When the Dam Breaks

Flooding does not switch off the moment an argument ends. Stress hormones can linger for minutes or hours, so the trigger may be gone while your body is still catching up.

Flooding shows up in the body first. Your heart rate jumps past 100 beats per minute, your muscles tense, your breathing turns shallow, and your vision narrows.

Mentally, you lose nuance. Words like "always" and "never" start creeping in. That kind of all-or-nothing thinking is the clearest sign you are flooded.