When we hear the term "nervous breakdown" what comes immediately to mind is someone going crazy.This is probably because people have been using "nervous breakdown" to describe the symptoms of a wide range of mental illnesses.

But in reality the term best describes people who are severely and persistently distraught,people who are unable to cope with their daily normal lives.

But what people actually want to describe when they say "nervous breakdown" are really symptoms associated with " burnout ", a condition that describes the gradual process of becoming physically, emotionally and mentally fatigued due to prolonged exposure to stress.

Burnout will happen to to almost anyone whose work demands so much from them. It does reduce productivity and saps your energy,this in turn makes you feel increasingly powerless,cynical and very resentful.

People who exhibit burnout are walking pools of negative energy, to them even the simplest problems seem insurmountable and their outlook are always bleak.

A recent study done on medical students in the US, reported that 50 % of the respondents suffer from burnout while 11% of them contemplated suicide in the past year.

The early symptoms of a burnout should be taken as warnings that need to be looked into, if you pay attention to these signs, a major breakdown can be prevented.

THE PHYSICAL SIGNS OF A BURNOUT:

1. Always feeling tired and drained,even at the start of the day.

2. Low immune system,which leads to getting sick alot

3. Frequent headaches and loss of concentration

4. changes in appetite and sleep habits

EMOTIONAL SIGNS OF A BURNOUT:

1. Always has the feeling of being helpless, trapped and defeated by the simplest of tasks

2. The sense of failure and self doubt is always evident

3. Feelings of detachement and being alone in the world

4. Always has a loss of motivation

5. Carries an increasingly cynical and negative outlook

6. Sense of satisfaction and accomplishment is decreased dramatically

BEHAVIORAL SIGNS OF A BURNOUT:

1. Withdrawal or avoidance from responsibilities

2. Procastination or taking a longer time to do things

3. Isolating oneself from other people

4. Using drugs,overeating or alcohol abuse in order to cope

5. Frequent absentiism and habitual tardiness

6. Taking out personal frustrations on others

Recognizing and understanding the signs of impending burnout will prevent a person from spiralling into a full blown breakdown. Taking steps to get one's life back on track and balanced can really help.

Here are some of the step that you can implement:

1. Adopting a healthy eating, sleeping and exercise regimen can work wonders.Eating right,engaging in regular exercise and getting plenty of rest gives you the energy and resilience to cope with life.

2.Starting the day with relaxing rituals. Spend at least 1o minutes meditating,doing gentle stretches and reading something inspirational always works.

3.Setting boundaries so you dont overextend yourself and learning to say no to people eating up into your time can help. remember,saying no gives you the "yes time" to the things you truly want to do.

4.Nuture your creativity which is a powerful tool in burnout prevention. Start a fun project or continue a favorite hobbie. Remember not to start any activities that related to work.

5.LEARN to manage stress!! when you are about to burnout,feelings of helplessness are always present that is why learning to cope with stress can really help in maintaining or regaining your balance.