Neurologist Ekaterina Demyanovskaya points out that hypersensitivity, or the urge to cry when watching a touching film or after a difficult day, does not necessarily indicate mental health problems.
According to her, if crying occurs without a clear reason, lasts for a long time, or is accompanied by other symptoms, it may be a sign of a health problem, although tears are a normal emotional response.
She said: “Tears help a person overcome strong emotions and relieve internal tension, and they are part of the normal functioning of the nervous system. Emotional sensitivity may increase during periods of extreme stress, chronic fatigue, lack of sleep, pregnancy, the postpartum period, as well as during hormonal changes, such as menopause. The emotional state usually gradually returns to normal after the cause is treated.”
She added that caution should be exercised if crying becomes frequent, occurs without an apparent reason, or begins to affect daily life.
She continued: "If a person cries almost daily for two weeks or more, loses interest in their usual activities, feels constantly tired, anxious, has sleep disturbances, loses appetite, blames themselves, and adopts a pessimistic outlook on the future, this could be an indication of depression. In this case, one should not try to cope on their own, but rather consult a doctor."
The doctor warned that emotional hypersensitivity may sometimes not be related to psychological disorders, but may be caused by neurological diseases.
She said: “For example, after suffering a stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or other brain diseases, a condition known as emotional instability may appear, in which the person becomes more prone to laughing or crying than before, and the intensity of the emotional reaction is not always proportional to the situation.”
The doctor pointed out that involuntary crying may also occur in people with organic diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, and in this case the crying does not reflect real feelings, but rather occurs automatically.
She added: "Mood swings may be related to thyroid disease, vitamin deficiencies, including vitamin B12, metabolic disorders, or the side effects of some medications. Therefore, if the crying persists, it is advisable to consult a neurologist and undergo laboratory tests to determine the possible causes."
