Permission to Cry

Many of us were taught very early that crying was something to suppress.

Children often heard phrases like:

“Stop crying.”
“Be strong.”
“Don’t make a fuss.”

And sometimes even:

“Stop that crying or I’ll give you something to cry about.”

Over time many people learn to hold their emotions in, even when the body is asking for release.

Why Crying Can Help

Crying is one of the ways the nervous system naturally settles after stress.

When people cry deeply, several things happen in the body:

• breathing changes
• long exhalations help slow the nervous system
• muscle tension can release
• calming neurochemicals may be released

This is why many people feel tired but calmer after a good cry.

Because many of us were taught not to cry, it can sometimes help to create a gentle and acceptable moment where emotions are allowed to surface.

Some people find this happens naturally when:

• watching a moving film
• listening to music that touches them
• reading a powerful story
• spending quiet time alone

Sometimes the tears we shed for a story are also releasing something deeper inside us.

Crying is not weakness.

It is one of the ways the body restores emotional balance.

Allowing a private moment of emotional release can sometimes be one of the most natural forms of self-care.

If you would like to explore the science behind emotional release and the nervous system, you can read more in the Quietly Optimistic Library.