flowing and dancing above Mackinac Island, not just at the horizon like they usually are, but filling the night sky. I was with a friend on the boardwalk along the lake. We were mesmerized. That is my go-to, feel-good memory when I need to think of something pleasant. Find your own memory or image to take you on a sort of mini-break in your mind.
Here are some beautiful aurora borealis photos from Greenland by Nick Russill on Flickr. Thanks, Nick!
Northern Lights, Gre...
Northern Lights, Kul...
Heavenly Shape 1
Heavenly Shape2
Northern Lights
Northen Lights (Auro...
Waiting for the nort...
Aurora - East Greenl...
Aurora - East Greenl...
Well-Known People Who Have Had a "Nervous Breakdown"
- Charlie Chaplin
- Walt Disney
- William James
- Annie Lennox
- Abraham Lincoln
- Sir Isaac Newton
- Sylvia Plath
- David Selznik
- Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
- Brian Wilson
- Virginia Woolf
Just for Fun
- 19th Nervous Breakdown
- Lyrics for the Rolling Stones song and comments on it from the band.
Quotes
"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important."Bertrand Russell
"It's unthinkable not to love - you'd have a severe nervous breakdown." Lawrence Durrell
"A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings."
Earl Wilson
"Failed in business at age 31. Defeated for the legislature at 32. Again failed in business at 34. Sweetheart died at 35. Had a nervous breakdown at 36. Defeated in election at 38. Defeated for Congress at 43. Defeated for Congress at 46. Defeated for Congress at 48. Defeated for Senate at 55. Defeated for Vice President at 56. Defeated for Senate at 58. Elected President at age 60. This man was Abraham Lincoln."
Unknown
There is hope
Don't Give Up!
Take care of yourself, get help, see the beauty in little things.
I believe we are all pieces of a larger puzzle; that we are each a part of the whole brilliant pattern. I look at the sky at night and see the stars spread out. It doesn't make me feel small. I feel large. I am in awe at my ability to see these stars, to sense my body in its place and I feel a part of everything. This has helped me. Perhaps that thought can help you too.
Daisy Patch
Raindrops
Photo Yellow flower...
Photo Yellow flower...
Photo Yellow flower...
Photo Yellow flower...
Yellow flower macro
Red and Yellow macro
Be Well
If you are going through this kind of experience yourself, you are not alone and you are not weak. It is a human experience.Be unafraid, for after the storm of it all is over, you will know yourself at a deeper level. This is good. You will know your limits. You will know when to let go of something that is not in your best interest. Decide to use this experience to strengthen yourself, not to live in fear of what "may happen" in the future, but rejoicing in yourself, your strengths and your newfound knowledge of who you are in the world of choice.
Reader Feedback
I hope this has been helpful to you. Please feel free to add your comments here.
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jzorro
Great lens. Nice tips on dealing with stress. Posted May 16, 2008 |
You help me feel better. Thanks :)
Posted May 09, 2008
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SleepAids
Tons of great information here. Nice job on this lens, I think this has the potential to help a lot of people. Keep up the great job! Posted May 08, 2008 |
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ShortSaleRealtor
great lens 5 stars 4 u Posted April 30, 2008 |
What a wounderful insightful lens. I am about to "crash" and this was a great help to read.
thank-you
Posted April 30, 2008
