Why Do We Become More Emotional As We Get Older?
83
|
Richard Pryor Addresses A Tearful Nation
Price: $0.99
|
I have noticed that as I have got older, (now 38), I cry so much more easily than I did when younger. I wonder why this is, as in my teenage years, not to mention my twenties, I could watch the most depressing programmes and although I cared, I was rarely inclined to break down in tears.
As a child I would watch the Lassie films, and yes, I did cry to those, (especially "Lassie Come Home"), but apart from that, and the normal things children cry over, such as falling over and cutting open their knees, or getting in trouble with my Mum, I seldom cried at all. It was only when I hit my thirties I suddenly seemed to undergo some kind of metamorphosis, and now I can easily end up in floods of tears over a sad movie, or a murder case on Forensic Detectives. Does this mean I am losing the plot, or is this normal?
|
NEW Emotional Freedom - Orloff, Judith 9780739357941
Current Bid: $12.19
|
|
44 MAGNUM Emotional Color JAPAN MINI-LP CD SEALED
Current Bid: $5.99
|
|
The Emotional Party by Ian McNabb CD Icicle works
Current Bid: $3.99
|
|
NEW Emotional Intelligence 2.0 - Bradberry, Travis/ ...
Current Bid: $12.41
|
Thesedays I can cry over the silliest things, such as watching an episode of "The Secret Millionaire", (where a millionaire goes under cover in an underprivileged area, finds good causes, volunteers to help free of charge, and at the end of a week or so, donates large sums of money to the causes he or she felt the most deserving of his or her help).
I break down in tears over people dying in Soaps for Christ's sake, yet this is not logical when I know it is only an actor, who undergoes a rapid recovery as soon as the cameras are switched off.
Even watching programmes such as "Extreme Makeover Home Edition", can leave me in a right state, as I feel so touched by the people who put in the money, time and effort to build these people a new home that is far nicer than any home most of us could hope for.
Does this mean something is wrong with me? If so, what? I mean, this never used to happen to me, but now I seem to have suddenly become a changed person, and I don't even mind the fact I cry so easily, as to me it shows I have compassion and care about others, (not to say I didn't before, but now it makes me break down in tears in a way I never felt the need to before).
Hell, I even cry over seeing a mistreated, starved dog being brought back to health and re-homed in programmes like "Animal Cops Houston" on Sky!
I have ended up in tears over the end of such series as "The West Wing", although this could be explained by the fact my late Husband loved watching it too, and never got to see the end of the series, so I felt as if something really important had come to an end when it did!
I can cry over "The X Factor", when I hear of a story of someone who has suffered such great hardship in their lives, and is also a fantastic singer, and now is their chance to make something of themselves. When they get through I feel their emotion as if it were my own, and so want them to do well in the following rounds.
If someone shows me a kindness, or empathises with a situation I am in, I end up tearful. If I see someone else lose a loved one I cry. If I even contemplate the ultimate death of my currently living relatives, I break down and cry.
|
Vintage Cheerful Tearful Doll, VG shape
Current Bid: $14.99
|
|
Salvador Dali,LE Giclee "Tearful Soft Watch" 23x29
Current Bid: $329.99
|
So is it something about getting older, and if so, what, hormones? I really don't know the answer, but I think I like myself better for being this way as it proves to me I do have feelings that matter and I care for everyone and everything.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Yes, I can still function, but I feel pain in a way I never did before, not sure why, I guess we are all different. :)
Hi Misty,
Perhaps you've reached a point in your life where your mind isn't cluttered with things you experienced in your teens and twenties. Just a guess. I wouldn't be concerned with it personally, as it just reveals a loving compassionate nature. The times and reasons we cry are many. I am so much like you. I watch a lot of the same shows you do, and cry every time. A big contributor to my crying is music. Give me a song that is filled with love, or love gone wrong and I'm crying a river. Sometimes it can be as innocent as a thought or memory that will trigger my tears. One of the things I love to do is pick out cards for my family and friends. The one I ultimately pick will be heartfelt and could be interpreted as gut-wrenching. My daughter and I have kind of a rating factor when it comes to cards. If the tears start before you finish reading, it's a hit. Silly I know.
Anyway, I do feel that hormones are sometimes a factor. I think age has nothing to do with it. Just be thankful that you aren't made of stone, with a heart as cold as ice :)
Interesting hub!
Probably because you get more sentimental as you grow older. When you're young, you're so much in the 'now' and let's face it - rather self centred because of that - not always selfish but self centred. As you grow older, while you are practical when it comes to everyday chores, memories and feelings evoke sentimental reactions - and each person reacts depending to how sensitive he or she is!
We're all at the age when we do get sentimental over a song, a movie, a fragrance or poem. Maybe we should cherish the fact that we can feel so deeply :)
Maybe you like a lot of us that are growing older, just getting a wee bit soft and soppy. A lot of us phsychotheropists, call it maturing, or mellowing out and finding your true self.
Misty, I'll pass thanks I got too emotional!
Trish, thanks for commenting, nice answer, and I love the fact you can cry over a card, as I haven't quite achieved that one yet :)
Shalini, I think you are right, it is good that we can feel so deeply. Thanks for posting .
Rodney, I like the sound of it simply being "mellowing out and finding your true self". Thanks for the post.
agvulpes, please don't cry, would you like a hanky, sniff!
Sniff Sniff Thanks Luv.
Hi Misty, I was smiling as I read your hub. I guess when we start allowing ourselves to feel and not let the mind get in the way of feeling, the emotions just come rolling in. LOL You are right, it's wonderful to feel. I know because I am like you too :)
Thanks ripplemaker, it is so nice to know it isn't just me who feels this way :)
Misty...it's definitely something to do with growing older. I find myself getting weepy at the oddest things these days when I might not have flinched at the same even ten years ago. Mid-life blues making themselves felt perhaps? :)
I agree totally, I found myself getting emotional after watching '911' last night but one, simply becasue of the amazing stories of operators talking the caller through the emergency in question.
thanks
thank
Wow this started happening to me too. Now 31. I am or was an athlete taught not to complain about bruses etc...and quite frankly not to hurt at all. I am 6'0 245lb dude that only cried at two movies when I was younger...Bambie, when the mother was shot, and Transformers (80's), when Optimus Prime was killed. But now I just think of crap and start tearing up. I complained to close friends about it, a very select few. Im tearing at nearly every movie where there is a sad part, where as before I either didnt care or laughed at the misery. WTF is going on.
I dont know if its related but during this time I have lost interest in weight lifting. When I try to go it ends up being around 3 times a month if at all. My muscle mass has noticably changed at least in my eyes although other claim different. I am at a loss.
Hi Bryan, I can't answer exactly what causes it, although I know I suffer from this too. I can only guess it may partly be down to hormonal changes we experience as we mature. It can also be caused by excesses of substances such as alcohol, but in general it seems fairly normal for this to happen to people when they get past their 20's and sometimes their 30's.
It is a little frustrating as it can be embarrassing in public, yet at the same time it is nice to feel that you have the ability to care so deeply now!
Lol...it is annoying, very annoying. Its as if I were losing control of my bladder and urinating all the time, just this time its through my tear ducts.
I dont drink or smoke.
I mean literally start watering up over what I'd consider "nothing." Now my eyes water, my throat tightens up, agggghhh....Is there a doctor in the house.
Yep, totally get it, I have exactly the same problems and dread anyone speaking to me in case I can't answer because I am too choked up. Hubby thinks it is sweet, but I still find it embarrassing even in front of him.
I recently watched something on our local pub's TV on the whole 911 incident, and ended up with tears rolling down my cheeks in a pub full of people. Even the Landlord came up and patted me on the back to comfort me!
Thanks so much for your hub, misty. I, personally, think it's part of "growing up". Blinders off; experiences, ability to go beyond our natural self-centeredness when younger. It's all good. :)
Thanks Gmorninsun you make very good points and I reckon it probably is a good thing all in all :)
I've found the same thing -- but only as far as TV is concerned. The same type of shows you mention here. Of course, when I was younger, there wasn't much of that sort of thing on TV, so perhaps it has something to do with that, rather than me getting older and less self-centred or whatever ... Here in Germany, T-Mobile advertise using Paul Pott's TV debut on 'Britain's Got Talent' with his rendition of Nessun Dorma. Every time (about once every half an hour on some channels), my throat tightens and tears seep from my eyes. It's terrible when there's somebody about ...
Must say, this Hub had me smiling.
And good to know that it's a normal occurrence.
All the best, Camlo
Thanks for the great comment Camlo, I am very pleased it made you smile as well :)
VioletSun says:
15 months ago
I don't think everyone who gets older becomes more emotional or sensitive, it depends on how the individual reacts to life; some become quite hardened. Sounds like you have opened up your heart even more (not that you were not loving before, as you mentioned) and you allow yourself feel compassion and empathy; could it be because of your husband's suffering and passing? After my sister's son passed away, she was always a loving person, but a bit tough; now she cries even during commercials, feels a deep compassion for others, (is going to open a foundation when the $$$ becomes available) and yet she is stronger nowadays. As for me, I have always been a crybaby, LOL, very emotional, but oddly when it comes to facing an emergency, a crisis, I am usually very calm because long ago, I learned how to detach so I could function with mental and emotinal clarity.