The last mega-meltdown was probably about 17 years ago, in a work situation. Other posters here have already described the appearance and embarrassment of it all rather well.
But these days, I seem to be having quite regular micro meltdowns, from which I recover my poise almost immediately. So I suppose my subconscious is actively trying to avoid anything too unseemly happening. The trigger is usually a family member rushing me impatiently to do something they think they need dome immediately. As I am about the only person available here who cares about doing things in a careful and safe manner, this happens on an almost daily basis. The disturbing thing is that they almost seem to figure that this is the only way to motivate me and keep me on task. They've got it totally wrong. I want people to clearly communicate what they want me to do with less haste and more patience. As I'm officially retired, I really do not see any point in rushing a task, when by taking your time carefully you can actually do the job so much better in less time. And people here can get quite shrill quite quickly if you don't show loads of rank respect at every available whipstitch. And then I get shrill in return, and they hate that. They feel disrespected by someone who over-reacts to their over-impatience (and desire for control at all costs,) But it is also a mistake to try and calmly tell people why I don't react well to a jostling approach. Frankly, they just don't seem to have any idea that other 'lesser' people want to have some say in their own lives. And as I am retired, I don't really want to be bothered with continually stroking their (also rather fragile) egos. I need to generate some satisfaction from my later life, by doing stuff with some degree of mindfulness. Don't push me! ;-)
Everyone is different and as CaliforniaDreamer95 states it depends on what senses are being affected.
For me it is the steady build up of sounds (Noise cancelling headphones and music is then my blocker) plus then a sense of being overwhelmed (conversations where I am continually bombarded unable to get away, some things that I/others can see are huge yet the customer disagrees and does not listen).
I have been in meetings punch drunk from the Spanish Inquisition of two managers, other times have my head in my hands, crying in the office and when I snap, saying something wrong it is used against me.
When you can see no way out of the situation, feeling bullied out of the company, then the Stress/Anxiety/Depression and Fight/Flight take over. Even the damagers make everything out to be me when it obviously is not whilst patently ignoring certain Company Policies/Statute Laws.
Sensory overload is a very distressing experience. Depending on which sense is being affected (Visual, Audio, Taste, Touch, Smell), you try your best to get away from what is causing the overload. When in a confined space it is even worse, and due to other emotions kicking in, you tend to forget that there are other people around. When you have managed to compose yourself, you realise what has happened, and people around you are staring at you in contempt.
