[bumble2u]

Is it normal to be apparently depressed but unable to cry or show any emotion. I ask this because the other day i sat on the bathroom floor aware that something was terribly wrong and uncomfortable after a huge argument and I guess I thought maybe if I cry these feelings will pass. But I could not, I wanted to scream but nothing came out. I remember my previous psych saying to me that tears are good and show that you are in wise-mind. But nothing will come in fact I feel more hollow with each day that passes. Do you cry does it help?

[BipolaRNurse]

I rarely cry, even when depressed. The only time the waterworks really come is when I'm mixed---that's when I have the energy to cry, and then I can't stop blubbering.

Honestly, I hate crying and tend to be very hard on myself for it because I feel like a baby, even though I know it's perfectly normal and healthy to do so on occasion. I came from a family where tears were seen as a sign of weakness in all but the most desperate of situations, like when a family member or friend passed away. So I've never been comfortable with crying, and I try to suppress it---often at great cost.

I'm sorry you're depressed, and wish I had some words of wisdom for you. Just know that you are not alone in this.

[bumble2u]

Oh well comfort in numbers I seem to cry at silly things like someone getting hyped up over hockey results?? No idea why i guess it's a display of heightened emotions. I don't seem to be able to cry when it is a funeral for example. Then I'm as hard as a rock. I had very odd expectations of emotions from my parents growing up. I come from the stiff upper lip brigade. I have found myself crying when confronted with kindness in therapy. In fact accepting kindness is one of the hardest things when you are convinced you do not deserve any kindness.

[middlepath]

I normally cry very easily, but I cannot cry when profoundly depressed. It's frustrating because it is like i WANT to sob to unleash what is pent up, but simply cannot. It is not a nice feeling. Oddly, I know that I must be healing when I can cry again? ironic.

[bumble2u]

Originally Posted by middlepath

I normally cry very easily, but I cannot cry when profoundly depressed. It's frustrating because it is like i WANT to sob to unleash what is pent up, but simply cannot. It is not a nice feeling. Oddly, I know that I must be healing when I can cry again? ironic.

Yes I agree I know I've reached the depths when I cannot access any emotions anymore.

[mel77777]

I cry all the time, Im not sure if it helps or not. I have been so depressed lately that crying has become a normal part of my daily routine.

[gayleggg]

When I get to the point I can't cry, I, too, have reached the bottom. That is when I become the most dangerous to myself. I go cold inside and no one can get in, even to help.

[Samanthagreene]

I do this ALL THE TIME! I feel terrible, like I could cry any second, but when I try, it just doesn't work. When I can cry, I find it does help a lot.

[dillpickle1983]

Just about anything these days makes me emotional. I have to hold back tears, but I do cry quite often.

[IndieVisible]

I can feel really, really super depressed to the point of almost crying or dry crying, but no tears. The last time I cried with tears was 1987 the year my 14 year old son died in a drowning accident. Since then I have not cried and I have lost many friends and family including my mother last year. Almost had a tear for my mom and one of my cats. If any thing happened to my two children I have now I know I would cry and then totally lose it and snap.

[nycgal448]

depends on who is making me cry. sometimes.. mostly pent up

[Moose72]

Sometimes. Depends on the situation.

Generally, not all that much. There are spells where I cry a fair bit though. Or in certain sorts of situations. Does it help? Sometimes, like a pressure release. When very depressed, I am more likely to not cry. If it's a numbness, I think of it as 'beyond crying'. If it's a pressured desperately wanting to be able to cry, I think of it as 'howling into the void'. That feeling, like you say bumble, of wanting to scream. Funerals. Well, at those I am a mess. Not carrying on wailing or anything(!), just can.not.stop.crying! Silently, so it is really awful when my nose starts up. Blot, blot, squish, squish. Oh, for a I swear, I could not even have known the person and still I'd probably be that way(!) Think it's the emotional intensity of it more than anything.

Originally Posted by bumble2u

... I have found myself crying when confronted with kindness in therapy. In fact accepting kindness is one of the hardest things when you are convinced you do not deserve any kindness.

Yes! I am way more likely to cry over touching things than in sadness. Great emotional discomfort will do it. Oh yeah.

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

... I came from a family where tears were seen as a sign of weakness in all but the most desperate of situations...

I grew up similarly and am very uncomfortable crying in front of others. I'm ok with it when I'm by myself though.

Originally Posted by bumble2u

... I remember my previous psych saying to me that tears are good and show that you are in wise-mind. But nothing will come...

In case this is bothering you (not sure), or you are being hard on yourself on account of it, I'm pretty sure s/he meant as opposed to stifling it. Not for wanting to but not being able. My take on it anyway, if that is any comfort.

[bumble2u]

Originally Posted by gayleggg

When I get to the point I can't cry, I, too, have reached the bottom. That is when I become the most dangerous to myself. I go cold inside and no one can get in, even to help.

I think I am at that point.

I have been in a bad depression, and I find the tears come very easily. There are some days I don't cry at all, but often just have a lump in my throat. Then there may be a day where I cry a couple of times in one day.

[catsrhelm]

I cry when I am either super depressed or get too overwhelmed by my son's severe autism. It helps me just to get the sadness and anger out.

[BNLsMOM]

I haven't cried for years. Sometimes I feel like I would give anything for a good, cleansing cry.

[IndieVisible]

Originally Posted by BNLsMOM

I haven't cried for years. Sometimes I feel like I would give anything for a good, cleansing cry.

I feel the same way. I feel the need to release but am never able so it stays bottled up in me and has for decades. It's not that I do not feel like crying or get super depressed, I do. But can't cry.

[Victoria'smom]

Before the medication I hadn't cried in years Then it became a five min. and collect yourself. More and more it becomes hour long tear-fest showers, find a teary movie quick. Then nothing again. I guess the worse it is the harder the tears. I've ways done the almost tear up thing. As a kid I wanted to be able to cry so much that I SH'd. Still today strong topics and in crisis mode I don't even have the urge to cry. It's more a crying can be dealt with later but never comes.

[BadGirlBlues]

I suspect Lithium prevents me from crying.

depressed or not, i'm a real cry baby

even end up crying at things that arn't worth it at timee- but i'm 1 of those people.. once i start crying about something, it lasts for hours- and goes a lot further than crying, too

[dubblemonkey]

Originally Posted by bumble2u

Is it normal to be apparently depressed but unable to cry or show any emotion. I ask this because the other day i sat on the bathroom floor aware that something was terribly wrong and uncomfortable after a huge argument and I guess I thought maybe if I cry these feelings will pass. But I could not, I wanted to scream but nothing came out. I remember my previous psych saying to me that tears are good and show that you are in wise-mind. But nothing will come in fact I feel more hollow with each day that passes. Do you cry does it help?

first of all my friend...

nothing is normal

our illness represents itself in many ways...

some are more apparent than others

the most important thing beyond understanding the lack of anything
is that we are all weak and exposed to much!

not crying?.... when you believe you are upset?

it is a brand new type of overwhelm...

something beyond tears and perhaps precisely how the experience is experienced at the time!...

DM

[LacunaCoiler]

I cry when I'm angry more often than when I'm depressed. When I'm depressed, I feel more numb than anything else. When I've hit that point of being so mad I start to cry I become madder because I'm crying to begin with. It's a vicious little cycle. Angry, cry, angrier, cry harder.

[FrustratedInMN]

I make my tears come out by watching sappy movies. I don't cry much otherwise though.