basket case

The phrase "basket case" is an idiom often used to describe someone or something that is in a state of extreme emotional or mental instability, usually as a result of stress, trauma, or anxiety. It can also refer to something that is completely dysfunctional, broken, or beyond repair. The term is derived from World War I, when soldiers who had lost all four limbs were carried in special baskets called "basket cases," symbolizing their severe physical and mental debilitation. Today, the term is more commonly used figuratively to describe a person or situation that is considered hopeless or distressed.