Did You Know It’s OK to Cry?
Why Tears Are Good for Your Mental Health
Keep it Behind Closed Doors
If you are a part of American society, then you know crying is considered to be a sign of weakness.
This type of socialization begins in our tender years and we quickly learn crying, especially when in public, has a rather negative connotation.
There is a popular school of thought shared amongst American households that people who whimper and whine are seldom the depiction of success, brevity, and capability.
This is then echoed throughout society-at-large.
It permeates the lyrics of mainstream music, it is injected into the personas of the uber-famous and wealthy, superheroes and pop culture icons. And it most certainly dominates the small and silver screen.
The stigma surrounding crying and emotional vulnerability is clearly posted everywhere; just take a look around.
We are conditioned to shame those who dare to turn on the tears.
The backlash comes in many forms. From bullying and harassment to beat downs and public displays of humiliation.
Rumors are created and spread like jam on toast. If you are caught while engulfed in the throws of an emotional purge you face the chance of beeing labeled as damaged goods in one way or another.
It’s perplexing that the reaction we have when there is a cryer in our midst, whether we are at the age of children in grade school or are posing as mature adults in the real world.
The rule is a hard and fast one.
There is no crying in baseball…
(or any other place for that matter)
Big Girls (and Boys) Don’t Cry, But They Should
Considering that it is common practice in our culture to tease and torment those we view as weak, nobody wants to be the one who gets labeled a blubbering baby.
But have you ever pondered that there could be an upside to letting your tears flow freely?
Well, if you haven’t, I beg you to reconsider.
Why, you ask?
Because, my dear friends, your mental wellness would benefit greatly if you would just give in and cry, baby cry!
For the remainder of this post, we will discuss some cold, hard facts that paint crying in a more positive light.
The Bennies
Let’s begin with one of the most apparent reasons to give crying a second thought.
Release the Heavy
Living in today’s hectic and, at times, unpredictable world, we tend to acquire large quantities of stress, anxiety, and anger, which, if you don’t know, can be a detriment to not only your mental health but also your physical health as well!
Not to mention, life is just easier when we feel better about ourselves.
Crying can help clear many negative emotions like frustration or sadness. And let’s not forget about healthily expressing grief and loss. Crying can act like an emotional cleansing, giving way to happier days.
Emotional Rescue
Do you ever feel like you are on the emotional rollercoaster from hell, and all you want to do is for the love of Pete to stop the ride and jump to safety?
Well, crying can be your ticket to lessening the highs and lows that bring about stressful relationships and personal turmoil. Crying can help boost your mood and level out the waves of emotion.
So forget the unpredictability, cry your way to enveloping relaxation, and quiet the storm to promote inner calm.
Get in touch with Your Softer Side.
As I mentioned earlier, from a very young age, we are taught to have thick skin and portray a more rigid exterior to distance ourselves from getting hurt physically or emotionally.
Well, every now and again, it’s good to remind yourself that you are human and are predisposed to have a slew of emotions and feelings. Even those that hinge on the softer side.
Crying boosts emotional intelligence and makes us more empathetic in our daily lives. We become more in tune with the needs and feelings of others, which is never a bad thing.
Crying will also help you build your emotional resilience. What does that mean exactly?
Well, it means that by allowing yourself the time to be vulnerable, you are also inherently teaching yourself how best to pick yourself back up after feeling defeated or coming to terms with failure in life.
Crying and being in touch with your emotions on a deeper level can help you understand why you’re feeling low, angry, or beaten down.
This in turn helps you understand what it will take to pick yourself back up.
This makes for a softer landing when we fall flat on our faces. Getting back on our feet doesn’t seem as hard. We learn how to bounce back in record time.
Now You Try it
Just because society says that crying is for weenies doesn’t mean it’s actually got any truth to it. Didn’t you ever hear that old adage about how stupid it is to jump off a bridge just because everyone else was doing it?
There is wisdom to behold in that old chestnut and it applies to many instances in life, trust me.
So, before you completely dismiss something, do your due diligence and see if it holds water.
You might be surprised that when you play monkey see, monkey do, you will often find you’re just blindly leaping into a pool of people that lack the capacity to think for themselves.
And who ever said ‘follow the leader’ was just a harmless game for youngsters?
Thanks for reading and I hope you found some value in this one.
All my best to you and yours!
- Nicki
Thank you to the following sources for the valuable information I included in this post:
- Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl
- Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/
- Verywell Mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/
