I feel like crying
by Roamers Therapy | September 2021
Asking for permission to cry has been one of the most interesting questions I’ve heard as a therapist. Along with crying, there are often a series of apologies that follow crying. Of course, the reasons why individuals feel the need to ask for permission or continuously apologize for their crying may be associated with their upbringing and/or mental health symptoms.
Many of us grew up in home environments where crying was perhaps not tolerated or even ignored. Throughout life, we might start believing that crying often repels individuals from our life or might be associated with adverse experiences, so we might avoid doing it. While crying is as natural as any of our physiological responses, there are sometimes things we should be mindful of when processing why we cry.
Crying spells and consistent tearfulness might be a signal of our current emotional state. This signal or symptom is often associated with emotional dysregulation. Research shows that emotional dysregulation is a hallmark experience of depression. Maybe throughout this brief article, you’ve connected the dots that crying results from our emotional experiences and mental state that is associated with depression and/or even anxiety.
Coming back to experiences when individuals ask for permission to cry, the answer is always yes. You’re allowed to experience emotions. In therapy, we also find other ways to respond and process emotions as well as crying. In a nutshell, therapy is a journey of emotional exploration and processing.
Key takeaways:
- Yes, you can cry in therapy; it’s a natural emotional response
- Crying spells and consistent tearfulness are associated with emotional dysregulation
- Emotions and crying are often associated with depression and/or anxiety
- In therapy, we explore alternative ways to respond and process emotions, including crying
While our physical offices are located in South Loop and Lakeview neighborhoods in Chicago, Illinois for in-person sessions, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more.
This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.
While our offices are currently located at the South Loop neighborhood of Downtown Chicago, Illinois, we also welcome and serve clients for online therapy from anywhere in Illinois and Washington, D.C. Clients from the Chicagoland area may choose in-office or online therapy and usually commute from surrounding areas such as River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lake View, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Pilsen, Bridgeport, Little Village, Bronzeville, South Shore, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Wicker Park, Bucktown and many more. You can visit our contact page to access detailed information on our office location.