Neurasthenia – a mental disorder associated with the depletion of the overload
Neurasthenia is a neurotic disorder that occurs due to depletion of the nervous system after prolonged overload.
Neurotic disorders (a modern analogue of neuroses) are a group of reversible, functional disorders that are caused by psychological reasons. The word “functional” in this case means that the symptoms of dysfunction of the body do not have organic causes – there are no pathological changes in organs.
Neurasthenia occurs in people prone to anxiety and instability.
Three factors are involved in the occurrence of neurasthenia: biological predisposition, personality traits and traumatic circumstances.
Genetic predisposition and / or physiological characteristics of the nervous system are formed during conception, pregnancy and early childhood.
Personal characteristics are heightened anxiety and sensitivity, emotional instability, impatience, impulsivity, high exactingness, lack of adaptive coping strategies. A “portrait” of a person who is predisposed to the development of neurasthenia may include the following characteristics: impressionable, intolerant of frustration, disorganized, acutely reacting to non-recognition of himself and the products of his activity.
Depletion of the nervous system occurs due to overwork, disturbance of sleep and rest, prolonged and / or severe illness, excessive intensity of work or academic activity. Chronic or extremely severe stress contributes to: acute conflicts, frustration, significant life changes, hard work, unfavorable living conditions, being in danger.
The main symptom of neurasthenia is increased mental or physical fatigue
With neurasthenia, increased mental or physical fatigue dominates over other symptoms:
- impairment of memory, attention,
- decrease in the quality and pace of thinking,
- feeling of weakness after minor exertion, which does not go away after sleep and is accompanied by muscle pain.
Other manifestations include:
- irritability,
- anxiety,
- inability to relax
- loss of taste for life and the ability to enjoy a person, sleep disturbance,
- headache and / or muscle pain
- decreased mental or physical performance.
Treating neurasthenia – anti-anxiety drugs and psychotherapy that teaches you how to cope with stress
If you suspect neurasthenia, you need to seek help from a psychiatrist, since you need to differentiate the symptoms of neurasthenia from depression. This can only be done by a psychiatrist.
After the conversation and examination, the psychiatrist makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment, which consists of pharmacotherapy, normalization of lifestyle and psychotherapy.
1 Pharmacotherapy. With neurasthenia, a psychiatrist prescribes drugs that help relieve symptoms – anxiolytics, antidepressants (SSRIs).
If you suspect neurasthenia, you need to seek help from a psychiatrist, since you need to differentiate the symptoms of neurasthenia from depression.
2 Normalization of lifestyle. Correction of the daily routine helps to cope with physiological stress – lack of sleep, irregular nutrition, lack of rest. General introductions to the daily routine are as follows:
- Sleep for at least eight hours.
- For every four hours of work , one hour of rest.
- To devote time to a resourceful activity every day – which improves mood, brings joy and does not take away strength.
- A minimum of three meals, it is better in one and the same time.
3 Psychotherapy. Neurasthenia is a consequence of not only depletion of the nervous system, but also a violation of personal functioning, which can be adjusted under the guidance of a psychotherapist. Evidence-based psychotherapy methods are CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy), ACT, MBCT. With the help of psychotherapy, you can develop adaptive coping strategies that will save you from painful reactions to many stressful events. In psychotherapy, effective interaction skills are practiced that will help reduce the number of interpersonal conflicts.
With a responsible approach to treatment and adherence to preventive measures, neurasthenia is completely curable.
To reduce the risk of neurasthenia, you need to plan things and life.
Rhythmization and organization of activities and life in general (drawing up plans, keeping a diary, establishing and observing a regime) always has a beneficial effect on mental activity. If you keep a diary, write down events or a to-do list, you exclude the possibility of forgetting or missing something important. A high level of self-discipline will increase your overall efficiency and help reduce stressful situations.
Practicing effective communication and assertiveness skills will increase the quality of communication and help to make it more environmentally friendly, which will also help reduce overall stress levels.