While feeling emotional from time to time is a natural part of the human experience and experiencing a wide range of feelings and emotions is a reality for most of us, feeling overwhelmed to the point where it becomes difficult to function shouldn’t be taken lightly.
There are so many potential reasons why someone might feel emotional, and most of the time, it’s a combination of factors that can contribute to our mood. Additionally, everyone is different and may have their own unique circumstances and challenges. That being said, we have compiled a list of some of the potential factors that may contribute to feeling less than optimal:
Hormonal fluctuations
Hormonal changes, such as those that occur during puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and other times of hormonal imbalance, can sometimes affect your emotional state. Due to fluctuating estrogen levels, women are at a higher risk than men for developing mood disorders and depression [1]. Additionally, women are more likely to experience chronic and severe depression, anxiety, and trauma- and stressor-related disorders [2].
Other hormones, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, can also affect mood levels [3] in both men and women. Balancing your hormones through a healthy diet, exercise, and sometimes medication is an important part of maintaining your emotional well-being.
Genetics
It has been long known that genes affect vigor and form of human emotional behavior [4]. One study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry study analyzed the genetic data of over 22,000 people and found that individuals with certain genetic variations were more likely to develop depression than those without these variations.
Another study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience analyzed the genetic data of over 40,000 people and found that people with certain genetic variations were more likely to suffer from anxiety.
People who have a family history of depression and anxiety may be at a higher risk of developing depression and anxiety themselves.
Stress and Medications
Stress is another factor that can affect our emotional well-being. It can make us feel overwhelmed, agitated, frustrated, and moody. When we are stressed, our bodies release stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can have a wide range of physical and emotional effects.
Taking corticosteroid medications, such as Prednisone, can have a similar effect because Prednisone is basically a synthetic hormone similar to the natural cortisol.
Do not stop any medications without talking to your doctor first; stopping glucocorticoids abruptly may cause dangerous steroid withdrawal syndrome. It is important to talk to your doctor before making any changes to your medication schedule.
Past trauma
If a person has experienced trauma in the past, such as abuse, neglect, or a major loss, they may be more prone to feeling emotional as a result of those experiences.
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Relationship issues
There is no doubt that relationship problems can affect your mood and well-being in many ways. Relationship difficulties can cause sadness, anxiety, and stress, all of which can make you more emotional in other areas of your life.
Additionally, misunderstandings and arguments with friends, family, and significant others can make us feel lonely, isolated, and misunderstood.
Feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about the future due to unstable relationships is very common, too.
In some cases, toxic relationships can result in decreased self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy. Needless to say, these negative feelings and beliefs can further impact your mood and overall well-being.
Physical health
Physical health can have a big impact on our emotions too. Living with a chronic illness can be particularly challenging. In addition to pain and being unable to perform our usual tasks like before, some conditions may cause mental fog and make it difficult to concentrate.
Many medications taken for treatment or management of such conditions have side effects that affect our emotional health.
Thyroid disorders — hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism — can cause mood changes, including feelings of sadness, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Sometimes our physical ailments lead to changes in appearance or even uncertainty about the future, which can definitely ruin our mood.
It’s important to recognize the connection between physical and emotional health and find a way to address them both.
Life circumstances
Life circumstances can impact our mood in some of the most obvious ways. Financial problems, loss of a job, breakups, having to move to a new place, or even the loss of a loved one can all make us feel emotional as a result. Even positive life transitions, such as getting married or starting a new job, can make us more sensitive than usual.
Personality
Your personality is your unique way of being. While even people of the same personality type can come across as very different people, there are commonalities in how they see the world, what motivates them, and what they need to feel happy and productive. Some personality types are naturally more sensitive and emotional, while others are more reserved and stoic. This site contains a lot of information about different personality systems and interactive tests. It may be a good time to check them out now, here, here, and here.
One last thing to keep in mind is that all of the above-mentioned factors can interact with one another and even further affect our moods in different ways. For example, someone who is naturally predisposed to melancholy and going through a difficult time at work may be more prone to feeling sad and emotional as a result of these two factors.
If you are struggling with intense emotions, don’t hesitate to reach out for the support of a trusted family member, friend, or, even better, a mental health professional. With the right tools, you can manage your emotions effectively and live a healthy and productive life.
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