noun a physical condition caused by extreme stress or anxiety, characterized by weakness, fatigue, and mental exhaustion
In the medical field, nervous prostration refers to a condition of extreme mental and physical exhaustion due to prolonged stress or anxiety.
Historically, nervous prostration was a commonly diagnosed condition in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often affecting women who were deemed to be suffering from 'hysteria.'
In psychology, nervous prostration may be used to describe a state of severe emotional and physical fatigue resulting from psychological trauma or chronic stress.
In literature, 'nervous prostration' may be used to describe a character who experiences a mental or emotional breakdown due to extreme stress or anxiety.
Psychologists may use the term 'nervous prostration' to refer to a condition where an individual experiences physical and mental exhaustion as a result of prolonged stress or trauma.
Physicians may diagnose patients with 'nervous prostration' when they exhibit symptoms such as extreme fatigue, anxiety, and physical weakness without any underlying medical cause.