Stop Calling Yourself "Too Emotional"

Raise your hand if you’ve ever been called too emotional, too sensitive, too dramatic, or my personal favourite—hysterical.

Yeah. Same.

Women have been hearing this for centuries, as if our emotions are some kind of glitch in the system rather than an integral part of who we are.

The message has been drilled into us from childhood: Emotions make you weak. Crying is embarrassing. Feeling too much means you’re unstable. So what do we do? We suppress, swallow, and shove our emotions down into some emotional basement, hoping no one will notice we have them.

And yet, here’s the real kicker—our emotions are not the problem.

The real issue is a world that has forgotten how to listen to them.

Why Women’s Emotions Have Been Silenced for Centuries

Let’s take a quick history lesson.

The word hysteria comes from the Greek word hystera, meaning “uterus.”

Yes, you read that right.

For most of history, if a woman showed too much emotion, doctors blamed her uterus for literally wandering around her body, causing chaos (I wish I were joking).

The solution? Sometimes it was marriage. Sometimes it was forced institutionalisation. Sometimes it was (and still is) medication.

This belief system hasn’t disappeared—it’s just evolved. Women’s emotions are still pathologised. If we’re sad, we’re depressed. If we’re angry, we’re out of control. If we’re passionate, we’re intense. If we’re vulnerable, we’re weak.

And so, from a young age, we learn that in order to be taken seriously, we have to shut up and toughen up. That's exactly how felt growing up.

What Happens When You Suppress Your Emotions?

The thing about emotions is that they don’t just disappear when you ignore them. They fester. They show up in other ways—stress, anxiety, burnout, chronic illness.

Research supports this. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that people who suppress their emotions have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Another study in Health Psychology linked emotional repression to a weakened immune system.

Women, in particular, are more likely to experience somatisation, meaning emotional distress manifests as physical symptoms—headaches, digestive issues, chronic pain. Why? Because we’re holding everything in.

When you don’t let emotions flow, they stagnate. And eventually, they explode. Ever had a meltdown over something small—like dropping your coffee—when really, it was the accumulation of months (or years) of repressed feelings? That’s what happens when emotions don’t get processed.

Emotional Expression Is a Superpower, Not a Weakness

Now, here’s the radical idea: Feeling deeply isn’t a flaw. It’s a form of intelligence.

Emotions are data. They tell us when something isn’t right. They guide our decisions, warn us of danger, connect us to others.

Women don’t just have emotions—we cycle through them. Our hormonal fluctuations throughout the month directly impact how we feel, think, and respond to the world.

During the follicular phase (right after our period), we might feel energised and optimistic. Ovulation brings confidence and magnetism.

The luteal phase (right before our period) is when emotions intensify—things that didn’t bother us two weeks ago suddenly really matter.

And during menstruation, we’re naturally more introspective, craving rest and emotional release.

This isn’t instability—it’s wisdom. Our shifting emotions are a built-in guide, helping us understand what needs attention. Instead of fighting these changes, what if we listened to them?

So, if emotions are so valuable, why are we still being told to suppress them? Because an emotionally attuned, expressive woman is powerful. She’s harder to manipulate. She trusts her intuition. She takes up space.

How to Reclaim Your Right to Feel

If you’ve spent years silencing yourself, it’s time to undo the conditioning. Here’s how:

1. Stop apologising for your feelings.

You don’t owe anyone an apology for being human. If you cry, if you get angry, if you express joy too loudly—good. Own it.

2. Reframe your emotions as strengths.

Your empathy makes you a better friend. Your intuition makes you a better decision-maker. Your passion makes you a force to be reckoned with.

3. Express emotions in a way that works for you.

Some people journal. Some dance. Some scream into a pillow. Find a way to move your emotions instead of letting them sit inside you.

4. Surround yourself with people who celebrate your emotions.

If someone constantly dismisses or belittles your feelings, consider whether they belong in your life.

5. Remember: You are not ‘too much'.

The world has just been taught to expect too little.

The Revolution Starts with You

Imagine what would happen if every woman stopped filtering herself.

If we let our emotions be seen, heard, and felt without shame.

If we stopped shrinking to make others comfortable.

That’s not weakness. That’s power.

And the world needs more of it.

So next time someone calls you “too emotional,” smile and say:

“I know. Isn’t it great?”

With immense love,

Gigi xx