The Jenga Tower Theory of Emotional Collapse

Why it’s rarely just one thing.

Most emotional breakdowns are explained poorly. We are told we are too sensitive, overreacting, or making a big deal out of nothing, as if one small moment flipped a switch, and suddenly everything fell apart. But that is not how it actually works.

Lately, my husband and I have been using a different metaphor, one that feels more honest and far less shame-inducing. Think of your nervous system like a Jenga tower.

On a good day, the tower is solid. A block can be pulled out here or there. A rude comment. A frustrating errand. A moment of disappointment. An emergency. Anything that activates the nervous system. The structure holds. You wobble, maybe, but you recover.

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