nervous breakdown

English

Noun

nervous breakdown (plural nervous breakdowns)

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

Synonyms

• (disabling attack of a psychological disorder): mental breakdown

Translations

disabling attack of a psychological disorder

• 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
• 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)
• Portuguese: ataque de nervos m, crise nervosa f
• Russian: не́рвный срыв (ru) m (nérvnyj sryv)
• Spanish: ataque de nervios m
• Swedish: nervsammanbrott n, nervkollaps c
• Turkish: sinir krizi
• Ukrainian: нерво́вий зрив m (nervóvyj zryv)