Yes, Crying Can be a Form of Self-care
"We wanted to take a minute to remind everyone that crying—no matter what season we’re in—is good for us and is even a form of self-care.
“Crying helps you express strong emotions in a safe way,” says Aimee Daramus, Psy.D, a Chicago therapist specializing in depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and trauma. “It‘s all about releasing inner pressure.” This applies to anger, happiness, sadness … any emotion that we’re expressing through crying.
However, society still tends to treat crying as a sign of weakness.
For those of us who have this mindset, Dr. Daramus says it’s beneficial to explore how we are letting our emotions out—because they do come out, one way or another.
“If you don’t let feelings out in a healthy way, they’ll come out in an unhealthy way. You might externalize them in a way that damages others, like yelling or blaming,” she explains. “You might damage yourself, for example when emotions tense up your muscles and become psychosomatic pain. Those emotions are coming out, and crying is healthier than a lot of the alternatives.”
Dr. Daramus says that people often feel a sense of release after a good cry. “It can also help you be your most authentic self emotionally,” she says. These benefits happen whether you are crying alone or in front of someone—and being vulnerable in front of someone who respects you comes with additional benefits. “When someone sees you cry and treats that emotion like it matters, it helps you feel like all of you is acceptable, not just the good, socially acceptable parts of you,” she explains.
Still struggling to be OK with crying?
Dr. Daramus says that talking about our emotions, journaling about them, or turning them into something creative are all ways to find release, similar to crying. And sometimes, doing those things will even bring about tears."
Read the full article on Poosh
✨Takeaway: You can safely release powerful emotions by crying. Emotions will come out in an unhealthy way if you don't let them out in a healthy way. Which is why having a good cry is often healthier than a lot of the other alternatives when those feelings are rising to the surface.
✨Reflection: When was the last time you've cried? How do you usually feel after crying?
#Emotions #Crying #Self-Care #Self-Compassion #MentalHealth #Wellbeing
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Sadly I find it's not safe to have a long cry as it's an HAE trigger for me. I let myself cry a bit but try to stop fairly quickly, sometimes not too successfully.
@AffyAvo
I didn't know that. Just did some reading on HAE. Given that emotional stress can trigger it, I hope there's a healthy and safe way for you to release emotions. <3💜
@innateJoy9602 For me at least emotions aren't a trigger ( well tested somedays!) It's the physical stress from crying that then triggers eye area attacks often followed by a throat attack.
@innateJoy9602 I cried earlier today but it didn't feel good because when your not wanting to get deep with yourself it makes you feel as if your being forced to do something that your not really ready to do if that makese sense
@tealLion9329
That does make sense. I can see how not wanting to/being ready to cry can make it not feel as good afterwards. 💜
@innateJoy9602
I really needed to hear this! For the longest, I was brought up thinking that crying was a sign of weakness. As a result, in my adulthood, I would sometimes have private crying spells and I would often feel shame for the tears. But it's wonderful to know now that crying is a perfect way to release all the frustration and tension that one could feel inside and to also know it's okay to do it and not feel shame.
The last time that I cried was when I lost my job recently. It did make me feel a whole lot better since there was a profound amount of tension and frustration associated with the intricacies of the job. But I was also able to release some much needed anger and negative energy.
@janewayalpha1
It is a shame that so many have us grow up being told that it's a weakness. But, human emotion is definitely not a weakness. I'm sorry about your job. I'm glad you were able to release all that negative energy and anger though. 💜
Crying is not weak! Crying is a great thing for cleansing yourself and rebalance your inner body and your emotions.
It releases lots of tensions and some pressure from within your body that's trapped in yourself
You're meant to feel your emotions and your thoughts and feelings and experiences them in healthy ways
I cry quite often especially when I'm extremely sad or frustrated and extremely tired it helps to cry it out and taking the time to process it and my emotional energy in a safe space and healthy space.
I've often times have had people tell me it's childish to cry well their wrong it's ok to cry its all part of being human 💕💕💕💕💕💕
Don't feel bad for showing your feelings and tears !!!💕💕💕💕
@Leanna3333
Sooo well said Leanna.
"Your meant to feel your emotions and thoughts" - Getting that tatooed on my forehead.
It's nice to see that you're comfortable and willing to let yourself cry and feel all the feels!! 💜
@innateJoy9602 It's interesting to link physiological responses to internal emotions, particularly to evaluate how they came to be from an evolutionary perspective. Much to study on this, thanks for sharing.
@miraculousParadise2759
Yes, it can be very interesting to learn more about. Thanks for reading :)💜
Thank you for sharing this post! I find that some days I just need to cry even if there is no strong emotional trigger. It can just be an energy release. I used to attach negative feelings to this but I have learned to simply feel it rather than judge.
@greenArcher224
I feel the same way! As you said, it’s a great energy release.
I always feel more relaxed afterwards. 💜
@innateJoy9602 is crying therapy a thing?
@purifyyoursoul
Therapeutic crying is a thing. There is also Cry Therapy in Japan. In which therapist encourage rejuvenating crying.
Here are some articles if you want to do some more reading: Therapeutic Crying & Japanese Cry Therapy 💜
@innateJoy9602
I prefer not to cry.
I find music (singing, playing guitar, learning new songs, listening to) an adequate or more than adequate way to release my emotions.
I meditate morning and evening too.
Exercise and eating well also helps me.
@Dallady
Those are also very great alternative ways to release emotions!!!
Music is one of my favorite ways as well.💜
