As humans, we go through a huge spectrum of emotions—whether it be crying, laughing, anger, or contentment—and somehow that is the beauty of being human; we have the power to feel all types of emotions.
However, there are times when we might feel too emotional. We might not know the reason for it and get constant thoughts of “why am I so emotional?" Going through that sometimes is quite normal but if it is something that has been going on for a while, it is important to get to the bottom of it.
So let’s deep dive into why we feel overly emotional at times.
Being Emotional Is Normal
Before diving into your thoughts on “why am I so emotional?" it is important to understand that being emotional is completely normal. We are all emotional beings, and getting any kind of emotion, whether it is jealousy, possessiveness, sadness, upsetness, happiness, or anger, is all okay.
No emotion is negative or positive; all of them are simply emotions, which is very normal to get. However, it is up to you to manage them and give them the power to define you.
Why Am I So Emotional Lately? 10 Potential Reasons
If you have been wondering, “Why am I so emotional lately?" here are some potential reasons behind the same.
1. Genetics
Genetics plays an important role in determining the kind of person you are. So if anyone in your family, especially your mother or father, is quite emotional, you may also have a tendency to get emotional quite easily.
Antidote: Although there is nothing to be done here with genetics, you can still learn to manage your emotions better with the help of verified experts.
2. Lack of sleep
If you haven’t been getting proper sleep lately and are only surviving on a few hours of sleep, it can make you feel like, Why am I so emotional? Getting 7-8 hours of sleep is very important if you wish to function properly the whole day.
Antidote: In order to get back to your proper sleep routine, talk to a counselor, understand the reasons behind your lack of sleep and work on them with effective strategies.
3. Poor diet
If you haven’t been taking a proper balanced diet, then it can imbalance your emotions and make you feel, “Why am I so emotional?.” especially if you have been feeding on a lot of junk food lately, as it can give birth to intense emotions all of a sudden.
Antidote: Strategize your day and plan your meals beforehand so you can work on your diet and mental peace.
4. Dehydration
A proper intake of water is absolutely necessary to keep a check on your physical and mental health. If you take less than 9-10 glasses of water, it can make you dehydrated from the inside and negatively affect your mental health as well.
Antidote: Download relevant apps to help you manage your water intake issue or draw yourself a habit tracker and keep a note of how many glasses of water you drank in a day.
5. Lack of exercise
If you haven’t been moving your body lately and are always lazing around or procrastinating, it is bound to have “why am I so emotional?” thoughts. It is important to move your body every day, and if not anything, simply going on a 30 minute brisk walk can do wonders.
Antidote: Make yourself a habit tracker or talk to a therapist to build yourself a healthy routine.
6. Hormonal change
When you are in your menstruation cycle or have had some surgery that has brought about some serious changes in your hormones, it can lead to you feeling, Why am I so emotional? In such situations, it is better to rest and not exert yourself during such times.
Antidote: Do not over-exert or do any heavy lifting; it is best to eat proper food, get ample sleep, and drink plenty of water.
7. Mental health issues
If you are going through some mental health issues like anxiety, moving out of the house, shifting to another city, or transitioning to a new life altogether, it can make you overly emotional. It is best to cut yourself some slack at this time and share your feelings and thoughts with others.
Antidote: It is best to talk to a counselor or share your feelings with your loved ones at such a crucial time.
8. Stress
If you are stressed about something or have been getting overthinking thoughts that are making you stressed, it can lead to thoughts like, “Ugh, why am I so emotional?”. However, getting emotional is absolutely normal when you are in such a situation.
Antidote: It is best to talk to a counselor or take things slow at such a time. If not this, go back to basics and spend time with your family or loved ones.
9. Burnout
If you have been working too many hours in your workplace, doing overtime, and not getting any time for yourself or your loved ones, it is probably a sign of burnout, which means working recklessly even though you have no physical or mental strength to take it anymore.
Antidote: Take a break, go on a vacation, switch off your devices and simply relax in nature. You can even talk to a counselor to help you manage the daily stressors or guide you on how to talk to your manager about this.
10. Toxic environment
If you are accustomed to living in a toxic environment, whether it be at home, work, school, or anywhere else, it can make you emotional from the inside. Not feeling safe or comfortable in your environment can make you overwhelmed, leading you to become overly emotional.
Antidote: It is best to talk to a counselor about this so they can help you navigate the situation in a healthy manner.
How to Process Your Emotions in a Healthy Way
It is important to practice self-care when it comes to managing your emotions in a healthy manner. While therapy is an important aspect of regulating emotions, a lot of healing and love are needed on a personal level too. Here are some ways to process your emotions in a healthy manner:
1. Meditation
Incorporate meditation into your everyday routine to get calm from the inside and process your emotions in a mindful manner rather than get hasty with them. Doing it for 5-10 minutes a day also helps a lot.
2. Journaling
If you are not someone who can express yourself through conversations, take out your notebook and start journaling whatever you are feeling or thinking without having it make sense. This will give you clarity as to what is going on in your mind.
3. Validate yourself
Sometimes all your inner child wants is your validation. Rather than running off to people and asking for their validation and approval, become so confident in yourself that the only person for whom you need approval and validation is yourself. This will make you more happy and content with whatever emotions come your way.
4. Affirmations
Start saying positive affirmations to yourself. This can be done every day in the morning, where you say 5-10 positive affirmations to yourself, which inculcate positivity and motivation inside you. This will help you process your emotions in a better manner.
5. Restucture your thoughts
Sometimes it gets difficult to process your emotions in the right manner because your thoughts seem to say something else. So in order to process them effectively, restructure your thoughts in a way that changes your perception of yourself and your emotions for the better.
6. Breathing exercises
Sometimes your thoughts and emotions tend to overwhelm you. So at that time, instead of trying to understand yourself, calm yourself by doing some deep breathing exercises. This will help you and your nervous system feel at ease and you will be able to look at your emotions in an objective manner.
7. Be kind to yourself
Processing your emotions in a healthy manner means being kind to yourself. If you put too much pressure on yourself and become harsh towards your emotions or thoughts, it will only backfire on you. So try to be kinder to yourself when you are not able to understand your emotions, as that is completely normal.
8. Seek professional help
If you really wish to learn how one can practice the art of managing emotions, it is best to consult an industry expert on this. A therapist will be able to help you get to the bottom of it and give you recommendations on how to become strong and mindful of your emotions.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you are getting constant thoughts about “why am I so emotional?” or you haven’t been feeling the best lately and you know it is because your emotions are trying to tell you something that is getting hard for you to comprehend, it is best to consult professional help.
It is not important to consult professional help right when you are at the edge; if you feel you should do it before, it is absolutely alright. However, when you are at an edge and you have no solution or resource to help you, seek a counselor who can help you understand the root cause of your emotions and how to manage them accordingly.
Try not to delay this, as it can have severe consequences for your overall health. It is very important to listen to your intuition and give your mind and body the help it is asking for in due time.
How Can Now&Me Help?
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If you wish to understand more about why am I so emotional and how you can manage those emotions, you can get connected with a professional expert or take your first chat for free to get a fair understanding of therapy. Not only this, you can even connect with people who have had the same experiences and learn tons from each other.
So download the Now&Me app and give your emotions a space to feel free right away!
Sources
Psych Central. 2021, August 16.8 Reasons You’re Feeling More Emotional Lately. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/health/reasons-youre-feeling-more-emotional-lately#when-to-seek-help
Choosing Therapy. 2022, March 31. Why Am I So Emotional? 16 Reasons You Feel This Way. Retrieved from https://www.choosingtherapy.com/why-am-i-so-emotional/
Now&Me articles are written by experienced mental health contributors and are purely based on scientific research and evidence-based practices, which are thoroughly reviewed by experts, including therapists and psychologists with various specialties, to ensure accuracy and alignment with current industry standards.
However, it is important to note that the information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual circumstances vary, and it is advisable to consult with a qualified mental health professional for personalized advice and guidance.