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flooding

n.
US //ˈfɫədɪŋ// UK //flˈʌdɪŋ// flood·ing
  1. 1 water covering land (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    when a large amount of water covers an area that is usually dry.

    the submerging of land that is usually dry, typically caused by heavy rain or an overflowing river.

    Example

    Heavy rain caused severe flooding in the streets of the city center.

    Example

    The coastal town implemented new drainage systems to mitigate the risk of seasonal flooding caused by rising sea levels and storm surges.
  2. 2 emotional overwhelm (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Psychology

    a feeling of being so overwhelmed by emotions like anger or fear that you cannot think clearly.

    a psychological state where an individual is overwhelmed by intense emotions, often triggering a fight-or-flight response.

    Example

    When he feels emotional flooding during an argument, he needs to take a break.

    Example

    Therapists often teach grounding techniques to help patients manage emotional flooding before it escalates into a full panic attack.
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  1. 3 exposure therapy (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Psychology

    a type of therapy where a person is suddenly faced with the thing they fear most to help them get over it.

    a behavioral therapy technique used to treat phobias by exposing the patient to their most feared stimulus for a prolonged period.

    Example

    The doctor suggested flooding to help her overcome her extreme fear of spiders.

    Example

    Unlike systematic desensitization, flooding involves immediate and maximum exposure to the phobic stimulus to extinguish the fear response quickly.
    • exposure therapy
    • implosion therapy
    • desensitization

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