When Your Emotions Feel “Too Much”: Understanding What’s Really Going On

Many women grow up receiving messages that they are “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or that they “overreact.” Over time, these experiences can shape how you relate to your emotions, often leading to self doubt, shame, or harsh self criticism when strong feelings arise.

From a therapeutic perspective, strong emotions are not a sign of weakness or dysfunction. They are meaningful signals. Emotions provide information about needs, boundaries, unmet longings, and personal values. When emotions feel overwhelming, it is often because they have not been acknowledged, understood, or supported.

Learning to slow down and listen to emotional experiences can shift the relationship you have with them. Rather than feeling out of control or threatening, emotions can become valuable sources of insight and self awareness. This process takes practice and, for many, guidance.

If you feel disconnected from your emotions or unsure how to interpret them, you are not alone. Many individuals were never taught how to identify, tolerate, and respond to their internal experiences. Therapy can offer a supportive space to build emotional clarity, self compassion, and confidence, allowing emotions to feel informative rather than overwhelming.

Your emotions are not “too much.” They are communicating something important and deserving of attention.

Written by Sachelle Singleton, M.A., MFT-I, a Las Vegas based therapist offering virtual counseling to women and teen girls throughout Nevada.