You wake up and realize that your alarm didn’t go off and throw on the first shirt and pair of pants you see. Grabbing your dead phone and backpack, you notice the unfinished math homework on the kitchen table and remember there’s a test today. You sink to the cold kitchen floor and start crying like a toddler.
We’ve all been there. We’ve all crashed out.
Because life is not rainbows and unicorns all the time, becoming suddenly, uncontrollably angry or distressed is an unavoidable human experience. However, if you happen to be crashing out, it’s probably not something you want to do in the middle of a biology exam.
So, if you’re having a really awful day, we have compiled a list of the top five places to release some steam.
1. Sobbing in the shower
When you’ve been dumped by your boyfriend of seven months, put your phone on the charger and hop into the shower.
The best part about crying in the shower is that you can’t tell the difference between your tears and the shower water. And if anyone mentions your red eyes, you can say you got soap in them.
Taking a warm shower relaxes your muscles and reduces tension. This can help you decompress and process your emotions. Showering can serve as a way to reset your day. Feeling clean and refreshed works wonders when in distress.
We recommend showering when you need to crash out because it provides a calming sensory experience, which is needed when feeling overwhelmed.
2. Car crash out
After a long shift of dealing with mean and dissatisfied customers, you collapse in the front seat, and all the emotion you’ve been holding in all day makes you feel like you’re going to burst.
Your car can be your sanctuary. You are cut off from the rest of the world and are in control. Being enclosed in your car provides a sense of freedom and power. You can control the temperature, music and location.
Parking in a random parking lot and letting out your emotions can be cathartic. Bonus points: No one can hear you scream if the crash out calls for that. We especially appreciate the feeling of getting away and having a mobile space to absolutely lose it.
3. Punching pillows
Like your car, your bed can be a comforting place to crash out. When you’ve come home from a long day and just got rejected by the love of your life, you need a place to cry.
Your bed is the place where you spend the most time; almost half of your life. It’s probably also the most comfortable spot in your house. Not only is it comfy, but it’s also yours.
A safe space like your bed will allow you to better regulate your emotions. Since your bed is in your room, it guarantees an extra level of privacy, which we find important when it comes to calming ourselves down.
The soft environment of a bed will also guarantee you don’t get hurt while flailing around and punching things.
4. Bathroom breakdown
When you just submitted your history test and received a 42 out of 100, you might feel your throat tighten and tears spring into your eyes. Luckily, you can escape to the bathroom to scream and cry without the popular girl who sits next to you judging.
Self-regulation in bathrooms is much more common than people think. It is so common that it has a designated name: “bathroom camping”.
This is a widely accepted form of self-regulation, particularly among Gen-Z. As many younger people need to cope with stress in school, bathrooms are a common place to find privacy and comfort.
When we start to feel like school is becoming too much, we find solace in taking a second for ourselves away from the classroom. Whether you sit in the stall and sob or splash your face with water, a bathroom can be a great getaway.
5. Using your outside voice
Remember that 42 out of 100? When you get home, your parents have something to say about that, and it isn’t pretty. Cue crash out No. 2 and your moment to storm out of the house.
Being outdoors is therapeutic during a crash-out. Spending time in nature has shown to improve emotional regulation skills, problem-solving and resilience.
Grounding yourself is looking at the big picture and being more present in the moment rather than letting your thoughts overwhelm you. When you find yourself losing control, grounding can be especially effective when done outdoors.
Time outside gives you space to regulate without the fear of being seen screaming and crying — and, thankfully, birds don’t judge.
If you’re having “a moment” and can’t think clearly over the sound of your own negative thoughts, then finding a good place to crash out is vital.
And listen, if we ever see you sobbing in the bathroom … it never happened.
Just let it out. We won’t judge.
Let us know in the comments your favorite place to crash out!
