The term "Melt-down"

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Okay, I would just like to point out that I am horrible at rating things. i was in labor and the doctor finally got frustrated with asking me to rate the pain from 1-10, and me saying "I don't know" and him "just try to rate it?" and finally came back with a chart of face pictures, which was a lot easier, still not really easy.

Looking up Melt-down, I keep coming up with references to Nuclear plants.

My question: at what point does it become a "melt-down".

I seem to go from stressed into a, what I can only describe as a, "mode". I start moving slower, just keep doing whatever I am doing, but all the sudden nothing external matters much (after i make sure the kids are safe). Everything just sort of slows down, like my brain just goes into this new "mode". My most attention is put on my breathing and how steady it is. (which I guess is a stress coping strategy of mine, unfortunately people in ER don't believe I am actually as bad as I am because I "appear" totally calm during an anaphalactic reaction. I am pretty sure this is not a melt down, but I sure don't know WHAT it is. I have also had what I am pretty sure could be rated as a panic-attack. (though I believe it to be part of an allergy attack.) I had a feeling of impending doom, was physically shaking, and TERRIFIED that someone would see/talk to me. It felt like someone was sitting on my chest, and my breathing was labored. I don't know how I made it out of the store, but I apparently managed to pay for my items and get out.

Where is that "line" that shows where a "melt-down" starts? At what point does something turn into a "melt-down"?

Sorry, if this topic seems kind of weird! It's just that everyone and their brother think that everyone and their brother already knows exactly what they are talking about when this term is throw around.
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Det

well..u think it is? coz after all u can be calm during em..or u can just totally freakout..after all asperger is in our brains so it really depends a person what affects u got..u can even be in pain like im sure your doctor tryet to know

Sorry guys, I think I rambled a little too much, and my actual question got covered up.

About the "panic attack": It resembled a panic-attack (from my understanding) but was part of a larger picture. I was having an allergic reaction to something that triggered it, or something very very similar. I was asking if something had to be of that magnitude to be considered a melt-down.

Question: At what point can it be considered a melt-down? Is it just loss of normal behavior? (normal for one's self?)

I almost had a meltdown today..

I put myself in an awkward social situation and it didn't go how I thought it would. Luckily, I held it together, and it got *slightly* better. I guess I did learn a lesson from it, though, so that is good.