Do you ever feel like you could cry for no reason at all?

[cherokeeprogressive]

I do. I can't explain it. Sometimes even a TV commercial can cause me to get a hitch in my breath and make my eyes misty. I've been this way ever since I can remember. Sad situations make me misty. HAPPY situations make me misty, even when they're someone ELSE'S happy or sad situations. The lottery winner on TV holding the big fake check makes me misty.

My wife says she loves the way I wear my heart on my sleeve. My ex-wife called me a crybaby. I'm not shy, not reserved, and would hope no one laughs when I say I consider myself to be reasonably intelligent. I'm the guy everyone calls when they're moving, because I don't know how to say no to the request for help. I'm the guy who talks to other people in the supermarket checkout line (not the chatty one you hate).

My daughter says there must be something in my past that I'm suppressing, but for the life of me, I can't imagine what it might be. My parents are still alive, my dad wasn't the biggest prick in the world, and overall I consider myself extremely lucky.

I'm to the point where from time to time I consider seeing a therapist. I really don't like this feeling.

A couple of years ago, we went to Idaho to spend Christmas with my parents. The family was there, and at dinner, instead of "Grace" my mom asked that everyone at the table talk about something they were thankful for. When it was my turn, I broke down and bawled like a baby, and I have no idea why. There's a joke in my family now... "Keep it light, or Chris might cry."

Is there something wrong with me? Yeah, I know there are many here who are positive there is... but the original question stands.

[kayakjohnny]

1. Nope. Nothing wrong with you.

You just have compassion in your heart.

The Dali Lama always talks about a compassionate and warm heart.

You are in good company.

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. Hey kj you know that made my day...

You know I have my moments. There are times I come off like compassion is an abstract notion.

[datasuspect]

2. i cry for the lost and those who are alone, quietly suffering.

[LeftyFingerPop]

3. You may be a "highly sensitive person", which in my opinion, is a blessing.

http://www.highlysensitivepeople.com/

[femmocrat]

5. No, but I used to be the same way.

Before anti-depressants. Now I never cry.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Years ago, I was given an anti-depressant called Welbutrin (sp) as a means to quit smoking.

I think it was called Zyban. At first, I wondered what an anti-depressant would do to someone who wasn't depressed. I found out. I wound up in front of my TV at two in the morning every night with my eyes seemingly propped open.

I don't cry very often, but I get that feeling like I'm GOING to.

[Brickbat]

7. You have a big heart.

You have a big heart, and while big hearts feel more, I think they make better people.

I'm the same way -- lots of little things make me teary. Good things, sad things, the goddamn Procter and Gamble ads during the Olympics, the Olympic theme, etc. It's OK to feel.

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Freakin' William Shatner made me cry the other night... how strange is THAT?

I was sorry that the Olympics were ending. That wasn't what made me misty though, what made me misty was imagining what it must have felt like to PARTICIPATE in such an awesome thing.

Each and every time there was a human interest interlude during the Games, I got teary.

[Brickbat]

10. Hee!

I always cry at "The Great Escape." Who cries at "The Great Escape"? Me, that's who!

[kayakjohnny]

11. You should see me when they show the Ironman in Hawaii.

Every damn year.

The 85 year old, coming in a few minutes before midnight, limping... family waiting for him to cross the finish line.

The amputee, struggling to make it through.

The young mother with cancer.

The guy who lost his dad the week before, who happens to be his coach and best friend.



Someone has to scoop me off the floor with a snow shovel

Talk about weepy.

Thank goodness I'm always by myself.

Otherwise, I'd be a spectacle.

Who happens to wear spectacles.

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. See?

I got that hitch in the breath just reading about the people you described. Stop it.

[kayakjohnny]

14. Well, uh...

They did cross the finish line.

If that helps.

:)

[MiddleFingerMom]

9. Some of us ARE more sensitive than others...

.
... so get OVER it, ya big baby.
.
You're almost certainly fine. You're just emotionally-capable (or
something).
.
I get the same thing -- it's really never NOTHING that causes your
responses (from what you posted) -- it's just that you have a higher
sense of empathy/identification than many.
.
Sometimes I cry over "nothing" -- sometimes I think it IS sadness
over something in my past (that doesn't necessarily mean therapy is
needed) and sometimes it's a connection to someone else's sad plight.
.
It's embarrassing around folks I'm not close to -- I don't feel the
slightest need to explain, so that leaves them uneasy about me.
.
With friends, I can tell them what set me off. Sometimes, it's STILL
embarrassing... but not because there's something wrong with me.
.
I also LAUGH easily... often over, ahem... "nothing".
.
I like both those things about me.
.
By the way, I really LOVE the sentence that I've broken down into
these elements while retaining what the whole sentence is about:
.
"My wife says she loves"... ... ... ... ... "My EX called me crybaby."
.
THOSE two things should reassure you immensely.
.
I repeat: THOSE two things should reassure you immensely.
.

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. Thanks for your response. It IS embarrassing sometimes. Other times, not so much.

I posted about one side of the coin. I'm not sure whether I posted about HEADS or TAILS, but the other side is that I laugh at the dumbest of things. I'd say I laugh ten times more than I get misty.

I've been told that I could laugh at a schoolbus crash. While that may be true, it would only happen if the schoolbus were full of future repugs, lawyers, political pundits, or crooked politicians (you can tell I laugh a lot).

[fizzgig]

15. i'm the same way and always have been

the 'thankfuls' are a family thanksgiving tradition and i always choke up a bit doing them.

i don't think there's anything wrong with you, but if you don't like the feeling and think it's best to sit down with a therapist about it, go for it.

[Haole Girl]

16. What IS normal?

If it makes you feel uncomfortable then talk with someone. Hope you find answers to your questions. :hug:

[kimi]

17. Okay. I usually read through everyone else's posts.

Before I post. But it's been a long day. I had my beloved 18 1/2 year old kitty Tabitha put to sleep today and it's been about the worst day of my life that I can remember recently. But on this topic that you've brought up, there's not a doubt in my mind.

I think it's wonderful, to be able to be so empathetic. There aren't enough people around who have that quality. It's not wrong, it's not questionable, it's absolutely admirable. If you don't like it, I don't know what to tell you, other than that we all have qualities we don't like in ourselves, but we're stuck with, for good or bad - if I felt introspective I'm sure I could come up with a boatload of them but I don't feel like getting all mushy right now myself. Again.

There is nothing wrong with you, IMO. Your wife is right, and she is a lucky woman, your ex-wife is wrong, and it is her loss. And the people in the supermarket check-out line are very fortunate that you are there to keep them amused. It's all good. You're fine, and I'm absolutely positive about that.

[gimama]

18. YOU are awwwsome

Those who know/Love YOU wouldn't change a thing.

What is more power-full than a tender Heart & sweeet Spirit?!?

thank YOU for sharing this.