What exactly is a "Meltdown"?

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I also agreee completely with the above post....not being able to connect with ager..internalising it...it builds up into a cyclone of sorts....


As an adult I will cry..The other night I had a panic attack/meltdown experience over something seemingly small...when I was left to run SHFL on my own.
It was very embarrasing because I started crying uncontrollably in front of a group of acquaintances that I was uncomfortable with....and there was no-one around that I knew to back me up at the time...our sound guy showed up a little later, after I had already made a dismal impression on these "scary" hippy characters.
I was not completely out of control of the situation...I just could not stop crying...and I explained to them repeately that I was having an anxiety attack.
Then I had to hide in the back and take sedatives.

Other times I have been overcome with a buncha negative and self-destructive thoughts....this has resulted in my doing really stupid and irrational things...like walk several miles home on foot.

I have also slapped myself repeatedly. I don't do it often..

Sometimes it will be brought on by something seemingly minor...a negative intrraction at the grocery store, for example....will have me immobilised for the day....
Any sorta sudden...negative thing can do it....and the level of fragility of my state of mind also has an effect....

A meltdown can be many things: an emotional outburst, some type of psychological break down, a temper tantrum triggered by and adversive stimulant, loss of control, an adversive reaction to an overwhelming stimulus, ect. The type, frequency and severity of meltdowns depends on the person and the situation which caused it.

I dont melt down anymore, but when I used to, it could be summed up by three lines of Douglas Adams:

I have had had some that have lasted for WEEKS...lame lame lame....