After a period of the Lunar New Year holiday, when adequate rest is often lacking or when work becomes overwhelming, many individuals develop severe nervous exhaustion that requires immediate intervention!
What You Need to Know About Nervous Exhaustion
Nervous exhaustion is not a mental illness. Nervous exhaustion (mental collapse) is a condition in which individuals feel fatigued, stressed, and anxious without a specific cause.
1. Symptoms of Nervous Exhaustion
Individuals suffering from nervous exhaustion often experience symptoms such as feelings of unease, insomnia, headaches, lack of concentration, rapid heartbeat, and may become easily irritable or depressed. This condition often arises from overwork, prolonged mental pressure, or insufficient time for rest and relaxation.
Here are 9 signs of nervous exhaustion to watch out for. Note that symptoms may vary from person to person or across different cultures, as each individual’s body and mind react to stress differently.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and stress can either cause nervous exhaustion or exacerbate the condition. When a person continuously faces pressure, anxiety, and stress for an extended period, the brain and body may respond by reducing their ability to cope, leading to symptoms of nervous exhaustion such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, or decreased concentration.
Anxiety and stress can cause nervous exhaustion or worsen the condition. (Image: Internet).
Brain Fog
Brain fog is a common symptom of nervous exhaustion. It refers to cognitive decline, causing individuals to feel difficulty concentrating, experience memory issues, lack decisiveness, and feel disoriented.
Brain fog can result from both physical and mental fatigue caused by nervous exhaustion and may also intensify other related symptoms.
Changes in Sleep Patterns
Changes in sleep patterns, such as insufficient sleep or poor quality sleep, can be one of the signs of nervous exhaustion. When a person does not get enough sleep or has disrupted sleep quality, their body and brain cannot fully rest and recover, leading to both physical and mental fatigue. This can worsen the symptoms of nervous exhaustion, including continuous fatigue, headaches, decreased concentration, and brain fog.
Additionally, sleep imbalances can increase stress and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle detrimental to mental health.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a primary symptom of nervous exhaustion, where the body and brain feel drained and lack the energy to perform daily tasks. This fatigue may stem from inadequate sleep, prolonged stress, or anxiety.
Fatigue is a primary symptom of nervous exhaustion. (Image: Internet).
This state of fatigue can affect quality of life, reduce work efficiency and concentration, and sometimes complicate the maintenance of social relationships. Fatigue not only impacts physical health but can also negatively affect mental well-being.
Feelings of Helplessness
In stressful situations, feeling anxious is normal, and anxiety typically subsides once the stressor is gone. However, when a person frequently feels helpless and hopeless in various situations, it may signal a mental health crisis.
Feelings of helplessness can be part of the psychological symptoms that arise in nervous exhaustion. When individuals face chronic fatigue and other symptoms, they may feel a lack of control over their health, leading to feelings of helplessness.
This not only affects their mental well-being but can also increase stress and anxiety, creating a negative feedback loop that exacerbates nervous exhaustion.
Irritability
Irritability is a common sign of prolonged stress, such as that experienced during nervous exhaustion. Your body continuously produces cortisol if you are constantly in fight-or-flight mode. High cortisol levels can increase feelings of anger and irritability. You may react irritably without being aware of it or intend to lash out at others.
This irritability not only affects mood but can also cause physical discomfort, increasing feelings of fatigue and impairing cognitive function. This further worsens nervous exhaustion, creating a negative loop impacting daily life and work capability.
Irritability is a common sign of chronic stress. (Image: Internet).
Loss of Appetite
Feelings of discomfort, such as headaches or stomachaches, may lead to a loss of appetite. Research has found that some individuals experience digestive discomfort, such as constipation or diarrhea; conversely, some may overeat unhealthy foods when experiencing nervous exhaustion.
There is evidence suggesting that elevated stress hormone cortisol can lead to cravings for high-fat, sugary foods. You may feel less motivated than usual to prepare healthy meals if you are experiencing nervous exhaustion, which translates to reduced self-care.
Shortness of Breath
One of the most common signs of panic attacks is shortness of breath. Panic attacks or sudden feelings of extreme fear often occur when you are under significant stress, such as during nervous exhaustion.
According to Health, breathing exercises that slow your breathing can help provide quick relief.
Uncontrollable Crying and Emotional Collapse
You may feel the urge to cry or even experience uncontrollable crying when suffering from nervous exhaustion; this is especially common among individuals with chronic stress and lack of sleep.
You may experience uncontrollable crying when suffering from nervous exhaustion. (Image: Internet).
2. How to Cope with Nervous Exhaustion?
Some common treatments for nervous exhaustion include:
Lifestyle Changes
Mental fatigue is a common characteristic of nervous exhaustion. For some, resting and reducing stress can be effective home remedies for nervous exhaustion, including:
+ Reducing daily workload
+ Taking walks, exercising regularly
+ Maintaining a healthy, nutritious diet while avoiding unhealthy fats and sweets
+ Practicing meditation and yoga
+ Spending more time in nature
+ Getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
Medications
Depending on the condition, medications may be prescribed to treat nervous exhaustion, which may include antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications. If stress leads to insomnia, sleep aids may also be beneficial.
However, do not self-medicate with antidepressants without a doctor’s prescription.
Psychological Therapy
Psychological therapy can help you overcome nervous exhaustion and reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
Sometimes, feeling overwhelmed by the stresses of life is not uncommon. However, stress can become a health issue if it starts to negatively affect your ability to carry out daily activities and work.
While nervous breakdowns are not classified as mental illnesses, they can be a sign of an underlying mental health condition. It is important to see a doctor as soon as you notice signs of a nervous breakdown.
