nervous breakdown

English

Noun

nervous breakdown (plural nervous breakdowns)

1. An attack of a psychological disorder such as anxiety or depression which is so severe that it prevents a person from continuing to function normally.

   Synonyms: (informal) meltdown, mental breakdown

   • 1887, George Gissing, Thyrza

     There was organic disease, and there was what is vaguely called nervous breakdown; it was too clear that Mr. Newthorpe must count upon very moderate activity either of mind or body henceforth.

   • 1915, P. G. Wodehouse, Something New

     ...will you kindly think up at your earliest convenience some plan for politely ejecting this Mr Chalmers of yours from our humble home?--because if you don't, I'm going to have a nervous breakdown.

2. (Philippines) A psychological disorder usually characterized by panic attacks and aggressiveness, related to the Hispanic ataque de nervios.

Translations

attack of a psychological disorder — see also meltdown,‎ mental breakdown

• Afrikaans: senu-ineenstorting, senuwee-ineenstorting
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 神經衰弱 / 神经衰弱 (zh) (shénjīng shuāiruò)

• Czech: nervové zhroucení n
• Dutch: zenuwinzinking (nl) f
• Finnish: hermoromahdus
• French: crise de nerfs (fr) f
• German: Nervenzusammenbruch (de) m
• Greek: νευρικός κλονισμός m (nevrikós klonismós)
• Hungarian: idegösszeomlás (hu), ideg-összeroppanás
• Italian: esaurimento nervoso m
• Norman: maladie d'nèrfs f (Jersey)
• Polish: załamanie nerwowe n, kryzys psychiczny m inan
• Portuguese: ataque de nervos m, crise nervosa f
• Russian: не́рвный срыв (ru) m (nérvnyj sryv)
• Spanish: ataque de nervios m, colapso nervioso m, crisis nerviosa f, chiripiolca f, chiripiorca (es) f
• Swedish: nervsammanbrott (sv) n, nervkollaps (sv) c
• Turkish: sinir krizi
• Ukrainian: нерво́вий зрив m (nervóvyj zryv)