Why can't I stop crying once I've started?

I have a hard time stopping crying when I've worked myself into a negative spiral and I have the same probably 3 or 4 phrases flying around my head that I can't stop focusing on. Normally it is phrases like "you're so stupid," or "no one loves you," and other negative things like that which are insecurities I've always had but come to the surface whenever I'm especially upset. I find that it doesn't matter what superficial thing started me crying, because often it's these core phrases that are always the root of me being upset and therefore they tend to be the thing preventing me from stopping crying.

Once I start crying, i dont really think about why i am crying. I just want to feel pain, and i want to suffer. I want others to feel what i feel, so they would come and tell me they are sorry, and make me feel better. If no one is there to do that. I just can not stop. I want someone to notice me :\

I don't cry often anymore (Maybe once or twice in the past 3 or so years), but when I did, it was because I had been bottling up all of my emotions for a long time. When you start to cry, the gates open. Think of it in Lord of the ring terms. People are on edge and anxious for a long time (Bottling it up), then the gates of Mordor open and out floods a horde of orcs (Tears). They don't stop for a long time because there is so much in there. That's the best example I can come up with.

That usually happens when you hold back a lot and or when emotions build up. The moment you allow yourself to break, your true self comes forward and everything just flows out. It isn’t something to be ashamed of. And it’s healthy and normal when you have been suffering for a while. Allow yourself to cry when you need it. It is brave and honest. A raw expression of humanity. You are very self-aware to ask such a question and seek an answer. It might have to do with that you need some sort of release. If crying is the form it takes, try and let it be. Good luck, I wish you the best.

Crying is important! Cry and cry until you literally can't anymore and never be ashamed. Its not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.

Sometimes expressing your emotions will trigger more suppressed feelings. I often bottle up my emotions over longer periods of time so when I let them out i cry for a long time because I express all of those feelings or thoughts I've been holding in.

Crying is healthy. Just let it flow. :) Your body needs to finish letting its emotions out of your system.

The first tear in crying is usually a catalyst for all pent-up emotion to come flowing out. Although it may seem inconvenient, letting yourself cry and get it all out is good to maintain one's emotional balance.

It's good to just let out your emotion. No one said crying is a bad thing and should be stopped. What's important, that you don't hold yourself down, but get up and find things that make you happy.

I was turning six and we were supposed to go see my dad, because my parents were split up. They had split up because my dad became abusive towards my mom when she was pregnant with me. And she didn't want me and my sister to have to grow up seeing that, and she didn't want to have to deal with it so they ended it. But anyway, we were supposed to go and visit my dad at the police station, we were there for about 4 hours, and he never showed. That was the start of my tears, depression, and self hate. It all started to stop when I turned about 13 because I stopped blaming myself for him leaving, but I still cry. I cry and I can't stop because of how much pain I have been through and that I beat myself up over the stupidest things, and I can't seem to stop.