[I_Aint_Myself]

So yeah, like the title says...

I'm way, way too emotional and I get upset far too easily. For example a certain news story, no matter trivial/non trivial it is, can give me a lump in my throat and get depressed like that. People do that too -- like the other day my Dad told me to shut up when he was watching the TV and I got so upset I wanted to cry, hit something/harm myself.

Another trigger is college. Usually the night before a new day I'm feeling like I'm going to meltdown, even if it I know it isn't going to be a hard day. I feel like I want to scream and cry and self harm.

Then there are my mood changes which, to me, aren't normal and extreme. They don't happen all the time, and when they do there's no grey area. For example in the space of a day I can go from feeling really happy and confident to so miserable that I feel suicidal and want to die, and I don't always have to be triggered.

Surely this isn't normal, right? I'm seeing my psychologist soon to begin therapy (after waiting months) and I'm scared she won't see it.

Do you guys have any coping methods? I'm on antidepressants right now, but they don't aways help...

[kaliope]

if the antidepressants aren't helping, ask for a different AD until you find one that does help. there are tons of them out there. it can be a pain in the neck to keep changing them until you find the right one, but you have to advocate for yourself..you will know within a couple months time if it is working or not, if it isn't, don't let them up the dose, demand a change, the doctors are working for you.

it is good you got in to see a therapist. they should be able to help you cope with your emotions. first session, explain it just as you have here. don't wait for them to see it. print out this post and bring it to session and say this is the problem.

when I was overly emotional the thing that most improved it for me what learning DBT skills. it is a form of group therapy. you can ask your therapist if it is available. good luck and take care.

[norwegianwoman]

Therapy and medicine is probably important, but it will take some time. The best advice I can give is to enjoy and embrace your GOOD emotions. I am myself a very emotional person, and it can suck sometimes. News can make me cry aswell (and I even work as a journalist), I sob like a baby from TV shows and movies, a seemingly small fight can hurt me deeply, and so on.

But, still I think it can be a really beautiful thing. It also means I easily get so happy that I feel the joy in every cell in my body, I get touched from music or from a starry night or a beautiful sunset. I can get so involved in books that the best ones can feel like a magical journey, life-changing. A child's laugh can make an otherwise dull day feel perfect. It sounds like cliches, but it's true. In other words - being very emotional makes the downs deeper, but it also makes the highs higher. It makes LIFE more real. So, embrace your good days! Do things you love, feel the joy of living when things are good. It is just as important as therapy, IMO.

[healingme4me]

I tend to waiver on the side of taking a peek into the environment, overall past history as probable cause to emotions that feel extreme and over the top. Meds can certainly help, the biological factors. Some triggers may not be as obvious as they appear. Therapy, self driven therapy, over time, as long as it takes, peels away the surface. Aside from the therapy and meds, are you active involved in any support groups and immersed in any self help literature?
Anger can oft be root of feelings of injustice, frustration, trapped feelings, etc. It comes out lashing in or out, when unable to articulate the root source.

[I_Aint_Myself]

Thanks a bunch for the suggestions/support guys!

kaliope -- I'm now on Antidepressant number 3, and it's early days so fingers crossed it works! What's DBT like compared to other therapies? Have you tried it?

norwegianwoman -- That's a good perspective right there, and what you're saying doesn't sound cliche at all.

healingme4me -- I'm not in any groups at the moment however I have been in contact with one but I've yet to hear a reply.