Serious problem with crying very easily

[_embarassed_]

I don't know what is wrong with me lately. I don't really know how long this has been going on for, I've always been an emotionally sensitive person, the type who will cry easily at movies (whether it's over something sad or joyous), will even cry over a moving TV commercial.

 

But lately, maybe the past ?3 months I find myself having difficulty with containing these emotions at work.

 

An example is the other day, my coworker's husband had been ill and in hospital. She and her husband met with his doctor earlier that day to discuss the findings. When she came back, I asked her what the doctor had said. She is a strong lady but I saw tears start to well up in her eyes and her voice was getting weak as she told me it wasn't good news. She then told me her husband had some heart damage. I just started to bawl and I gave her a big hug, but I was crying harder than she was. She ended up feeling bad for ME that I was so upset for her. I was embarassed. Yes, I am the type to get tears if I see someone else crying but this was extreme.

 

I work in a job where I deal with a lot of clients who have work issues and often times in talking to them, they will divulge health problems or tough times in their lives. Sometimes they will tell me something that will make me feel so bad for them, I can feel the tears forming in my eyes and I have to look down because I could never let them see my getting that emotional, they would think I was nuts.

 

I am afraid that one of these days one of my supervisors or managers will be talking to me and telling me something sad and I will start to get tears like this. They'll surely think I'm not emotionally stable.

 

I can watch the news at night and cry because I am so sad by the tragedies...but sometimes I really bawl when I think of how bad some people have it.

 

I do not think I am depressed. I don't have the symptoms of depression. I don't suffer from a mental illness.

 

It's to the point where I'm afraid to talk to coworkers because we discuss our clients' and things they are going through and so many seemingly small things can trigger me to be on the verge of tears.

 

So many of the things that cause me to well up are when they share things that I can personally relate to. I guess I feel so empathetic and I can just feel how they must feel and it touches me.

 

I used to be a very strong person. In most other areas of my life I am strong and assertive and in control but this crying thing, it has really got me worried. And no I don't have mood swings.

 

Has anyone experienced this? I suppose it could be hormonal but I'm not at a phase in my life where I'd be entering menopause or even pre-menopause. I sometimes lack sleep so maybe that has something to do with it, I've always been one to cry easily when feeling run down and tired.

 

I need to get a handle on this and figure out the cause before my coworkers think I'm emotionally unstable. (not that anyone has given me any reason to believe they think this, when I feel tears starting to well up I will just look downward and try to leave the room).

 

Can anybody relate to this?

 

I even get tears in my eyes when someone shares a very positive or heartwarming experience or story. This is just nuts.

[longlegzs80]

I really can relate to you. When you mentioned that you have been lacking in sleep, that can definitly make you more emotional. I always lack in sleep, but when I was in college, I used to stay up all night long working on projects and doing school work and senior project. I could not sleep during the day, and at night the only thing that could keep me going was those energy drinks, but I had to and realized that with the lack of sleep, it made me an emotional mess. My friends would see me cry, all my teachers would see me cry, people started becomming very concerned for me.

 

I too am a very sensitive emotional person, and probubly will always be that way. I get very emotional like you when I see something on tv or hear something that I can kinda relate to from one of my friends lives, and it makes me cry.

 

I could see myself being just like you(not a bad thing) when it comes to work and being in situations where people tell you sad things. You just can't help it. Your a very compassionate person who is empathetic and can really relate to a person.

 

The only thing I have to say to you is when your at work, try to be strong and if the clients you work with or coworkers tell you about their personal lives, then tell them that maybe you and them can get together after work to talk about it.

 

But, another thing is, try to get some sleep. You would be suprised with how sleep can effect your emotional state. You can just ask me. Been a mess through my senior year of college, plus taking 6 classes, plus staying up til 5 or 6 in the morning and having to wake up for class by 7:30 to get ready for an 8am class.

 

AS far as you getting emotional with the stuff on TV, I do the same thing. I watched OPRAH the other day and it was about people who were incredibly obese, so obese that some were bed ridden and how after taking control of their lives they dropped 100's of pounds. I totally was getting teary eyed. I know if I was watching the tv by myself I would be balling too. So, when you see stuff on tv, or listen to people talk about their lives and the hard times, you get very emotional. It is because you are a compassionate person, and emathetic in some situations.

 

Just stay strong, and make sure you get your rest. REally, no lie, sleep is an important factor and really can make you be an emotional wreck. Hope this helps and good luck to you.