Burnout, breakdown, repeat: Why young adults are ‘crashing out'

Business Times

4 days ago

[SINGAPORE] Over lunch, an intern was excitedly sharing how Justin Bieber was having a 'crashout'.
Naturally, as a millennial, I thought: Nap? Car accident? Both at the same time?
Turns out, the new phrase entering the Gen Z lexicon describes something as old as time – essentially, a full-blown meltdown after hitting your breaking point.
Let's be real: Gen Zs aren't exactly having it easy. Many are graduating into a dismal job market, with artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly wiping out entry-level roles.
Add on the constant stream of bad news with potential wars and global instability, and it's little surprise why some are crashing out.
But what's new isn't the breakdowns – it's how Gen Zs are embracing them on TikTok. Just search for 'crashout', and you'll find everything from genuine hysterical outbursts to memes.
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The line between healthy vulnerability and unhealthy oversharing is thin, but what's clear is that Gen Zs are moving away from Instagram's curated perfection and leaning into messy, unfiltered authenticity.
Why share it online? For some, it's catharsis. For others, it's about feeling less alone or trauma-bonding in a world that can seem isolating.
Source: TikTok
One viral video shows a content creator sobbing as she studies. It received mostly positive comments, with many relating to her experience. 'Same, girl, same,' wrote one user.
🩺 TikTok therapy? Gen Zs may be more open about talking about their mental health challenges, but putting your pain online can be a double-edged sword. Yes, knowing that others are going through the same thing helps one to feel seen. But on the other hand, some of these crashouts can end up seeming performative. And when breakdowns become a punchline, this could well trivialise important mental health issues.
And here's something worrying – as crashouts become more 'mainstream', it's harder to tell when someone truly needs help. Watching such content can numb you to the reality that some behaviour signals real distress as lines are blurred.
And no one is immune to crashouts, Gen Z or not.
'Small meltdowns are part of being human, especially in today's high-pressure world,' says Dr Ong Mian-Li, clinical psychologist and founder of Lightfull Psychology and Consulting. 'Crashing out is not weakness – it's your brain's way of waving a red flag to yourself.'
According to him, signs that warrant closer attention include crashouts that increase in frequency or to the point where it affects sleep, relationships or your sense of self-worth.
But as more Gen Zs egg on others to broadcast their crashouts on TikTok – labelling it 'empowerment' – that's when it can get problematic.
Source: TikTok
'Letting it out can feel relieving in the moment, and is one short-term solution but it is not a long-term strategy,' says Dr Ong.
'If venting is the only tool in our toolbox, it can keep us stuck.'
Healthy processing involves both release and repair: understanding why you're crashing, and what needs to change – be it taking care of ourselves or reaching out for help, he adds.
Learning emotional regulation and having the wisdom to seek professional help might not go viral on social media, but in the long run, it's far more helpful than advice from strangers in the comments section.
That said, it's perfectly okay to enjoy crashout content. Not everything on social media has to be that deep. Sometimes, watching someone else spiral over work stress or a bad day can feel oddly comforting or even funny as it's just the kind of dark humour we need to get by.
What's important is knowing when it's just entertainment – and when it might be time to log off and check in with yourself.
Source: TikTok
📋 Crashout checklist
It's okay to fall apart – but it's also okay to ask for help before you get there. Dr Ong suggests these steps:
Instead of shaming yourself, get curious. What do you really need right now? Sleep? Connection? Boundaries?
Acknowledge what you're feeling: Name it without judgment.
Behaviour: Do something to shift your state. Try journalling, going for a walk, making a meal or going out to get some sunlight.
Community: Talk to someone you trust, be it a friend or a mental health professional. Don't wait till things are dire before reaching out.
As Dr Ong puts it: 'The goal isn't to never crash… It's to build better roads around the potholes.'
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