I don’t know if there’s a term for this beyond “the straws that break the camel’s back.” (And about a hundred other similar colloquialisms.) Of course, there are about a million ways to say this because it’s such a relatable feeling.

Often times, when we’re really in a challenging place, we have the ability to slow down and deal with major life problems because we force ourselves to do so. We force ourselves to block out the noise of whatever is troubling us for a few moments, so we can handle the flood or the tornado or the person trying to stab us. We don’t do that when we’ve just broken a plate, so that broken plate hits us right where we’re vulnerable. It finds the chinks in our armor and stabs right through them.

I think when we’re feeling like this, it’s an indication that we’re in a state of really being overwhelmed, and we need to take a step back and take some time for ourselves. It’s a moment to do some self care (not the daily sort, the “pamper yourself” sort), to give yourself a few days off your obligations (hire someone to fill in for you if you have to, you need a break). It’s a moment to just heal, because clearly things are out of wack.