Emotions are the core of what it means to be human. Emotions give meaning to all the events, people, and objects in our lives. Without emotions, we would not be able to connect, form friendships, have empathy or sympathy.
As important as emotions are to us, sometimes they can take us down a path that is unhealthy and destructive.
What exactly is an emotional meltdown?
An emotional meltdown is the result of severe, overwhelming emotional distress. Symptoms can range from uncontrollable crying and weeping, or uncontrollable rage. It can also be more prolonged and lead to depression, severe anxiety, and can cause your moods to swing wildly.
This is an extreme emotional state that is often overlooked or brushed off because of how wide-ranging the symptoms are, and how difficult it is to accept and deal with.
For the person having the meltdown, it is not a pleasant experience either; with many people feeling a great deal of regret and guilt over not having any control over their own emotional state, or their outbursts.
Emotional meltdowns can happen at home, at work, or even out in public. What triggers one person may not trigger another, but some situations do tend to trigger our more extreme emotional states.
Being overloaded with work in the office or at home
The sheer amount of things you sometimes have to deal with can often be completely overwhelming. Some people may describe it as feeling like they are drowning, and it triggers a severe emotional response.
Big life changes
We are all creatures of habit. We like knowing there are certainties in our lives. This is why everyone works so hard to build a stable life for themselves. Life does change, but it often changes gradually. Sometimes, a larger change might happen that you are not willing to yet deal with or unable to handle psychologically and emotionally.
A loss of family member, a divorce, moving to a new city or country are all big changes in life that can overwhelm even the most sure and most stable of us. Big changes bring about a higher degree of uncertainty and instability.
Emotions are what make us human, but sometimes, they can become so extreme that it leaves us in a state of panic, guilt, fear, or uncertainty. How often do people truly sit down to think about how they actually feel, why they feel that way, and what they can do about it?
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FAQs
An emotional meltdown is the result of severe, overwhelming emotional distress. Symptoms can range from uncontrollable crying and weeping, or uncontrollable rage. It can also be more prolonged and lead to depression, severe anxiety, and can cause your moods to swing wildly.
What triggers emotional meltdowns? ›
Meltdowns can be triggered by difficulties with sensory processing, communication, and emotional regulation. Meltdowns can be very intense, and present differently from person to person.
What is the difference between an emotional breakdown and an emotional meltdown? ›
Meltdowns occur when people feel overloaded. When the stimulus causing the meltdown goes away, people feel drained but return to balance rather quickly. A nervous breakdown, on the other hand, is a mental breakdown. It's more often the result of long-term psychological stress.
What is psychological meltdown? ›
An emotional meltdown happens when someone is experiencing severe emotional stress, such as coping with a personal situation, recovering from a traumatic event, or experiencing a moment of distress. It can manifest as uncontrollable crying, depression, or even rage.
How to deal with an emotional meltdown? ›
Check them out below.
- 5 tips to cope with an out-of-nowhere emotional meltdown, from a psychotherapist.
- Be kind to yourself. ...
- Try not to find the exact reason for your emotional meltdown. ...
- Express your emotions if you have the space to do so. ...
- Practice purge writing when something sets you off.
There are generally three stages to a meltdown; the build up, the meltdown/shutdown and recovery. This is also known as the anxiety and defensive stage. It usually consists of physical, verbal and behavioural signs. This is the best stage to intervene.
What does an ADHD meltdown look like? ›
A MELTDOWN CAN SEEM TO COME OUT OF NOWHERE.
It's one of the challenging or explosive behaviors we see in those who have ADHD. Sometimes it appears as poor self-esteem, yelling, rage, or tears.
What does a mental meltdown look like? ›
If you feel you are having a nervous breakdown you may: have anxiety or depression that you can't manage. withdraw from your usual daily activities, miss appointments or social activities. feel hopeless or helpless.
Why do I have meltdowns as an adult? ›
The aftermath and exhaustion that occurs from dealing with issues like forgetfulness, disorganization, procrastination and other symptoms can absolutely lead to emotional exhaustion and meltdowns. Feelings of failure, low self-confidence and negative self-talk all contribute to symptoms-related ADHD meltdowns.
What is the first stage of a mental breakdown? ›
The five stages of a mental breakdown include: The honeymoon phase – The first stage of a nervous breakdown is referred to as the “honeymoon” stage and is particularly noticeable when undertaking new work responsibilities or initiatives. There are no warning signs of a nervous breakdown at this time.
The Five Signs encouraged people to ask if they or their loved ones were not feeling themselves, feeling withdrawn, feeling agitated, feeling hopeless or not caring for themselves. A longtime mental health advocate, Broderick discovered the program and introduced it to New Hampshire.
How to control emotional outbursts? ›
Strategies to keep anger at bay
- Check yourself. It's hard to make smart choices when you're in the grips of a powerful negative emotion. ...
- Don't dwell. ...
- Change the way you think. ...
- Relax. ...
- Improve your communication skills. ...
- Get active. ...
- Recognize (and avoid) your triggers.
How to Stop an Emotional Meltdown if You Feel One Coming On
- Take a deep breath in for four seconds.
- Hold the breath for four seconds.
- Breathe out for four seconds.
- Pause for four seconds before taking another breath.
- Repeat until you feel calmer.
Tantrums, rage, and meltdowns (terms that are used interchangeably) typically occur in three stages that can be of variable length. They are (a) the “rumbling” stage, (b) the “rage” stage, and (c) the “recovery” stage (Myles and Southwick, 1999).
What is an uncontrolled emotional outburst called? ›
Understanding Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)
Everyone experiences intense emotions from time to time, but some teenagers develop a condition known as Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED). This is characterized by intense outbursts of anger and violence that can be both verbal and physical.
Why do I have sudden emotional breakdowns? ›
A nervous breakdown can be caused by a single event that causes someone extreme stress, but unmanaged mental health conditions often play a role. Underlying health conditions may include depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What can trigger meltdowns? ›
Recognize Triggers
Sensory overload is a common meltdown trigger. This can include lights, sounds, smells, and different textures (like seams in socks). Emotional overwhelm and stress can also trigger meltdowns. If you know your child's triggers, you can find ways to avoid them or make them more manageable.
What is the root cause of emotional triggers? ›
These emotions can have their roots in the negative experiences and traumatic events of the past, which can then be triggered by events or situations in the present.
Why am I having meltdowns for no reason? ›
Dr. Stern says that an occasional meltdown is completely normal. “You may suddenly burst into tears or lash out with anger because you feel out of control, overwhelmed with pressures and things in your life that are unpredictable. That doesn't mean something is 'wrong' with you,” she says.
