When you’re asking, “why am I so emotional?” there are several factors to consider. Emotions can be confusing!
Having emotions is normal – obviously. But some people tend to be far more emotional than others. These people were often referred to as “cry babies” when they were little and as they grew, they were then called “immature.” Those people probably often ask themselves, “why am I so emotional?”
As we grow older, we realize it’s harder than it looks to control our emotions. Whether you’re a natural empath or just sensitive, being emotional can make you feel out of control at times. Being emotional has far more to do with science and genetics than it does with anything else. [Read: How to control your emotions and become the pinnacle of restraint]
It’s okay to be emotional and show people that side of you
There’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with showing your emotions. Everyone has them. Just because some people choose to hide that side of them doesn’t mean you should if you don’t want to. It’s human to experience emotions. Having emotions isn’t a bad thing, but they’re all part of the human experience.
In fact, showing your emotions can even be a sign of strength and bravery. The only reason why it’s frowned upon is that people assume that strength means being invincible and powerful. In other words, emotions equate to weakness, which isn’t true at all.
So if you’re feeling sad – then feel sad! Cry if you have to. Don’t apologize for how you feel or for who you are. Own it. That emotional side of you may be what someone falls in love with someday. [Read: Should you embrace your sensitive side?]
You need to find emotional balance
The world will repeatedly convince you over and over that your emotions will make you weak. While there are situations where your emotions can make you feel out of control, emotions make you human. It’s normal to feel your emotions and the more you repress them, the weaker you’ll feel *both metaphorically and literally*.
This is why people who deal with intense emotions like grief and loss tend to never heal from this until they come to terms with their emotions and sit with them. But some people tend to feel their emotions more intensely than others, for whatever factors.
While emotions aren’t bad, they can also lead to the downward spiral of your life if emotions are all you run; if there’s a lack of balance between your emotions and logic. [Read: Emotionally stable: How to find your zone of perfect calmness]
Why am I so emotional? – What science has to say about your feelings
Emotions have everything to do with your brain and its chemistry. Therefore, you can’t really do anything about being a really emotional person. Sure, you can practice hiding those emotions, but that’s not always healthy.
If you often ask yourself, “Why am I so emotional?” these answers may be what you’re looking for. Just remember that everyone is different and how you’re feeling could be 100% unique to you and your situation.
1. You’re not
A lot of people in Western societies may feel like they’re “too emotional” based on society’s standards. It’s often thought that men aren’t supposed to have too many “feelings” and that it’s more acceptable for women to be overly emotional. But in reality, you might not be too emotional at all. What you’re feeling could be completely average.
It really depends on your culture and those around you. You may think that you’re too emotional when that’s not the case at all in reality. Have a change of environment and culture, and maybe you’ll start to see that your emotions are pretty average. [Read: How to express your feelings & get your point across the right way]
2. Hormones
If you have a hormone imbalance, you’ll start to feel very emotional. The stereotype of women being very emotional around the time of their period was invented because their hormones fluctuate during that time. Therefore, women are particularly more sensitive during this time.
However, your hormones can fluctuate for a number of reasons. Sometimes you’re not eating enough, other times you may just have an issue something you’ve eaten. The bottom line is that if you’re randomly feeling very emotional, your hormones may be responsible. [Read: 12 factors that play a big part in emotional stability]
3. Genetics
If your family members are the same way, it’s just how you are. You were made to be a more emotional person and there’s really nothing “wrong” with you at all. So embrace your emotional side! Maybe you just feel your emotions more than others because of your genetics and hereditary – and that’s completely fine!
It just means that genetically, you feel emotions on a deeper level than other people. You can’t control how emotional you get if this is the factor responsible for how you feel.
4. You’re not getting enough sleep
If you frequently get less than 7 hours of sleep a night and you ask yourself “why am I so emotional?” it’s because of sleep deprivation. Your brain needs time to rest and recuperate. If it can’t do that, it won’t be able to process emotions the same. AKA, you’ll get cranky and sad very easily.
Also, when you’re sleep-deprived, your body produces more of the stress hormone (cortisol). In other words, get more sleep if you want to be less emotional! [Read: 15 reasons you’re emotionally drained and how to cure it]
5. You’ve been through something traumatic
If you’ve experienced a trauma, you may end up being a more emotional person as a result. This is often due to PTSD-related issues. Your emotions will be triggered far easier and it causes you to relive certain horrors.
So if you’ve experienced any kind of trauma in your life, whenever you see or feel a trigger, then your emotional side automatically kicks in. Trauma can block the logical side of our brain, so it’s not unusual to become emotional because of your trauma.
If this sounds like you, there are a lot of options to seek help. Seeing a healthcare professional can help you get on the right track in dealing with your PTSD. [Read: 19 signs of emotional damage and ways to get past them]
6. You may have anxiety
Those with anxiety are usually much more emotional than other people. This is largely due to their minds going through different possibilities and outcomes – all of which provide a different emotional response. When you keep asking, “why am I so emotional?” it’s possible you have anxiety.
It’s tough to live with anxiety as even the simplest things can trigger a panic attack and make even breathing difficult. Even without a logical explanation, you just fear something specific. When someone has generalized anxiety, they’re always thinking of the possible outcomes, even irrational ones. [Read: Signs of anxiety: How to read the signs ASAP & handle them better]
7. You’re exposed to other highly emotional people
People are contagious and so are their emotions. That being said, if you’re always around people who are typically more emotional and sensitive, you’ll pick up on that a little bit. We’re the average of the five people we spend most of our time with.
So if you’re always around emotional people, that might be the leading factor that you’re feeling more sensitive than usual. Maybe it’s not necessarily that you’re emotional, but you’re relating to them more. [Read: Why are women so emotional?]
8. You’re overly stressed
Stress, just like a lack of sleep, can definitely change emotions. Not only will you become more irritable, but your emotions will fluctuate significantly. More specifically, you’ll get angry and sad a lot easier than you normally would. This is why stressed people often project their emotions onto the people around them more than usual.
When you’re consumed by stress and frustrations, your emotions are out of control and all over the place. In order to cope with this, find a healthy outlet for that stress.
Exercising regularly, getting into a relaxing hobby, and even getting the occasional massage can help you manage your stress much more effectively. [Read: 14 really quick stress busters to recharge your mind]
9. You’re not eating well
If you thought food didn’t affect how you feel, you’ve got another thing coming. What you eat has a large role to play when it comes to how emotional you are as a person. Nutrition affects your mood and energy levels, so if you don’t eat a balanced diet or constantly consume foods that are bad for you, it affects your emotions.
This is because you’re not getting enough nutrients. When your body doesn’t get what it needs to function, it doesn’t operate correctly. If you’re constantly asking yourself, “why am I so emotional?” assess the foods you’re consuming in your body. [Read: 17 ways to live a simple life that’s more satisfying]
10. You could be depressed
Being very emotional is a big sign of depression. In addition to the other signs, if you find yourself unable to handle the fluctuations in your emotions, seek professional help. There are a lot of options when it comes to dealing with depression successfully.
Depression is not something you should take lightly and you certainly don’t have to just live with it. [Read: 20 things you can’t ignore when dating an emotional person]
11. You need physical activity
Physical activity and any form of exercise can make you feel good about yourself. So if you want to have control of your emotions better, exercise is a great way to achieve that. Exercise releases endorphins and dopamine into your body, which are both happy hormones.
Whether it’s running, cycling, swimming, or heading to the gym, just move your body in any way you prefer. You’ll see your mood gradually change during or after! [Read: 25 inspirational tips to get motivated and work out]
12. You’re going through big changes
Even if life is all about changes, we’re not exactly good at dealing with them. So if you’re asking the question, “why am I so emotional?” assess whether you’re going through personal changes.
Maybe you’re going through a divorce, breakup, your parents’ marriage ending, starting a new school, being fired, or something along those lines.
Your emotional mood is temporary until you adjust to these changes or fix something in your situation. [Read: Why am I so unhappy? 8 changes that will change you for good]
13. Grief and loss
This is a really tough factor in answering the question, “why am I so emotional?,” but a valid one. Even if grief is often associated with feeling numb and unmotivated, it can also make you feel emotional. There are five stages of grief after all, one of which is anger.
After you’re done denying the reality of your loss, you feel so emotional because of that loss, and your emotions are out of control. You don’t know how to cope or how to handle them. If this is you, grief support groups can help you understand your emotions. [Read: Losing your best friend: How to navigate the grieving process]
14. Mental disorders
Mental health problems are valid reasons for feeling more emotional than usual. There are several other issues than just the ones listed in this feature, such as ADHD or Bipolar Disorder. When you’re diagnosed with any mental illness, you stop thinking logically, and your emotions tend to be all over the place.
Even if it’s something unrelated to your emotions like an eating disorder, it can make you feel more emotional than usual. Again, if this is the case, it’s best to seek the help of a professional. [Read: Why we need to breakdown the stigma of mental illness]
15. Health reasons
If you’re diagnosed with PCOS, thyroid issues, PMDD, or taking birth control, then you’ll feel more emotional than usual. Your health is highly related to your mood, which is often why we feel emotionally unstable when we’re sick, physically or mentally.
It’s a normal reaction, even if it’s one we don’t really favor.
Feeling your emotions is normal, but balancing them is key
There are several factors to consider when figuring out why you’re more emotional. Many of these are a combination of factors you can and cannot control.
Maybe it’s your genetics, mental health, physical health, or maybe you’re just grieving over the loss of a loved one. Whichever it is, realize that being emotional isn’t always a bad thing. It’s what makes you human, after all. But, you should also ensure that you learn how to balance them through taking care of yourself and seeking help when you need it.
[Read: Emotional wellness: The road map to live your life with intention]
Emotions shouldn’t be frowned upon as it just means you’re human and capable of feeling something. But if you ask yourself, “why am I so emotional?” you need to assess any deeper causes.