HEALTHY FUNCTION
Sometimes in life, and counselling, people can struggle with the need to cry, dismissing it as pointless, weak, or negative in some way. Crying like all our emotions, serves a necessary purpose, to support us in our life experiences, and our well being.
IMPORTANT AND BENEFICIAL
There are many reasons, why crying is important; relating to physical, emotional and psychological well being as follows:
- A normal and natural response to grief, loss, distress, overwhelm, injury, hurt, fear and vulnerability
- Indicates a need for attention, acknowledgement, care, understanding, support and comfort
- Often there is a need is to cry with someone rather than be alone. Crying is visual for a reason, we have a need to be seen and connected with another which can also help keep our thinking rational.
- A release mechanism from feelings and tension, crying has a natural rhythm, allowing ourselves to cry as needed helps finish the process.
- Helps adjustment to change and adaption to loss
- Essential in healing, if we interrupt crying this can interrupt healing.
- If the upset feels disproportionate to the event, this can indicate unresolved/unprocessed past hurts, and loss etc. See > inner child
- Trust it is okay to cry… if not, how come? how have you learnt differently?
- Noticing sadness without tears is just as important as crying.