Freakouts are an intense emotional response to a stressful or anxiety-inducing situation. Some synonyms that can be used instead of freakouts include meltdowns, outbursts, breakdowns, fits, tantrums, explosions, and episodes. Each of these words implies a sudden and intense expression of extreme emotions. Meltdowns suggest a loss of control, while outbursts and breakdowns imply a sudden release of pent-up emotions. Fits and tantrums are associated with childish behavior, and explosions and episodes are used more commonly in medical or psychological settings. Regardless of the word used, all of these synonyms convey a sense of overwhelming emotion.