Crying can be an extremely cathartic experience.
Yet, many people have trouble crying when they’re upset.
There are myriad reasons this may be happening.
Are there benefits of crying?
“Babies have this innate reflex for assurance that someone will take care of their immediate needs.
This is one of several main reasons the inability to cry may carry into adulthood and cause emotional distress.
This is whyempathy and acceptance from caregiversare imperative to help people avoid developing these negative associations with crying.
Gender stereotypes
Some people can’t cry because they are taught not to as a child.
“Abused children often hear, ‘I’ll give you something to cry about!'”
Fear to express emotions stunts healthy development of appropriate sadness or crying in adulthood.”
“There is nothing worse than feeling nothing at all.”
This is known as theflat affect1, and people who have it don’t exhibit usual signs of emotion.
Certain medications
Certain medications can also play a role in emotional blunting.
This may suggest that serotonin is one of the chief causes of emotional blunting.
How to get the feelings out.
It’s important to cry at least occasionally to release emotions and stress.
Tears can be evidence that trauma is seeking a physical outlet to resolve emotional pain.
“Meditative breathing and exercise are other healthy activities that can help one release their emotional state.”
“Visiting a professional in a nonjudgmental environment can be a catalyst for healthy crying,” Joye adds.
“Many clients in therapy say, ‘I never cry.’
Some apologize, and this is an indication of a root cause that needs exploration.”
And there’s always the tried-and-true cueing up of a classic tear-jerker.
The bottom line.
If you’re struggling with crying, remember that you are far from alone.
There are so manymental health organizationsfocused onsupport and healinginvolving the entire spectrum of the beautiful, complex human psyche.
You don’t have to go this alone.
