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So, if crying is so great, why do some people have so much trouble doing it?
Heres what you better know, according to experts.
Why cant I cry?
That means there are a host of reasons you might not be able to cry.
a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California
Any of the below medical conditions or issues could be responsible for someone not being able to cry.
Chronic suppression of tears over time can make it hard to cry, Bylsma agrees.
Ashley Zucker, MD
Social expectations can really hinder crying for certain populations, Amorosi says.
This can interrupt their ability to take care of themselves or connect with others.
It can also make crying less satisfying.
(This could relate to relationships with parental or authority figures, peers, or romantic partners.)
People who have a disrupted relationship with their emotions may struggle to cry as well, Amorosi says.
Other people may dissociate when they have big feelings or are generally emotionally avoidant.
All of these versions of emotional disconnect can make crying harder to access, Amorosi says.
a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California
They can be very apathetic and dont feel much about anything.
Is crying necessary?
Babies cry to alert their caretakers that they need something.
With adults, its purpose is less vital, but there is a purpose nonetheless.
It seems that5our sympathetic activity (fight or flight response) increases just up to the peak of crying.
Oxytocin can help improve your mood, while the endorphins act as natural painkillers, Amorosi says.
Is not being able to cry a trauma response?
Not being able to cry can be a trauma response, but it isnt always one.
Is it unhealthy to not cry for years?
Theres nothing unhealthy about not crying if you just havent felt the need to.
When to seek therapy
Anyone having trouble with emotional regulation can benefit from therapy.
Though there are many different ways to make yourself cry, dont force it.
Some people cry and others dont.
When is crying cathartic?
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 27(10), 11651187. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2008.27.10.1165
Steer R. A. Self-reported inability to cry as a symptom of anhedonic depression in outpatients with a major depressive disorder.
The neurobiology of human crying.
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