Is your brain planning to organize a sit-down strike and wave 'WE ARE OVERWORKED' placards? You might be on the brink of experiencing what some cheekily call a nervous breakdown, synonymous with a catastrophic mental meltdown. The term 'nervous breakdown' is as obsolete as non-smartphones and acid-washed jeans; however, you may still use it to label an overwhelming flood of mental health symptoms that might be signaling an underlying mental health issue.

This amorphous phrase was coined back in the 1700s when mental health was as misunderstood as women's rights. Scientists of that era assumed the nervous system was the root cause of mental distress, thereby offering a glimmer of hope for a physical cure and keeping the 'loony-bin' at bay. Unfortunately, the term stuck around longer than it should have, serving as an umbrella term for periods of intense mental distress, be it panic attacks, bouts of depression, emotional roller coasters, or just that good old impending sense of doom.

These mental hiccups could last a brief span, a few hair-raising hours, or drag on for weeks, months, and in some unfortunate cases, even years. Think of them as your mind's manifestation of a 'HELP ME' signal in response to relentless stress.

Burnout is another phrase on the verge of becoming a cliché thanks to extensive misuse. It's an 'occupational phenomenon' as per the World Health Organization (WHO), rather than a medically recognized condition. In simple terms, being 'burnt out' doesn't mean you're psychologically toast-it implies you're under occupational stress.

Ever wondered what fuels the fire leading to a so-called mental breakdown? It could be an ongoing mental illness upping its ante or an absolute landslide of stress. Risk factors range from physical stressors like injuries, illness, pregnancy, and exhaustion to psychological sources like grief, worry, loneliness, or heated relationships.

Alarmingly, one-fifth of U.S adults combat mental illness each year, and only just below half of them receive treatment. Untreated or insufficiently treated mental illness may spark a flare-up of symptoms, which may wrongly be branded as a nervous breakdown. Add global pandemics to the mix, with diseases like COVID-19 suspected of causing brain inflammation and blood vessel damage, odds of depression, psychosis, and emotional distress rise considerably.

Treating a perceived mental breakdown involves devising strategies to tackle the stress or other issues that set off the crisis. Stress management and self-care, such as quality sleep, regular exercise, and a healthy diet, go a long way in keeping your mental health in check. If things go south, hospitalization and individualized treatment may be needed.

Always remember, calling it a 'nervous breakdown' doesn’t make it official- it's not a medically recognized condition. It's a layman's term for severe mental distress triggered by various factors. When it hits, it's crucial to seek professional help for proper diagnosis and treatment. Seeking help isn't a sign of weakness; it's choosing to fight.