Emotional

[Alana1990]

Since I realized I'm transgender, I've found that I've become a lot more emotional. I've never been an emotional person, and it's been a bit of a struggle dealing with being more emotional. Today, I woke up, and am feeling very emotional. I could easily cry right now, and I have no reason to cry. Is this a common thing to experience?

[Lori Dee]

I experienced that a lot when my hormones and vitamins were too low. I started taking daily multivitamins twice a day, and my doctor changed my hormone prescriptions. Now I am much less weepy, but sometimes I'll be watching a movie and it will hit me right in the feels. It could be the estrogen, but I think it is also that we are learning to be ourselves. As we become ourselves, that includes feelings and we are less inclined to hold them in. Perhaps, the stuff we have had bottled up for so long is now being allowed to be released a bit. It's just a theory and I have no evidence to support it.

Let it out, Sister. There is nothing wrong with having a good cry. You'll feel better later.

[Oldandcreaky]

Tears are salt water and salt water corrodes our gut. So, air 'em out.

[Sephirah]

It could be the estrogen, but I think it is also that we are learning to be ourselves. As we become ourselves, that includes feelings and we are less inclined to hold them in. Perhaps, the stuff we have had bottled up for so long is now being allowed to be released a bit. It's just a theory and I have no evidence to support it.

I also subscribe to this theory. See... the deepest parts of who we are work on emotion. And when looking inside, it isn't so much the details, but how something makes you feel, which dictates what you think about something. It's like the mind's way of conveying a lot of information in one singular package which has immediate impact. This is why therapists are so keen to ask the question "How did that make you feel?"

And, for a lot of trans folks... the first indication of anything is a feeling. A feeling that something isn't right. Often one you can't explain, or begin to understand. But it's an emotional response to something going on inside. Not necessarily a particularly good emotional response, either. So, in order to suppress those emotions, and to try and dismiss this part of yourself... it's rather easy to become emotionally numb in general. Because you can get scared to feel, well, anything.

As Lori says, opening up to who you are also opens you up to emotions you wanted to suppress. It's literally turning up the dial on you as a person. And yeah, that can be overwhelming for someone who may have distanced themselves from emotion in general because of what not doing so could lead to.

The important thing to try to understand, sweetie, is that it's okay to be in touch with your emotions. Whatever they are. They are a natural part of us as people. And arguably one of the more important parts of who we are. It's okay to laugh, it's okay to cry, it's okay to feel scared, it's okay to feel loved, it's okay to feel... everything. Emotions are a strength. They're what drive us, deep down.

*big hugs*

[Alana1990]

I also subscribe to this theory. See... the deepest parts of who we are work on emotion. And when looking inside, it isn't so much the details, but how something makes you feel, which dictates what you think about something. It's like the mind's way of conveying a lot of information in one singular package which has immediate impact. This is why therapists are so keen to ask the question "How did that make you feel?"

And, for a lot of trans folks... the first indication of anything is a feeling. A feeling that something isn't right. Often one you can't explain, or begin to understand. But it's an emotional response to something going on inside. Not necessarily a particularly good emotional response, either. So, in order to suppress those emotions, and to try and dismiss this part of yourself... it's rather easy to become emotionally numb in general. Because you can get scared to feel, well, anything.

As Lori says, opening up to who you are also opens you up to emotions you wanted to suppress. It's literally turning up the dial on you as a person. And yeah, that can be overwhelming for someone who may have distanced themselves from emotion in general because of what not doing so could lead to.

The important thing to try to understand, sweetie, is that it's okay to be in touch with your emotions. Whatever they are. They are a natural part of us as people. And arguably one of the more important parts of who we are. It's okay to laugh, it's okay to cry, it's okay to feel scared, it's okay to feel loved, it's okay to feel... everything. Emotions are a strength. They're what drive us, deep down.

*big hugs*

@Sephirah, @LoriDee, kinda related to your posts, in the last two days, I've noticed I've been thinking differently. I'm thinking in a more womanly manner, and I'm comfortable saying that I'm a woman. Sorry if that's a bit off topic.

[Lori Dee]

Body and mind take time to adjust. Embrace the positive. You are on the right track!

Hugs!

[Alana1990]

Body and mind take time to adjust. Embrace the positive. You are on the right track!

Hugs!

@LoriDee, I'm enjoying the changes that are happening to me. It feels good to embrace it.

[Sephirah]

@Sephirah, @LoriDee, kinda related to your posts, in the last two days, I've noticed I've been thinking differently. I'm thinking in a more womanly manner, and I'm comfortable saying that I'm a woman. Sorry if that's a bit off topic.

It isn't off topic, sweetie. This is your thread. I am curious, though. Could you elaborate on that more? What does thinking in a more womanly manner manifest as, for you? What has changed?

[Alana1990]

It isn't off topic, sweetie. This is your thread. I am curious, though. Could you elaborate on that more? What does thinking in a more womanly manner manifest as, for you? What has changed?

@Sephirah, it was a mindset shift. I went out an outdoor mall earlier this afternoon to buy something at VS. I felt self conscious when I saw the women who were walking around the mall, and I started feeling dysphoric... I took a deep breath, and said to myself: " I'm just another woman enjoying her Friday afternoon at the mall." I immediately calmed down, and went info VS and bought what I wanted.

[Sarah B]

Hi Everyone

I also subscribe to the theory that estrogen makes us females more prone to crying, whether we do or don't depends on 'oneself'.

Before I changed my life around the only time I remember crying was when my dad died.  However to me at the time it seemed a bit fake, but never mind it was what it was.  Then the old adage only females cried and not men, prevailed at the time.  The next time I cried was basically the 'day', I left family and friends behind, so that I could live my life as me.

Fast forward years after surgery  I still did not cry, strange when one thinks about it.  The next time I cried, was when I lost my boyfriend of seven years, totally broke my heart and thinking about it, is still a very emotional sore point with me and when I watched, "My Sisters Keeper" and oh boy did I let it out!

Fast forward again to the past year.  I have been more weepy than I have ever been in my life.  Maybe my mums death plays a part, hormones, listening to good music, listening to a good chic flick or just life in general.

As I said it depends on 'oneself' and regardless of what causes one to cry more now than we ever did.  I totally embrace that part of myself and I'm contented and happy in knowing that crying is part of my life.

Anybody got a box of tissues!

Love and Hugs
Sarah B
Official Greeter