What is wrong with me? Is anybody else like this?

I just caught a YouTube video about behavioural psychology that touched on this, and linked it strongly to social media and internet advertising - feelgood emotional content being immediately followed by advertising etc. If we have an innate tendency to emotional responses, it gets ruthlessly leveraged by tech. Certainly food for thought....

Ooh yeah!
Can’t go in a church without disintegrating and I watched a televised concert in floods of tears.
absolutely hopeless at theatre, art galleries etc

i don’t think it’s a bad thing, but it can be embarrassing sometimes 🙄

I’m the same, all since perimenopause/menopause. I’m a blubbering mess over anything these days lol

I was sobbing watching Race across the world earlier 😢

Absolutely! You will need a box of tissues! What's crazy about it is octopus are sort of snails and it changed the way I see animals forever.

I'm way past menopause so can't blame that/hormones etc. I didn't cry at my wedding, childbirth, death/funeral of parents etc. But show me a film with a dog in it, be at a concert of bands from the late 70s/early 80s and they play my favourite song and I'm a mess. I've spent the last 3 days crying because I have to my cat pts next week but can't shed s tear over a family member who doesnt have long left!! I cry at films, Christmas adverts and sometimes just a beautiful view. Those that know me would say I'm strong, capable the go to person in a crisis but show me a picture of a mistreated cat or dog and I'm a mess. Funny though not so emotional over people, I think that probably makes me a bit odd 🤔@

No I haven't! I've just looked it up and it looks just like the kind of thing that would have me sobbing haha.

Would you recommend? :)

Yup that’s weird.

This was my first thought too!

I’m the same.. and omg it was worse coming out of lockdowns etc.. the first theatre show after lockdowns etc I was absolutely beside myself! Something I’ve realised is that no one is actually looking at me (lol) so if I just stay still and let tears roll down I can kind of style it out. Trying to keep it in entirely and wipe away every tear makes it worse. Like others have said I am mostly completely unemotional in every day life so it takes me by surprise 🤣

You're definitely not alone op. I used to get immediately choked up at my children's primary school plays. As soon as any music would start playing I'd be off..... but nobody else seemed to be like this. I'd be constantly (discretely) wiping away the tears and thinking WTAF is wrong with me?! Even now I can't get through an episode of Long Lost Family without having a total meltdown 😭 🙈🤣

I'm like this too and it's got worse as I've got older! I can't go to funerals any more as the emotions just overwhelm me - it's really annoying! I'm not sure if this applies to you, but I do think we often suppress emotions when difficult times come along. Losing a loved one, going through a traumatic childbirth, losing a job maybe. We have to carry on with our day to day lives somehow and don't really allow ourselves to grieve or work through the emotions, but they're there lurking - ready to spring to the surface just when you thought you were enjoying yourself!

I have a couple of tricks that sometimes work in the cinema or theatre - I recite a particular poem in my head which stops me focussing too much on the emotion in the room. Or I just close my eyes and try to remove myself for a few minutes. No-one notices! Recently at a show I did allow tears to roll down my face, but managed not to completely lose it! It felt like quite an achievement 💪

I do really feel for you though as you start to dread any occasion where you might feel emotionally overwhelmed. I do wonder if some CBT would help?

Have you watched My Octopus Teacher ?

I can get like this too OP and what strikes me is that I’m a complete empath. I often really feel emotions of others strongly. Same re school plays, sentimental moments etc. I cry my eyes out watching Long lost families for instance! I just think some people are naturally more sensitive to their surroundings.

You’ve just described me OP.

I’m in the same boat. I cry for everything, concerts, music in the car depending on the lyrics, films, children’s assemblies and special liturgies. It’s appalling.

God knows I try to control it not to embarrass my children and myself but I can’t help it. I too tried biting my lip, looking at the wall, etc but nothing helps.

Just came to accept it as a quirk of mine and try to remember to bring tissues with me for this type of scenario.

Honorable mention was when my DD had a liturgy at school and some of the children commented to her that why on earth was I so red or why was I crying. She was so mortified and so was I but can’t change it. When I was younger this would not faced me either, it has been happening for 15 years now.

I know for art it is called Stendhal syndrome.

You have my solidarity 💐

Yep I am like this. Some time ago I saw a video clip of a goose being released back into the wild after being rehabilitated. They took it to a lake and let it out of its box as a flock of geese were flying past. It excitedly flew up to join them and a few of the geese at the back of the flock hung back to let it catch up. I was in absolute bits at the time and then again trying to describe it to my partner the next day. I've actually got a lump in my throat now from typing this out now 😅

You're an empath. Are you neurodivergant? I'm a big bloke and I cried watching Watership Down! It's a gift so cherish it, not many people can feel for others or animals. I am type 1 AUDHD and I feel blessed to have the capacity to feel

How do some folk never shed a tear at anything; a longstanding friend who lost her husband never showed any signs of sadness or tears, nor at funerals, seeing new babies, tears of joy, etc. she is completely non emotional but is the kindest person ever with helping people. Her daughter told me at a funeral that her mother has never shown any emotion ever, I did not comment. My friend didnt have an easy upbringing, so perhaps that is the reason.

With you on MJ!

I can be like that

I'm one of those of people who will cry at anything, it's just something that happens that I can't control when I feel any type of emotion so I get you! When I've experienced truly devastating grief I sob uncontrollably for weeks and anything can set it off.

I've barely seen DH cry at all so when I do he rolls his eyes because he knows whay I'm like. Even having seen a sad film I will blub , just the way I am and have accepted it. Xx

I'm exactly like this, and always have been. Others may have said this up-thread but it is really common in people who are neurodivergent (part of the emotional dysregulation side of things). My teen DC are the same (two of us have ADHD diagnoses and the other has various neurodivergent traits). I used to find it absolutely mortifying but have now just accepted that it's part of who I am. I just feel things really intensely and think life is beautiful and poignant and to be treasured - it's all part and parcel of that for me.

Interesting that a lot of people have put it down to hormones. I've noticed that a lot of people I know who have ADHD / AuDHD are less troubled by the emotional ups and downs that come with perimenopause perhaps because they are already quite accustomed to that kind of rollercoaster.

All of the above and people winning, losing doing a PB. I think it makes me a better person. Others (family) disagree.

I do quite a few of the things you've listed sometimes. But other times I'm completely unmoved. I think we vary a lot!

I’m defo more like this now I am older.

I used to baulk when my mother in law wept over saying goodbye or watching something emotional on the tv. Now this is me. I well up over loads of things.
Especially going to the theatre and hearing beautiful music. If I see someone cry on tv I want to cry - even if I don’t know what they are crying about!

It’s seeing humans being human (but suspect it may also be because it’s the fluctuating hormones!)