freak-out
Sudden emotional collapse
A freak-out is an episode of losing control—panicking, becoming wildly agitated, or having an intense emotional reaction: She had a total freak-out when she saw the spider.
The term emerged from 1960s counterculture, where it could also mean a drug-induced altered state or an ecstatic experience.
To freak out is the corresponding verb: Don't freak out, but I crashed your car.
Uncontrolled display of frustration
- blowupSudden fit of rage
- rageIntense, violent anger
- explosionViolent burst of energy
- hystericsUncontrollable emotional outburst
flare-up · meltdown · screaming · yelling · shouting · scene · fit · conniption
Catastrophic loss of control
- hysteriaUncontrollable emotional excess
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
breakdown · chaos · mayhem · frenzy · distress · shock · horror · consternation
Troubled mental state
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- tensionStretched or strained state
- apprehensionNervous anticipation of trouble
unease · jitters · angst · fear · dread · restlessness · edginess · disquiet
Theatrical art or turmoil
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- theatricsExaggerated dramatic behavior
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
escalation · commotion · uproar · furor · tempest · histrionics · sensationalism · overkill
tantrum
Uncontrolled display of frustration
hysterics · flare-up · meltdown · screaming · yelling · shouting · scene · fit · conniption · tirade
meltdown
Catastrophic loss of control
crisis · breakdown · chaos · mayhem · frenzy · distress · shock · horror · consternation · tumult
worry
Troubled mental state
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- tensionStretched or strained state
apprehension · unease · jitters · angst · fear · dread · restlessness · edginess · disquiet · trepidation
drama
Theatrical art or turmoil
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- theatricsExaggerated dramatic behavior
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
overreaction · escalation · commotion · uproar · furor · tempest · histrionics · sensationalism · overkill · dramatization
- panicpanic attack, alarm, terror, fright, hysteria
- tantrumstantrums, tantrum, temper tantrums, meltdowns, outbursts
- overreactionsoverreaction, meltdown, tantrum, hissy fit, blowup
freak-outcalm
Free from agitation
composure · cool-headedness · equanimity · tranquility · serenity
freak-outchill-out
Command to relax
relaxation · unwinding · decompression · calm down · settling down
freak-outkeeping one's cool
Staying composed when provoked
keeping it together · holding it together · taking it in stride · nonreaction · underreaction