Life After a Nervous Breakdown. What Happens During a Nervous Breakdown? Treatment for a Nervous Breakdown If you have experienced something that resembles what is often referred to as a nervous breakdown, seek out an evaluation from a mental health professional.
Making Lifestyle Changes after a Nervous Breakdown Knowing how to recover from a nervous breakdown is not something that will come naturally, and this is why treatment is so important. One of the most important things you will learn is how to change your lifestyle to reduce stress and minimize the chances of having another nervous breakdown, including: Changing what causes you stress, such as your job or a bad relationship Cutting back on responsibilities that may have become overwhelming Asking people close to you for help with responsibilities you cannot totally eliminate, like child care Spending more time doing things you enjoy and relaxing Quitting smoking and reducing or quitting drinking or other substance use Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise Getting enough sleep every night Practicing relaxation techniques regularly and implementing coping strategies as needed.
Learning and Using Healthy Coping Strategies One of the most important things you can do as you get back to life after a nervous breakdown is to use healthy strategies for coping with stress and for relaxing. Here are some ideas for coping with stress in a healthy way if you feel it beginning to build again: Back off from whatever is causing you too much stress. Just one day away from work can help. Get exercise and fresh air as stress builds.
Exercise is a great stress reliever, and all it really takes is walking. Do whatever exercise you like, but do it outside if possible.
Talk to a close friend who is a good listener. When stress is getting to be too much, someone who is good at listening will allow you to vent and share your feelings. Sit with a hot tea or coffee, not alcohol. A hot drink can be very soothing, but a lot of people are tempted to use alcohol to relax. Try meditation , slow breathing, or yoga. Relaxation techniques are easy once you learn how to do them. If you went through a treatment program after your breakdown, you probably were given some of these tools.
Turn to them when you start to feel overwhelmed again. Even just five minutes of focusing on your breathing can take your stress levels down. The Importance of Social Support after a Nervous Breakdown Getting back to normal, or to a healthier lifestyle, after having a breakdown should involve increasing your social support and time spent with others.
Identifying and Watching for Warning Signs One of many great reasons to get professional treatment after a nervous breakdown is that it helps you to reflect on what triggered the crisis.
These are some examples of early warning signs: Your performance at work or school is declining in small ways, or your responsibilities at home are starting to slide. Your appetite has changed, and you are losing or gaining weight.
You feel a lot of pressure. You have started to neglect your appearance or hygiene. You feel disengaged and isolated. Your mood is low, and you feel depressed or anxious. You are turning to old, unhealthy coping strategies, like drinking more.
Begin Your Recovery Journey. Diagnosing and Managing Mental Health Conditions Many people who have suffered from a nervous breakdown had an underlying mental illness that contributed to it. Email Us. What Causes a Nervous Breakdown? Please note, however, none of them will prevent you from getting better! Police and ambulance personnel are continually exposed to traumatic events.
It can be a relatively minor incident that they no longer have the spare capacity for to process. Maybe stress at work was the cause of your breakdown in the first place. The quality of support at work can significantly impact the speed of your recovery either positively or negatively. Not getting appropriate support at and from work can delay your recovery. If you find yourself constantly stressed at work, you may even have to consider getting another job — if at all possible.
However, I can imagine that the very thought of changing jobs right now makes you shudder for a number of reasons. Read what Doris Lessing discovered when trying it out for herself. Please, hop over to my article on the signs of an abusive relationship or take a look at my abusive relationship test.
This list is by no means complete, there may well be other factors that have contributed to your breakdown. For example, a natural disaster, a war, a shooting or another personal crisis. All of the above takes time to heal. Usually, the worst feelings start to subside within one to three months — depending on whether or not the trauma is ongoing.
Then there comes a fairly long period of gradual overall recovery with lots of ups, downs and periods of stagnation. Self-hypnosis, with the help of a professional audio download, is a user-friendly, affordable and — above all — effective way to help you feel better fast. Treatment may include counselling, while simple lifestyle changes can help deal with stress and anxiety.
Working on your diet, exercise and sleep habits can help. A healthy diet can improve energy levels, sleep habits and help to combat illness, and prevent you feeling low and tired. You might also remove stimulants from your diet, such as caffeine — this can help reduce anxiety and improve sleep. Exercise can help many forms of temporary and long-term mental illness. Team sports or activities encourage socialising, which can reduce feelings of isolation , give your mood a boost and increase self-esteem.
Physical fatigue may also improve sleep, which is essential to give you the energy to cope with day-to-day activities. Learning relaxation , such as meditation or breathing exercises, might also help and can be practised when you feel your stress levels rising.
In some cases, a nervous breakdown may indicate a more serious mental health issue, such as an anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD , in which case medicines and therapy may be required to aid recovery. For more information and ideas to help cope with stress and aid recovery, learn about wellbeing or visit the following websites:. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Having a psychiatrist you are comfortable talking to is important to your mental health and recovery. Recovery is often described as a journey of personal discovery which includes new learning on how to live well. Mental health recovery is a unique experience to each person, and is possible for everyone.
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