Nervous breakdown: What does it mean?

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 restlessness
• Difficulty or inability to stop crying
• Sleeping difficulties
• Dramatic appetite changes
• Indecision

The causes of mental illness usually aren't clear. But these factors may play a role:

• Stress
• Drug and alcohol use
• Coexisting medical conditions, such as thyroid disorders and certain vitamin deficiencies
• Genetics