Flooding

Gottman's term for physiological overwhelm during conflict. Heart rate exceeds 100 bpm, stress hormones surge, and the brain's ability to process and respond constructively shuts down. When someone is flooded, more talking makes it worse. The antidote is a genuine break of at least 20-30 minutes — not to stew, but to physiologically calm down. Most stonewalling is a response to flooding.

Origin

John Gottman