nervous breakdown
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nervous breakdown
A sudden, acute state of mental and emotional exhaustion, often triggered by extreme stress or a crisis. It is a colloquial term, not a clinical diagnosis.
Nach dem Verlust ihres Arbeitsplatzes erlitt sie einen Nervenzusammenbruch.
After losing her job, she suffered a nervous breakdown.
The word is a compound of 'Nerven' (nerves; plural of 'der Nerv') and 'Zusammenbruch' (breakdown/collapse). So it literally describes a 'collapse of the nerves.'
Der ständige Lärm war eine Belastung für meine Nerven.
The constant noise was a strain on my nerves.
Common verbs used with this noun are 'einen Nervenzusammenbruch erleiden' (to suffer a nervous breakdown) or 'haben' (to have). If someone is close to it, you say they 'steht kurz vor einem Nervenzusammenbruch' (are on the verge of a nervous breakdown).
Wegen des ganzen Stresses stand sie kurz vor einem Nervenzusammenbruch.
Because of all the stress, she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
'Nervenzusammenbruch' (nervous breakdown) is a colloquial term and not a medical diagnosis. It is used in everyday language to describe a state of severe emotional and mental overload.
Nach wochenlanger Überarbeitung hatte ich das Gefühl, einen Nervenzusammenbruch zu bekommen.
After weeks of overwork, I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown.
crisis
'die Krise' and 'der Nervenzusammenbruch' can both have to do with severe stress and a very difficult situation. But 'die Krise' means the situation itself: something is dangerous, uncertain, or urgently needs to be solved. 'der Nervenzusammenbruch' means the state of a person who suddenly can no longer cope mentally and emotionally. So someone can have a nervous breakdown because of a crisis. The words are easy to confuse because both often occur in the context of personal problems. A practical way to remember it: 'die Krise' is the problem or situation; 'der Nervenzusammenbruch' is a person's reaction to it.
Nach Wochen voller Druck hatte Anna im Büro einen Nervenzusammenbruch.
After weeks full of pressure, Anna had a nervous breakdown at the office.
Nach dem Verlust vieler Kunden steckt die Firma in einer schweren Krise.
After losing many customers, the company is in a serious crisis.