How I Learned to Cry

For years I suppressed my tears. Life changed when I let go.

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One of the most common things I hear from Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) when we go deep into our work together is:

“I’ve started crying, what’s wrong with me?”

I well understand the resistance to crying.

For years, I struggled to connect with my tears. It’s only more recently that I’ve really learned to completely let go, and experience the unique sense of catharsis that comes from surrendering to guttural, full-body, snot-blowing sobs.

Crying can be a loaded topic — triggering associations from our childhood, and touching on the kind of unhelpful cultural conditioning that associates sensitivity with fragility, or even weakness. And — while there’s no doubt that crying can be a huge relief — research suggests that it’s not universally beneficial for all people at all times. There are clearly appropriate moments to let go, and others to hold back.

With all that said, I wanted to devote this week’s edition of The HSP Revolution to exploring how we can derive the greatest benefits from crying. I’ll start with some of my own story, consider some of the studies, and offer some tips aimed at helping you discover the same benefits from a good, healthy cry that I have.