When in doubt, crash out

By Kate Wu

No one can convince me that crashing out can’t be beneficial, and I believe everyone should crash out at least once in their lifetime.

This belief is reinforced by a video I came across, and I even stole my title from scrolling. The phrase, “When In Doubt, Crash Out” has stuck with me ever since. In Gen Z slang, it means reacting to stress or doubt by losing control, acting out, or having a massive emotional meltdown, rather than staying calm. This instinctive reaction often arises from high pressure, such as academic demands, financial burdens, or even just a general sense of instability.

Online, I’ve mostly found platforms that oppose and discourage this reaction, with different forms of popular belief arguing that crashing out is extremely harmful and destructive. The websites I’ve researched solely disprove the idea of crashing out in every way, explaining why it’s harmful, offering alternatives, and discouraging the behavior entirely. For example, Crisis Text Line ranks lashing out as one of the worst emotional releases among many others, emphasizing it as an unhealthy way to manage emotions.

Conversely, I believe that crashing out can actually be advantageous and euphoric.

In a world that constantly pushes us to perform and adapt, it’s common to worry about being perfect, to fear being judged if you’re different, so you only show people the version of you that looks put together, calm, and coping well. However, the real benefit of crashing out comes from dropping that facade. In a situation where you feel like you can’t speak up, want to change something, don’t like the other person’s opinion but you can’t afford to show weakness, you’ll end up trapping everything inside until it’s too late. This should be obvious, but don't you think when you have no choice to unload, it’s better to crash out first, than force your emotions all inside and wait until it’s too late?

That’s not to say we shouldn’t acknowledge the other severe consequences of constantly crashing out, or that everyone is just in a place where everyone can safely learn from it. It is also not my intention to suggest that meltdowns mean automatically healing or that harmful behavior is always justified. However, when you finally lose control, you often tell people your actual feelings, express discomfort, and force honesty into the space. This can also bring you closer to the other person, because the moment you’re no longer acting, you can both deal with and discuss reality. Rather than coping silently on your own, it can turn into a conversation where you’ll both be able to vulnerably share your issues. So surprisingly enough, crashing out can allow you to build stronger connections.

Following a crashout, you could emerge with a clearer understanding of your desires, boundaries, and aspirations. Moreover, releasing those emotions and accepting your body’s way of saying “enough” could bring you blissful relief from your bubbling emotions. It can force a period of sudden rest and recovery, which may be exactly what’s needed for some burnt out workaholics who often neglect their mental health. Crashing out could signal to you that your emotions need to be heard and understood, reminding us that even within the chaos, there’s room for reflection and growth.

In my opinion, the concept of crashing out deserves more appreciation and acknowledgement than it typically receives. I accept that there are still many negatives to this breakdown, but we could also look towards its positives as well. Not only is it a common human experience, but a beneficial learning journey that gives you an opportunity for self healing and discovery. And I’m not just writing this to drag you down a path of unceasing crash outs, but to point out why these moments could be beneficial and transformative, and that you could take advantage of them if they do happen to you.

So, whether you’re a year 13 trying to survive your final exams, or just someone who feels like they’re at their limit, always remember to embrace your emotions. Maybe you’re still figuring out the healthiest way to vent or speak up. But at least consider giving crashing out a try, and you just might see the positive outcomes that could follow.