Symptoms of a crash include the feeling of being alone, loss of trust in the top, feelings of guilt and a loss of erotic tension. Where previously beatings were perceived as arousing, they are now merely painful; Verbal humiliation is as humiliating as it was never intended.
On the top's part, a fall can manifest itself in losing emotional contact with his partner, becoming insecure or feeling guilty. A crash can be triggered by touching “sore spots” through play (e.g., slaps that trigger memories of abuse, memories of abuse that come to the surface, uncertainty as to whether Top is still “under control”). The likelihood of a crash increases if one or both people involved had no desire to play and only got involved for the sake of the other person. The first known depiction of a crash from a sadomasochistic game in film can be found in “Romance XXX” (F. 1999) by Catherine Breillat.