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[The Psychology of Crying: Why We Do It and What to Do When We Can't]-[179. Why can't I cry?]

The Psychology of your 20s · B2 · 2024-03-19

Life
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📋 Summary

The Psychology of Crying: Navigating Emotional Release

In the journey of our 20s, life can be overwhelming. We often find ourselves longing for a "solid moment to let yourself be in pain" through a good cry, yet many find themselves unable to shed a tear. This podcast episode dives into the biological and psychological functions of crying and addresses why we sometimes feel "blocked" or "defective" when we cannot access this emotional release.

The Biological Purpose of Tears

Crying is not merely a sign of sadness; it is a complex physiological process. Science categorizes tears into three types: basal tears (which clean the eyes), reflex tears (which respond to irritants like onions), and emotional tears. The latter are unique because they are triggered by the limbic system. Unlike other tears, emotional tears contain stress hormones like cortisol and proteins that help the body regulate itself.

Evolutionary research suggests that crying serves as an attachment behavior. From birth, humans use crying to signal distress and elicit empathy, care, and comfort from others. Furthermore, crying acts as a form of emotional catharsis. When we cry, our bodies release endorphins and oxytocin, which provide physical relief from pain and help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing us to move from a state of distress to one of relative calm.

Why We Cannot Cry: The Barriers to Release

If crying is so beneficial, why do we sometimes feel emotionally repressed? The podcast highlights several key reasons:

  • Shock and Denial: After a major life transition or trauma, the brain often enters a state of shock—a "protective or defensive mechanism" that helps us compartmentalize emotions until we are ready to process them. This "mental wall of glass" prevents immediate tears.
  • Medication: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) can lead to "blunted emotions," where 46% of users experience a difficulty in feeling or expressing intense emotions, making the cathartic release of crying physically unattainable.
  • Depression with Melancholia: In some cases, depression results in a total state of numbness where nothing, not even pain, feels meaningful, leading to an inability to weep.
  • Emotional Repression: Many of us are "conditioned time and time again to suppress rather than feel." This is often rooted in childhood experiences where emotional expression was punished or shamed, or societal pressures that dictate how one "should" behave, particularly regarding men and the concept of being "manly."

Moving Forward: Reconnecting with Your Emotions

If you find yourself unable to cry, the solution is not to force it, but to heal the underlying disconnect. The podcast suggests three strategic approaches:

  1. Somatic Awareness (Body Scans): Emotions are felt in the body. By performing a body scan, you can identify where you store tension—such as in the chest, throat, or shoulders. As the book The Body Keeps the Score illustrates, acknowledging these physical sensations is the first step toward unlocking emotional recognition.
  2. Vulnerability and Community: Talking to friends provides language for your experiences and validates your feelings. Realizing that "nothing is experienced in isolation" helps replace shame with acceptance.
  3. Creative Outlets: Engaging in art, pottery, or other creative endeavors allows you to channel pent-up energy into something tangible. Research from UCL and BBC Arts suggests that the act of participation in creative expression is enough to help regulate emotions, even if you don't consider yourself an artist.

Ultimately, the ability to cry is a superpower of human connection. If it isn't available to you right now, be gentle with yourself. You are not "defective"; you are likely navigating a difficult season where your brain is doing its best to protect you. By practicing patience and curiosity toward your internal state, you can gradually loosen the tension and eventually allow your emotions to flow.

🎯Key Sentences

1
It is the perfect way to get a head start on my slides.
2
Today let's cut to the chase we're going to be talking about crying.
3
The truth of the matter is our 20s are really freaking hard.
4
I want to give you permission right now.
5
It's okay to just be happy and content for a while.
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📝Key Phrases

1
cut to the chase
2
let it all out
3
get into it
4
serve a purpose
5
counteract
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📖 Transcript

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