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

[17caterpillars1mouse]

Ok my AIBU is am i unreasonable to react like this? What is wrong with me?

Is anybody else like this?

In day to day life I wouldnt say i'm anymore emotional than the average person, but in certain situations I get this ridiculous over emotion that floods me and results in me starting to cry and have to bite my lip to try and stop myself making a scene. It feels incontrollable at times and I dont remember always being like this.

The situations -

weddings and funerals starting - maybe not as unusual but it happens even if i barely know the person / people

Any kind of show - theatre, cinema, gig, kids nativity, especially if there is singing and music but there doesnt have to be

Every year when the year 6s leave at my kids school, even if i dont know any of them. Also school sports day even when my kids aren't participating in the race.

I cant sing along to the radio in the car without getting choked up and starting to cry. It doesnt matter what the song is / is about

Watching a parade at the weekend, had to hold back the tears - no idea why

When ambulances drive past, not every time, but around 70% of the time.

I don't know what comes over me and why, just a complete flooding of emotion. Why am i like this? It can be very embarrassing

I'm not at all like this. I hardly ever cry and I'm not big into romantic gestures etc either. I wonder do you keep momentos, which I never do? But, I see this as just the things that gives interest to the world. Some of us are like you. Some of us are like me. Neither are better, we are all just different.

I have a trick that helps me stop blushing when I'd rather not (at least I think it's helping!), which is to try to make myself blush. Perhaps that would help here too? Consciously try to make yourself cry as you feel yourself well up - it might derail the autonomous processes. 😁

You sound like a candidate for Primal Scream Therapy.

Seriously, if you are worried about how you react emotionally. See a Counsellor or Therapist for some guidance and reassurance

Hope this helps..

Sounds like peri menopause or lack of oestrogen .

Unfortunately, yes @17caterpillars1mouse I can empathise! About 15 years ago I had a few months on Prozac and it completely numbed me to all emotions, it was a relief to not be biting back tears all the time and I felt much more confident in social situations knowing I wouldn’t feel overcome with emotion.
Now, I’m back to sobbing at parades, especially if there’s bagpipes, fffs I have no explanation for this! On the brightside, my DP is even worse than me and tears up regularly over football and properly sobs over war hero stories.

Pretty standard stuff, I'd say. Why wouldn't you be moved by obviously emotional situations? If you're baseline mood is okay, crack on. You feel things deeply, but that's not necessarily negative unless it bothers you in which case CBT may really help you. If your general mood is low see your G.P.

Ditto! Been exactly like this for years and it's getting worse as I get older. If people are singing our National Anthem and I try to join in I am unconsolable (I'm Welsh)

I’m the same, cry at weddings, school plays, funerals. I also see the Beauty in situations which can move me to tears too. I have a lot of empathy for people and am moved by others tough situations too. It’s a very human response, I’m glad I am tuned into my emotions.

i welled up at the Chelsea winners last night…it’s ridiculous 😂

I used to cry at the yellow pages advert every time it came on the tv.. 😢

Emotions are fickle things, I froze at my mum’s funeral and felt dreadful because I couldn’t cry.

I'm the same. I scroll through FB & cry at peoples posts I don't even know. I cry at TV programmes, other peoples accomplishments, when I see a cute baby or a cute animal. All sorts of things set me off. I'm a huge empath & feel others feelings a lot. I don't think it's a bad thing but can be a bit embarrassing when I'm out & my make up is all steaky coz the tears are rolling down my face & I'm all red & blotchy from trying to keep it in. My worse times are when I see thee little kids doing the nativity plays at Christmas, I properly sob as soon as they come on stage.

I’m the same, OP, I cry at everything.

It can be very embarrassing and apparently also annoying, I’ve had multiple instances of people getting annoyed at me.

It’s also very frustrating when you’re having any sort of argument because I’m always crying and feel like I can’t actually make my point.

I'm like this, it frustrates me that I cry when I should be able to express my anger more coherently.

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!)

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!

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

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.

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 can be like that

With you on MJ!

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.

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

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’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 💐

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.