Before You Come Unglued: How to Spot the Signs and Save Yourself

January 30, 2026

We often think of ourselves as solid, unbreakable creatures. We carry the weight of our jobs, our families, and our future plans as if we are made of stone. But the truth is, we are more like a beautifully bound book. We are held together by layers of patience, energy, and emotional resilience. Most of the time, this "glue" holds strong. But when the heat rises, the pressure mounts, and the day pulls at us from every direction, even the strongest adhesive begins to melt.

In Sweden, they have a vivid phrase for that exact moment when the stress becomes too much and we finally snap. They say someone is about to:

"Gå upp i limningen."

Translated into English, it means: "To go up in the gluing" (or simply, to come unglued).

It is a terrifying feeling. It’s that moment when you feel your composure slipping away, and you know that an explosion—of anger, tears, or panic—is inevitable. But the good news is that "coming unglued" is rarely a sudden accident. It is a process. And if you can learn to spot the signs, you can re-seal the bond before you fall apart.

Spotting the Warning Signals

The glue doesn't fail all at once. It softens first. Before you lose your temper or burst into tears, your body gives you warning signals.

maybe your heart starts beating a little faster.
maybe your thoughts start racing in a loop, obsessing over a small comment.
maybe you feel a sudden flash of heat in your face, or a tightness in your chest.

These are your "check engine" lights. When you feel them, stop. Do not push through. Your body is telling you that you are about to gå upp i limningen.

Find Your Safe Harbor

When you feel the glue failing, the most important thing you can do is protect yourself. You need a "safe place."

This doesn't have to be a meditation retreat in the mountains. It can be your car parked around the corner. It can be a bathroom stall. It can be a quiet park bench. The goal is to physically remove yourself from the trigger. Stepping away isn't a sign of weakness; it is a strategic move to preserve your dignity and your peace. Give yourself permission to say, "I need a moment," and walk away until the glue cools down.

The Gentle Investigation: What Was the Trigger?

Once you have stepped away and your heart rate has returned to normal, try to look back at what happened with curiosity, not judgment. What exactly made you feel like you were coming unglued?

Everyone’s triggers are different.

For some, it is the feeling of being ignored or disrespected.
For others, it is sensory overload: too much noise, too many emails, too many demands.
Sometimes, it is just exhaustion or hunger masquerading as rage.

Ask yourself: Where did my thoughts go crazy? What specific word or action acted as the solvent that dissolved my patience? Knowing your triggers is the first step to disarming them.

Find Your Own Repair Kit

Just as we all break differently, we all heal differently. You need to find the specific "break" that works for you.

If your trigger is noise, your repair kit might be noise-canceling headphones and five minutes of silence.
If your trigger is feeling trapped, your repair might be a brisk walk outside to feel the wind on your face.
If your trigger is overthinking, your repair might be writing it all down on paper to get it out of your head.

Be Gentle with Your Binding

Life is messy, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we will gå upp i limningen. That is okay. It is part of being human. We are not machines; we are living things held together by fragile, precious glue.

So, be kind to yourself today. Watch for the signals. Take the break before you break. And remember that even if you do come unglued, you can always put yourself back together again—stronger, wiser, and more resilient than before.