https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 02:50:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121506 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:03:14 +0000 MK0180 2121506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Really glad I'm not the only one that experiences these things. I feel like I'm just being crazy and paranoid sometimes.<br /> I've always been sensitive but it seems that it has heightened so much since having DS. Child abuse and dog/animal abuse stories just makes me an absolute wreck. </p> <p>We had started watching The Shield when DS was born. When the story got to the point involving Shane and his family I just started sobbing. DH had seen it when it came out so he knew what was going to happen but even he got emotional about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121481 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:49:39 +0000 78h2o 2121481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@meganmp: Yeah, Sandy Hook a week or two after DD was born was brutal!!! </p> <p>I think I've always been pretty sensitive to these things, but yes - definitely more so since becoming a mother. It was at it's peak though pp and now again because I am pregnant. For me, I think it's both hormonal and a life-change. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121471 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:41:32 +0000 jedeve 2121471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I burst into tears once in front of my FIL when someone was telling a story about baby birds. I was like a week PP and it was kind of embarrassing!</p> <p>I empathize with your empathy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121462 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:34:23 +0000 lilyann 2121462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is a life long change. I have a 2.5 year old and a 9 month old and cannot read or watch the news without crying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121452 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:31:01 +0000 Cherrybee 2121452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>20 months and still going strong, here. I'm an emotional mess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121364 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:38:27 +0000 kes18 2121364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah mine is almost 1 year and I just cannot watch the news still. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121221 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 11:37:26 +0000 Anagram 2121221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This reminds me that when I was on Maternity leave and searching for good things to watch on Netflix, I randomly watched some horrible Natalie Portman movie where her baby dies of SIDS while she's nursing her and falls asleep--- That's not even a real-life event and I was paranoid for MONTHS after that damn movie. MONTHS!</p> <p>ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121181 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 11:09:14 +0000 meganmp 2121181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel you. I thought that it was just a PP thing, because Sandy Hook happened weeks after my twins were born, and I thought that I just reacted the way I did because of PP hormones. Nope. I couldn't even read the articles about the most recent plane crash. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121165 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 11:02:29 +0000 littlejoy 2121165@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh mama! I feel for you ... The first Malaysia Airlines flight went down when I was just a few weeks pp. I was so overwhelmed with grief. Then, everything else you mentioned. One night when I was nursing my baby, I saw a photo of a mama pig with her tiny piglet ... they were laying together in a disgusting pen, and I realized they'd be separated, etc., and I went vegan at that moment. 15 months in, that extreme empathy is still there. I think there's a fine line between this and sadness or postpartum depression, which is why having a great support system (family, partner, care providers) to talk to is important. I think it's great that you're recognizing it ... My mom said, "Love grows when you have a baby!" -- I think it makes your whole heart bigger. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121156 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:53:03 +0000 My Only Sunshine 2121156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm only 18 months in so I'm not sure if it's a life-long change for me but it feels like it.</p> <p>Sad news stories always got to me, but my reaction to TV shows has been an unexpected change. I used to love dramas or action shows. Now I really only have the emotional capacity to handle comedies and reality TV! Call the Midwife is forever banned in my house because it makes me sad for days. Law &amp; Order SVU? No way. I even told my husband I couldn't watch that Netflix show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" because I couldn't get past how awful and sad real life kidnapping stories like that are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121148 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:43:28 +0000 Mama Bird 2121148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is for life. I don't know if that's how it works for everyone though, many people probably forget or grow a thicker skin again, or the world wouldn't be the messed up place that it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121128 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:30:13 +0000 youboots 2121128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup. I'm less than a month in but absolutely feeling everything you mentioned, sad things cause me weird physical pain. ETA even befor baby I could not watch the news, it upsets me too much. I will watch during a weather event but I like to read my news so I can control the content I see.</p> <p>I also want to be around my husband and touching him more than usual. I have never been much of a physical touch kind of person, but now I crave it. I'm not sure if it will last, but I'm extra excited to bed off pelvic rest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121123 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:28:01 +0000 merriment 2121123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for life-long change (going on 3 years now)... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121106 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 10:11:23 +0000 Maysprout 2121106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt like it made me more human. There's way more anxiety and feelings but Im happy to have the balance of increased compassion and empathy to deal with all the assholes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121072 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:52:25 +0000 catomd00 2121072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep my husband and I have both experienced this - still goo strong at 13 months Pp. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121009 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:09:15 +0000 snowjewelz 2121009@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ever since becoming a mom I cannot stand any upsetting news about babies/children. I mean, they are horrible enough either way but I'd burst into tears now upon the news! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121007 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:08:05 +0000 Ree723 2121007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, my oldest is 2.5 and youngest is 13 months and these things still affect me greatly. With yesterday's plane crash, I haven't been able to stop thinking about the two babies on the plane, and the 16 school kids that were on there as well. Just the thought of what those parents must be feeling tears me up inside. </p> <p>I hate to say it, but I find myself shying away from the news now - I don't like being out of touch with what's going on in the world, but I can't handle all the sad news stories. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2121004 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:06:59 +0000 ShootingStar 2121004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anything with regards to children now makes me really upset. Like, in tears upset. Whereas before I'd be sad about it while reading it, but it wouldn't stay with me like now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120999 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:04:47 +0000 littlebittyhouse 2120999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This was a big change for me! I used to LOVE Criminal Minds but now almost 3year pp I still have a hard time watching it. I def get emotional over more things then I used to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120997 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 09:03:57 +0000 Alivoo01 2120997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup! Everything seems to tug on my heart strings a little harder and lingers for awhile. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120977 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 08:54:51 +0000 mrbee 2120977@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It took me a few years to be able to watch Law &amp; Order: SVU again! It wore off eventually though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120891 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 08:01:15 +0000 Trufflehunter 2120891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bubbles: :shocked: wow! It can get worse??<br /> Crikey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120880 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 07:57:42 +0000 Bubbles 2120880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup I know exactly what you mean - and in fact my DH has experienced the same thing - I've seen him cry more times in the last 15 months than the rest of our 10 year relationship! </p> <p>My mum says it gets worse with each child! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120864 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 07:49:43 +0000 Trufflehunter 2120864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is good to know that others feel the same!</p> <p>@Anagram: yes! 'Haunting' is the perfect word. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120844 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 07:42:34 +0000 Anagram 2120844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Life-long change--at least so far, at 20 months PP! I always thought those things were sad, but they didn't HAUNT me like they do now. Any story of an abused baby or terrible deaths...I just ruminate on them way too long and they affect me a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120837 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 07:39:55 +0000 LBee 2120837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was just thinking about this last night! I cry to almost everything - whether child related or not - that is remotely sad. Songs, commercials, news stories, etc. I think part of it is just being a Mom now. Everything has a different framework for me. The story about a kid getting hurt used to upset me before I was a parent, but now that I'm a Mom and can even loosely imagine the indescribable pain of that happening, I'm a mess. </p> <p>Long story short, I think some of it is hormones, but a lot of it is that you've had a framework change. For me personally, life is a little more fragile since I had my son. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120833 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 07:38:43 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2120833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me it has been a life long change. I never used to be very emotional, but small things make me cry now...the topics you mentioned above all make me so upset, i try not to read articles about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/empathy-overload-post-partum#post-2120824 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 07:33:16 +0000 Trufflehunter 2120824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No idea if this is the right forum for this. I feel like since the moment I gave birth I have felt extreme empathy towards a lot of things. Does anyone else know what I mean? </p> <p>I thought it was just linked to my hormones regulating after birth and would fade in a few weeks but it's stayed with me. It's with everything- news articles about plane crashes, missing persons, babies being in car accidents, parents losing weeks old babies, child abuse (that's a big one), suckling pigs being slaughtered, sow stalls and animal welfare in general, old cases I've worked on, TV shows about poverty, poor working conditions in third world countries, when we travelled to Indonesia recently I thought about how much we have and how little others have and not just in terms of material possessions, also in terms of things like sunlight, open space, clean living conditions. </p> <p>I've never experienced so much of this kind of exquisite, heart-wrenching pain before about so many day-to-day things before. It's crazy! </p> <p>Is this a thing? Is it related to hormones? Or will it be a life-long change? </p>