A “mental breakdown” isn’t a clinical term, but it’s commonly used to describe a period when stress or mental health issues become so overwhelming that you can no longer function normally in daily life. Signs vary from person to person, but common red flags include:

• Emotional symptoms: Intense anxiety or panic attacks, constant crying, feeling numb or detached, hopelessness, irritability, or sudden mood swings.
• Cognitive signs: Racing thoughts, inability to concentrate, memory problems, paranoid thinking, or feeling “disconnected” from reality (depersonalization/derealization).
• Physical symptoms: Extreme fatigue, insomnia or sleeping too much, headaches, chest pain, gastrointestinal issues, muscle tension, or changes in appetite.
• Behavioral changes: Withdrawing from friends and family, neglecting responsibilities (work, hygiene, bills), increased substance use, or suicidal thoughts/self-harm urges.
• Loss of functioning: You can’t get out of bed, miss work or school repeatedly, or feel completely unable to cope with even minor tasks.

One key indicator is that these symptoms feel unmanageable and persist for days or weeks, not just a bad day. If you’re questioning whether you’re having a breakdown, that alone is a sign to take it seriously.

What to do: Reach out immediately talk to a trusted person, call a mental health helpline (e.g., 988 in the US), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest emergency room if you feel unsafe. You’re not weak; you’re overloaded. Professional help (therapy, medication, or hospitalization if needed) can make a huge difference. Early intervention usually leads to faster recovery.

You don’t have to tough it out alone. A breakdown is your mind’s way of saying “I need help now” listening to that signal is the first step toward healing.