How to avert a meltdown?

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I think I'm about to have some kind of meltdown. I had a fight with my dad earlier (or he did with me, I don't understand what I did wrong), which led to anxiety, and built from there. I can feel my heart and my pulse all the way through my body; it's making my skin crawl and emotionally I can't settle. It's been hours.

I can feel my emotions building up in my head. They're becoming less and less distinct; harder to see, never mind understand or reconcile with. Picture a cumulonimbus, it's that. Imminent storm. I feel horrible.

So far I have tried to distract myself with various activities, and to drown it out with music. If it was dark, I could go outside, but as it is there's too much stimulation out there. Light, traffic, neighbours, ugh.

What do you do if you feel a meltdown coming on?

And if there's nothing you can do to stop it, do you ever try and speed it up?
I'd love to get this out of the way so I can get back to studying.

Well in the interests of experimenting, two things that helped:

- putting on a compression top. I thought the pressure might help, and it did.
- writing about something positive. Thinking happy thoughts is hard to get into. Writing makes it easier.

I feel slightly better.
Yay me.

I have a playlist of calming music and a playlist of funny or adorable videos on hand whenever possible. They help distract me from having emotional meltdowns. If you feel yourself getting irritable, confused, or having disjointed thoughts, the best thing to do in my experience is distract yourself. Of course, you still need to solve the underlying issue, but you can do that when you're not about to have a meltdown.

For meltdowns caused by sensory overload, there's not much you can do aside from removing yourself from the situation or using earplugs/sunglasses/blanket.

Hold your breath for at least 5-10 seconds during an anxiety attack, then exhale through your nose as many times as you can.

Inhale through your nose for at least five seconds, then repeat exhalation.

Think of ways you can keep your anxiety in check.

Talk to other members of your family if they understand you.

Try yoga.

Dr EV said it best.

Don't look at yourself as a terrible person for arguing with your dad. Don't argue with your elders, and it happens. Having to call yourself a terrible person is only going to make the situation more confusing and frustrating. What makes it more confusing is trying to fix the situation when enough has been done.

What helps me is sleeping.
What also helps in averting a meltdown is trying your best to be patient.

I'm sorry for what you have gone through today. I hope your relationship with your father gets better.

Just think about the ultimate results of your studying: less dependence on your dad.

So you're graduating?

^ Not quite, 2 exams and another year lol.

This is closer than I got before though.
Closer.
I'm going to get there.

CLOSER

^ Nice, but where's the video?


Trent in a ballgag would really have calmed me down.

Also, I'm trying to work out how to knit his jumper. I want one.

Two birds, one stone.

Hey ! I might be a bit late with my tip, hope you're feeling better now !
when I start feeling too many emotions building up in my head, I found out that the thing that calms me down best is going out with my skipping rope and just work out for like half an hour. I find the rythm of it very soothing and the exercice helps me putting some distance with what is upsetting me. Plus it's excellent cardio