The whole crying thingy?

Just posted in the new members thingy, but I figured I would go ahead and post here anyway.

So anxiety. Mine is 'generalized', but I've got some serious panic problems, too. Coupled with Bipolar, it tends to do a number on my mental state. So while with the proper meds and such I am not so bad....except the crying issue.

A lot of people with anxiety mention the tight chest, sweating, shaking, etc. I get those too, but mine is the crying. Or rather, the fear of if I start crying, I'll never stop. I was always a bit of a softy child (or rather, a softy child who hid it under a lot of humor), and even as an adult I tend to be a bit more on the emotional end. Which is funny because I can take some well done constructive criticism well (Seriously I'd have never survived art school without it!), but in general, I can be...well....weepy.

I mean, it's already embarrassing enough to suddenly feel insanely anxious at say, like work. Add on top of that crying? It's like the waterworks start and then you can't. get. them. to. stop. I've had moments at work (when I worked) just like that. All I'd want to do is either run off to the bathroom to sob because I am overwhelmed or go home because now I've started crying and it's nigh impossible to stop and at least there I can do it in private.

I guess all I am saying is: I'm not the only one here who experiences this, I assume?

I have never experienced this but anxiety can affect people in many different ways. Just because you do not experience what others do, it doesnt make it less real. I am sure there are others that have experienced similar though.

I wish I could cry! I just shut down when I'm anxious...

Mountain: It's either one or the other for me. I either freeze up/want to flee or cry.

....That just makes me sound like a deer, to be honest.

I definitely have the shaking (trembling, foot shaking out of control) thing.

Oh this is definitely me. I recall my mother saying how I had such a "tender" heart (her way of calling me wuss). Which my older brother attempted to beat out of me (he HATED that part of me).

As for the using humor to deflect - I think that is a self defense thing that we learn growing up - when society gives us disapproval (verbal or non-verbal) of how we express our emotions.

I am the father of two girls (19 & 15) and if we watch a movie together - it will always be me who is the first to cry at the sad parts..... Nearly 50 years old and it is *me* who is the drama queen.

grrrr

Have you thought about what you feel triggers the crying? Would it be a specific feeling like fear,negative thoughts or being overwhelmed by a situation or would you say at times it's just randomly crying but you're not sure why?

I think once you've narrowed that part down perhaps you can slowly deal with reducing it. For me, I can cry easily but it's usually triggered by something in particular..it being that I am thinking of something sad,I'm angry, feel down,scared or hurt etc. So, once I know what it is that I am crying about, I try to repeatedly think about something positive in hopes of something that can overcome that thought.