Source
r/TwoXChromosomes•
ktdutton

I am hypersensitive to quite literally everything and my automatic reaction is to cry at the smallest of insults, criticisms and confrontations. How can I curb my crying reaction?

I have tried all the silly well known tricks out there....pinching the bridge of the nose to stop the tears, literally taking a step back etc. But nothing seems to work. I'm sick of being labeled immature and manipulative because of my chronic crying, especially because I don't feel those are accurate descriptions. I've done a lot of self reflection and have concluded 99% of the time it's not that I'm being manipulative and crying to get what I want, but more that any sort of negative or unpleasant emotion or situation literally makes me cry. Any ladies have any tips?

By the way for what it's worth, I am a 29 year old wife and mother so I'm not exactly "a spring chicken" I am a female adult who has had quite a bit of experience in the world (and pretty much cried through it all!)

Posted Feb 17, 2016, 9:06 PM UTC

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PepperEPot•

Have you tried therapy? Also I say to myself "butts farts and underwear" and it helps me not to cry.

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[deleted]•

Hey I have a thing like that! If you use it to cut off ruminating often enough, then it starts to become automatic, and that can free up some brain space and eliminate some stress.

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slowcheetah82•

This is amazing and I want to try it. Butts, farts, and underwear, not therapy.

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ktduttonOP•

I have done therapy...specifically CBT. But hey this "butt farts & underwear" trick might work! ;)

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youwill_neverfindme•

:( unfortunately I don't know what can help, but I'm in the same boat. I don't feel bothered by things until i open my mouth and talk about them- then the tears start. And its things that aren't even a big deal!! I needed to ask my boss if I could have a snack so that I could take my pain meds (injured on the job.) I have incredibly awesome and understanding bosses and taking 5 minutes to eat something is so not a big deal at all. But I still started crying as soon as I opened my mouth.

Good luck!!!! Hopefully someone has a solution lol

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[deleted]•

I have the same thing, but for me it is more than sensitivity. A counselor once suggested it is a mild form of PTSD from childhood emotional abuse. I'm a tough girl (I enter mosh pits, I work in a mostly male field and swear like a sailor), but any stern voice even is enough to trigger tears. I lose my emotion too fast to even rationalize it, sometimes.

OP is it just sensitivity? You sound like you have internalized guilt. Being quick to cry can mean a lot of things, including depression, low self esteem or a chronic sense of powerlessness. You'll have to explore when and why it happens and find ways to restore your confidence in these situations.

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loreleiabbot•

do you have any idea why these things make you cry?I mean, do you really feel very upset over stuff or this is just a way to express your discomfort with some situations? because if what's behind it is actual stress over these situations, it may be more complicated. if it's just sorf of a physical reaction you could look into techniques of stopping this kind of bejaviour (like how to stop biting your lips, nails etc..) I really don't know, just guessing.

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ktduttonOP•

Thanks for your input. I'm not crazy, crazy upset majority of the time when I'm crying. Honestly, it feels like it's just the only reaction I have to 99.9% of life's situations. I can remember being this way from when I was a child too and even as a teen and young adult. Overall, I think the reason why now it's creating such a problem for me is that as an almost 30 year old wife and mother the expectations of emotional stability are a little higher than when I was a 10 year old, 15 year old or even in my early 20's.

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Iuckytaco•

I remember hearing something along the lines of "we don't always cry because we're sad; often we cry out of shock or frustration." The frustration part describes me to a 't'. When I get too overwhelmed by something, I tend to find it brings out the crier in me. Sometimes I can handle it better, but other times I just need the catharsis.

The only thing that seems to work for me is distracting myself - whether it means thinks about something else, checking up on my cats on Neko Atsume, or doing something mundane to get my mind off it.

Not sure if that helps! Good luck :)

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raskylh•

Have you considered that this may be your birth control? I used to think of myself as extremely emotional too and cried pretty frequently, though not quite as often as you describe, and since I switched my BC method I've been much more stable.

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