freakout
Losing your composure
A freakout is a sudden loss of composure—an episode of panic, rage, or overwhelming emotion: She had a total freakout when she saw the spider.
The term emerged from 1960s drug culture, where it described bad trips or drug-induced episodes, but now applies to any intense emotional reaction.
As a verb phrase, to freak out is either to lose control or to alarm someone: Don't freak out, but I crashed your car.
Failure or decomposition
- collapseSudden structural failure
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- unravelingProcess of coming undone
snap · crumble · tantrum · fit · episode · scene · outburst · blowup
Intense hostile emotion
- furyIntense violent anger
- outburstSudden emotional release
- explosionViolent burst of energy
- blowupSudden fit of rage
tirade · screaming · yelling · shouting · seething · livid · snapping · unhinged
Persistent apprehensive distress
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- fearEmotional response to threat
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- hyperventilationAbnormally rapid respiration
trembling · heart-pounding · trepidation · phobia · paranoia · fight-or-flight · alarm · startle
Emotionally out of control
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
- overwroughtExcessively emotional or elaborate
- distraughtDeeply agitated by grief
- irrationalLacking sound judgment
manic · delirium · histrionics · overreaction · drama · theatrics · shrieking · wailing
Pressure, mental or vocal
- worryTroubled mental state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- jittersNervous agitation
- uneaseMild persistent worry
apprehension · dread · tension · edginess · restlessness · agitation · obsessing · catastrophizing
breakdown
Failure or decomposition
unraveling · snap · crumble · tantrum · fit · episode · scene · outburst · blowup · conniption
anger
Intense hostile emotion
blowup · tirade · screaming · yelling · shouting · seething · livid · snapping · unhinged · violent
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
hyperventilation · trembling · heart-pounding · trepidation · phobia · paranoia · fight-or-flight · alarm · startle · shock
hysterical
Emotionally out of control
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
- overwroughtExcessively emotional or elaborate
- distraughtDeeply agitated by grief
irrational · manic · delirium · histrionics · overreaction · drama · theatrics · shrieking · wailing · flailing
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
- worryTroubled mental state
- nervousnessState of anxious unease
- jittersNervous agitation
unease · apprehension · dread · tension · edginess · restlessness · agitation · obsessing · catastrophizing · rumination
- extreme reactionsmeltdown, hysteria, panic, outrage, fury
- frenzyfrenzy, mania, hysteria, madness, fury
- overreactionsoverreaction, meltdown, tantrum, hissy fit, blowup
- meltdownsnuclear meltdown, reactor meltdown, meltdown, losing it, snapping
- stress signspanic, anxiety, worry, tension, burnout
- letting loosecutting loose, letting go, going wild, going crazy, running wild
freakoutcalm
Free from agitation
serenity · tranquility · composure · equanimity · placidity
freakoutmeasured response
Controlled, proportional reply
keeping it together · taking it in stride · nonchalance · keeping cool · restraint
freakoutclarity
State of being understandable
lucidity · clear-headedness · presence of mind · collectedness · cool-headedness