Top Story: Help! Why Can’t I Cry?!

Crying can be super satisfying and beneficial, especially after a long day or after an upsetting situation. But for a lot of people, getting that cry out can be extremely difficult and they’re looking for answers.

Brooke Palmer, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School says, “It’s not just you: There are other people out there who feel sad and even get the urge to cry, “but something interrupts it.”

That sensation can feel like built up pressure that you can’t let go of. Crying doesn’t necessarily make your body relax, but it can mark that shift from an emotional experience to homeostasis. Some people may feel worse after crying, while for some it can be helpful. Dr. Palmer says that there can be a lot of individual differences and situational factors that impact how we react.

There are many reasons why we feel like we can’t get that cry out — dry eyes, Sjogren’s syndrome, mental health and other medications, or just the stigma around expressing your emotions may suppress one’s ability to cry. But there are also so many things you can do to process your emotions other than crying. If you do feel like not being able to cry has been a burden or coping mechanisms aren’t working, you might want to consider reaching out to a mental health professional or therapist.

You can read more about crying here.