Why is meltdown bad

Quick Read. Full Article. Tantrums vs. Underlying causes. Skills that may be lacking. Parents are primary. Caroline Miller. Caroline Miller is the editorial director of the Child Mind Institute. She is a veteran magazine, newspaper and website editor … Read Bio.

Was this article helpful? Explore Popular Topics. Behavior Problems. Learning Disorders. View More Topics. Sign Up for Our Newsletters. Stay connected. The good news is that you can recover from a meltdown, and you can learn to manage the stressors in your life that threaten to push you over the edge, so that future meltdowns are less likely. The particulars of an emotional meltdown are unique to the individual, but certain situations raise the likelihood of a meltdown occurring in many if not most people.

Are you overtired? Are you hungry? Have you taken on too much? Taking on too many responsibilities at once — or even agreeing to too many social activities — is a surefire recipe for feeling overwhelmed. Are you in the middle of a life transition? Getting or losing a job, starting or ending a relationship, moving to a new home, getting married, having a baby, graduating college, and many other normal life transitions make you more emotionally vulnerable.

Have you let relationship stresses build up? The closer the relationship, the more important it is to address differences as they arise. Allowing conflicts to fester typically makes them more stressful, not less. Some may be easily resolved, such as being sure to eat more frequently.

Others may take more work, such as learning better communication skills. Doing the following may help:. If you need a minute or two to absorb bad news or an upsetting communication, then take that minute or two, then revisit the issue when you feel calmer. Do you feel embarrassed or ashamed of your behavior or of letting others know how you feel? Are you afraid or anxious about possible repercussions for your outburst?

They might involve crying, screaming, throwing or breaking things, or other physical expressions of distress. Some people also withdraw or zone out. They happen in response to extreme overwhelm caused by:. You might think of them as a loss of control that happens when you can no longer cope with a situation.

This neurological tic disorder involves uncontrollable muscle spasms, but anywhere from 20 to 67 percent of people with Tourette syndrome may also have rage attacks, according to a research review. The review authors noted that these attacks may be more common in people who also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD.

They tend to be more severe than the trigger would usually warrant. For example, shouting at a co-worker when you catch them using the coffee creamer you brought from home. Experiencing meltdowns and rage attacks can be pretty upsetting. While rage attacks and meltdowns may not necessarily be your fault, they can still harm you, as well as the people you love.

These tips can help you begin taking back control. Still, knowing what types of situations tend to make you angry or upset can help you come up with strategies to prevent outbursts.

Maybe you notice you have the most difficulty controlling emotions :. The key to success lies in practicing these techniques regularly.

Find more anger management exercises here. You could also hurt yourself or someone else. Improved communication can help you express anger in healthier ways.

If you can name and describe specific emotions and feelings, other people have a better chance of understanding the problem and helping you resolve it. Therapists can offer support with strengthening communication skills, but self-help books can also have benefit. A therapist can teach you relaxation techniques and skills to better manage your feelings.

These can help with any kind of tantrum or rage attack, regardless of the underlying cause. Cognitive behavioral therapy CBT , an approach that helps many people improve their ability to manage distress, may have particular benefit for IED. Therapy also offers a safe space to get support with identifying and processing difficult feelings if you struggle with emotional regulation. Very occasionally, uncontrollable rage could have an underlying medical or psychiatric cause.

When someone you care about has tantrums or meltdowns, you might wonder how to best offer support or de-escalate the situation. First, try to keep calm. This might be difficult if they seem to want to provoke you. If they say unkind things, you might begin to feel hurt and angry yourself. Though being ignored might infuriate you, resist the temptation to blow up at them.