Mental Breakdown in the Workplace

Constant exposure to stress, anxiety, and depression in the workplace can lead to an episode of a nervous breakdown. Recent statistical data shows, that about 77% of the employees are exposed to different kind of stressors in a workplace, whereas 44% employees experience extreme stress while working or present in a workplace. Extreme amount of stress then leads to different mental health problems, which can lead to a nervous breakdown at the workplace.

What is it?

A mental breakdown or a nervous breakdown is an acute, time-limited mental disorder which can happen to an individual through exposures to extreme stress-induced depression, anxiety, or disassociation in a previously functioning individual, who then is not able to function on a day to day basis.

Below are the few indications towards a nervous breakdown:

Extreme Sadness:

One of the major contributors of a nervous breakdown is depression, where a person experiences extreme episodes of weight loss or gain, loss in all social activities, suicidal thoughts, and loss of sleep or too much of sleep. Apart from these, the person may have extreme negative thoughts and lose interest in activities.

Anxiety:

Another contributor is anxiety related to work and stress. It can cause an increase in blood pressure, dizziness, trembling or feeling sick to the stomach.  Too much work, monetary problems, and marital issues affecting work can add to the symptoms of anxiety.

Now, below are few points on what to do if someone experiences a mental breakdown:

Seek-Help:

When someone experiences or nears an episode of breakdown, one should immediately seek professional help from a psychologist or a psychiatrist, as the symptoms can lead to serious mental health problems. Depression, hallucination, panic attacks or even schizophrenia are some of the conditions.

Relax and ease:

If someone has experienced an episode of mental disorder, the main objective then becomes to reduce the amount of stress. There are many ways to reduce stress and explore, which include taking a holiday, joining yoga classes, or/and hanging out with friends and family. While facing an extreme amount of stress, one should start counting till 10 and breath in and breath out slowly, to control the rising blood pressure.

Avoid Substance Use:

Mental breakdowns are amplified with substances like alcohol, cigarettes, etc. Under no circumstances, one should adhere to use of these substances, as it can then develop a dependency towards them. Substance use then worsens the situation and can increase the amount or frequency of breakdowns.

The company’s role:

If the company sees an employee going through a nervous breakdown, or learns about it, then it becomes the company’s role to provide the person with emotional support and reduce the person’s work stress. The company can also provide the employee with few days off until the person has recovered fully.