We’re giving you clarity on questions like: What does it mean when you cry for no reason? Why am I so emotional all of a sudden?
Emotions are what make us different from robots, so it’s OK when they phase from happy, to content, to sad sometimes.
Women cry 30 to 64 times per year, and men cry 5 to 17 times per year. No matter how resilient you are, you’re bound to shed a few tears here and there. Crying, having moments of insecurity, or feeling suddenly sentimental or angry doesn’t mean you’re weak. Our bodies are hard-wired to cope with different situations.
Occasionally, you might not even know why you’re feeling emotional. If this is the case, one of the following factors could be at play.
Heightened emotions can spring from external or internal motivators.
Stress
Stress has a way of creeping into every part of our lives. A 2017 national survey found that millennials have the highest stress levels of any other generation. Women were also reported as being slightly more stressed than men. Black and Hispanic people also experienced more stress than white people.
Not all stress is bad for you. Stress evolved as a response by our body to cope with unpleasant situations. But chronic stress can take a toll on your body. Too much stress increases your risk of depression and anxiety.
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While there’s no way to get rid of it completely, there are ways to help manage stress.
Exercise, whether it’s strength training or taking a stroll through the park, can do wonders for your stress. Physical activity can relieve the tension stress causes on your brain and other parts of your body.
Gut-brain connection
If you’ve ever had an upset stomach while feeling emotionally taxed, there’s more to it than some bad takeout. Your gut is in constant communication with the brain, and
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Improving your emotional health means keeping your gut happy and healthy. So treat yourself (or your gut bacteria, that is) to foods rich in probiotics, like kombucha and kimchi, or cut down on artificial sweeteners.
Poor eating habits
Eating junk food every time you’re stressed or sad is an unhealthy coping mechanism.
Research shows our brains are wired to crave foods high in fat and sugar. In the short term, they may feel beneficial to anxiety and depressive symptoms. But in the long run, emotional eating increases your risk of obesity, which is linked to cognitive issues and mood disorders.
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You can try to steer your mood with healthy food by incorporating more fresh or dried fruits and fresh, steamed, or sauteed vegetables into your diet.
Making small but thoughtful decisions like choosing a side salad instead of fries can go a long way toward managing your emotional health.
Lack of sleep
We can’t live without sleep. Yet many people have trouble getting at least
The longer you go without sleep, the more likely you’ll be to have trouble thinking correctly and keeping your emotions in check. In fact,
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If you’re having trouble falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night, try these science-backed sleep tips:
- Turn off electronics at least one hour before going to bed.
- Stop drinking coffee or alcohol in the evening.
- Change your bedroom temperature to cooler, or around 70°F.
- Exercise no later than 2 hours before bedtime.
Hormonal imbalances
Both men and women can experience elevated or depleted hormone levels. Slight changes in hormones such as cortisol levels can affect your stress levels, how you sleep, and your eating habits.
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When your hormones are out of whack, you might incorporate adaptogenic herbs into your diet. Some people report herbs like holy basil (tulsi) and ashwagandha help their bodies block stress (and thus the stress hormone cortisol) to promote hormone balance.
You could also try practicing yoga to manage symptoms. Yoga can help with losing weight, which, in turn, can help level your hormones.
Depression
If you’re feeling extra emotional and it’s leaning toward helplessness, despair, or thoughts of ending your life, you might reach out to a health professional to see if you have depression. You wouldn’t be alone. Depression affects about
If you know your emotional fluctuation stems from previously diagnosed clinical depression, it might be time to contact your psychiatrist and see about adjusting your medications.
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Managing depression is a lifelong process, but it is possible. Doing small things consistently, such as creating a routine, listening to music, and spending time in sunlight or nature, can make a huge difference in your mental health.
Grief
Grief is a natural response to loss. And it doesn’t follow our timeline. You might’ve received condolences and felt OK at the time, then the reality of your loss could’ve sunk in when you weren’t expecting it.
With the current coronavirus pandemic, many are grieving the loss of loved ones but also the loss of our old normal. Others might be mourning the loss of a job or missing out on special events like the birth of a grandchild.
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Forcing yourself to jump back into life when processing grief may actually worsen it.
Taking a break can help you recover. You might consider giving yourself time to heal and gradually go back to your old habits. It would be wise to make time to acknowledge and grieve your loss and find comfort in things you like to do.
Trauma
Going through a traumatic event is physically and emotionally exhausting. And with the current trauma of the coronavirus pandemic, everyone is in need of some psychological first aid.
Just like a first aid kit, you can fill your arsenal with evidence-based coping strategies to treat your unexpected emotional wounds when they surface.
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The CDC says that it takes about
Sadness, anger, and sentimentality are natural responses to dealing with stuff that’s going on in life. But if you find yourself crying all the time for no reason and it goes on for more than
Taking care of yourself is priority number one. If feeling generally “down” continues for more than 2 weeks or you experience other depressive symptoms, you might want to speak with a doctor about getting examined for possible depression. With the right help, you can start to feel relief.
Life has its ups and downs, and emotions, within reason, can help cope with these moments. If you feel overly emotional or you’re crying for no reason, it could be a sign that something’s affecting your health.
For now, being aware of the possible reasons for newfound feelings and being open to seeking professional help is a solid start. You can listen to your body and give it what it needs, even if it’s just a good cry.