Let the Tears Flow: Science Says It's Good for You

by Mimi O' Connor In a recent group support session, an active and generous participant choked up with emotion as she spoke of the anniversary of her husband's passing. She tried hard to stop her tears, repeatedly apologizing for them. "I really am okay," she insisted, "I don't know why I am crying again. It's been five years. I'm so embarrassed." If she had not furiously wiped away her tears and instead looked into the caring faces around her, she would have realized immediately that there was no need for an apology. She would have spotted the responsive tears in my eyes and those of several others, signaling our deep acceptance of and empathy for the loss and grief that she was feeling. Tears can be effective and powerful messengers, but they have always carried mixed messages. Some of us have assimilated cultural messages that warn of the inevitable disapproval that can follow a public display of tears. Many view crying as overly sentimental or a sign of emotional imbalance and deficit while others see it as cathartic, a sign of emotional strength and expression. Some tears may be perceived as profound while others may be viewed as confusing or even manipulative. The workplace is especially controversial on the issue of crying. Even though business leaders like Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg have recently put forth the idea that expressing emotions, even tears, at work, is actually good for team building, crying is still frowned upon in many offices as a sign of weakness....
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news