I have anxiety and have rarely cried in my life. I guess part of the reason why I have anxiety is that I've always suppressed my emotions and have sucked up one stressor after the other without an emotional release. I've been doing some research on this matter and apparently on average people cry like twice a month at the least. The last time I cried was 2 years ago when a loved one passed. I don't know why I hardly cry, guess I've always been taught to just man up and avoid showing weakness, but from what I can find online it seems to be helpful in releasing built tension, anxiety and stress hormones. So should I try to cry more often, like when anxiety hits? How often do you guys cry? And does it feel like a relief when you do? Perhaps it's a bit of a taboo subject. Grown men don't like showing their feelings but we don't have emotional brains for nothing. I guess all of the unprocessed feelings can build up and cause mental disorders eventually.
I cried a little today...the day after tomorrow marks the day when I proposed to my girl 2 years ago... she parted ways with me in August...I love her so much to want less for her...I wish her the best despite what she's put me through... people change...it is what it is...got to keep trudging forward
Before I began NoFap I changed many of my own values as well as personality traits and find crying as a defect and cause for personality implosion... so I don't do it, waste of H2O.
I’m glad you brought this up. As boys, we are told that we shouldn’t cry and that we are supposed to be strong. I think that’s part of the masculine ideal. But I think theres more to that. Yes, men are supposed to be strong. And men don’t cry - in public. I agree with you that crying can be a huge release of stress. I’ve heard also that a lot of toxins get released in tears. I don’t cry that often. If I cry it is a reaction to something that I see like a movie or when I think of something sad. It’s true, it’s doesn’t look good for a man to just cry easily. Last time I cried was at a retreat because I read a letter from my parents about what I meant for them. After that, I felt so much better and happy. I was by myself when this happened. If you want to be in touch with who you are then emotions are part of that. Holding them in is only going to lead to a lack of living.
If i cry sometimes it's not about that i dont want to face with my problems. It is natural even for man to cry when he have just too much pressure and problems, and remmember, when you cry to achieve something that is not cowardly cry, it is just emotional buildup, which is released and help you to keep going and to stay strong. And those cryes are what really make a man out of you.
Times I've cried in the past few years: -Difficulties with first girlfriend (I was more emotional then) -Crying over beautiful music/songs. Not out of sadness necessarily. (This is the stuff that makes me cry the most) -Watching some sad or deep movies/ certain video games (maybe, I can't remember) I've rarely cried lately, and I think porn has a hand in it. My dog that I loved and grew up with died last year. I felt nothing and never shed a tear, meanwhile my dad who is rarely emotional spent the whole night in tears. This haunts me. Yesterday, however, I almost cried watching a movie. It took me by surprise, because it's probably been at least a solid year since I shed a tear. I'm not an emotional person anymore and I'm fine with that, but to have no emotion at all is like being dead.
I very rarely cry (perhaps twice a year), and when I do I feel it's kind of theatrical and it lasts not more than five minutes. I always cry alone, and take great care that nobody will see me in such a state. Even in situations of deep despair I almost never cry, yet I can feel a great deal of pain in my chest, as if something wanted to come out but couldn't. For some reason I can't seem to be able to open up so much on a emotional level, even though I really wish I could cry more because it seems like it can be a great relief. I have restrained myself from crying watching movies few times though, I think if the next time something similar happens I'll try to "allow" myself to cry. I just checked a page on how to cry on Wikihow, I guess that's a good first step...
Very little have I cried in my life. The only times I do remember crying, when my dog died, when my other dog died, when my old man knocked my mom down, when I went to jail and when I yawn or laugh really hard sometimes. It's not that I went to jail that I was crying about. I have been locked up many times and never shed a tear, but that time was different and just wanted to change the way my life was going. Which I have done and has led me down the path of self improvement.
I've learned after years of substance abuse and three years of sobriety that it's better to cry and allow yourself to feel emotions such as sadness and emotional pain than to avoid it and try to numb yourself from such emotions.
Recently I have sort of lost the ability to cry, even when I am sad and I want to. Has anyone else experienced that?
Yes absolutely, even when loved ones die, no tears. I'm on a pretty good streak now and I started to tear up the other day, it was great.
To experience a life fully, is to experience the highs and the lows. Both are powerful and should have an impact when we don't turn away or numb ourselves. Recently was choking up over a few very meaningful movies, and while contemplating how I can keep things on track if I stay true to my values. It's good to get it out there I say.
Thanks for that view! I cryed a lot a year ago, went trough a lot of shit all at once. But now, when I cry, it is more like an emotional buildup to keep going strong!