Ask Dr. Zoe - Is It Possible to Be Overly Emotional?

‘Emotionally Charged’ Asked:

Is there such thing as being overly emotional? I hear this all the time by family members. I cry when I’m happy, anxious, scared, angry. I don’t have any explanation for why this is the emotion I am most prone to. Can you explain this?

Dr. Zoe Answered:

Emotionally Charged,

We are all born with a temperament that is essentially built into our DNA. Our temperament interacts with our environment to solidify a personality over the first 3-4 years of our life.

Some people do seem a little more sensitive than others, and this is sometimes just a temperament thing. I would be less worried about what others say and more concerned about what you feel. Do you feel that your emotions are having a detrimental impact on your life?

It’s also possible that your ability to cry at the drop of a hat is because any emotion triggers some buried issues—let the waterworks flow. If you notice that you feel a huge sense of release after a cry, this may be the case.

I suggest that you do some soul searching and examine whether you feel you have healthy outlets for your emotions. Do you find it difficult to talk, write about, or express your feelings and thoughts? Do you have any life events that may have been difficult or traumatic that you haven’t really processed or addressed? Do you find it difficult to seek out help? Do you have other symptoms of anxiety or depression?

If you answered yes to any of these, you may want to seek out help to process and move past some of these issues. If you answered no, rock on! Accept who you are and know that you don’t have to fit into anyone else’s box. Have a good cry and move on. You’ve got this. It just takes a little grit and grace!

Dr. Zoe