Why can't I cry?

I'm unable to cry. It's not that I'm dehydrated or any other physical health problem because my eyes are able to water when I yawn or smell something gross, it's that even when I want to cry, tears won't fall. It's horrible. I just feel trapped inside myself and it often leads to SI. Sometimes, I wake up in the night crying. Why can't I do it when I need to? It feels like maybe my feelings aren't extreme enough for me to be able to cry.

Hi my friend ~ Obviously you're numb. And you need therapy. Sometimes we become numb because we're protecting ourselves from pain. So we stuff our emotions to the point where we can't feel anything! And that's not healthy!

You need therapy to find out what exactly is the "pain" that you're escaping from. There's probably more than one "thing" that you're escaping from and the therapist can help you discover what these things are. Yes, it can be painful in the discovery process, but once it's over you'll feel a sense of freedom that you've never felt before! It's like having a load lifted from your shoulders!

I wish you ALL the best, my friend. Please take care of yourself and God bless. Gentle hugs, Lee

Are you on any medications? When I was on Celexa, I was unable to cry. The feeling of wanting to cry was there, but I just couldn't get it to physically happen. I think Leed has a great insight too, though.

I'm on adderall but I've had this problem since before I was on adderall.

I am in therapy and I don't think I'm numb. I have emotions.

I'm experiencing this for the first time. Normally my problem is I cry too easily. These past few days have been rough and at first I was holding it in intentionally, waiting for a time when I wouldn't make a scene. Now even when I'm alone I can not cry, but the urge is overwhelming. I was thinking of watching a sad movie, like Savannah Smiles, in hopes I would be able to cry over someone else's pain since I can not cry over my own.

sometimes when children have been forced to keep their pain/abuse a secret it becomes second nature to do just that, so as an adult rather than cry they burry the tears and true feelings inside, showing what they think others want to see
having someone care about you, really care by doing kind caring things for, to, and with you along with therapy will help bring them back to the surface, but be aware once they start they will come in bucket fulls along with a great sense of vulnerability.
i found watching films like Lorenzos oil, beaches or ones about parents fighting to find a cure for their dying children seemed to work too! seemed like watching what other parents would do for their children made me realise just how awful mine were and i would actualy feel deeply sorry for myself and cry really hard. i still find it difficult to make any sound when i cry, but the tears were like fountains for quite a long time once they began.

be kind to yourself, they will come eventually, when you are in a place where you feel safe x

Lorenzo's oil was such an upsetting movie for me. Even when I'm overwhelmed with sadness while watching movies like that, I can't usually cry. I just end up self harming instead :/

If you have a cognitive distortion or belief about crying (and they can exist at a subconscious level,) then you will cry less or not at all.

The reason could be.. "when I cry I show weakness, and when I show weakness bad things happen" or any number of things. It could be interesting to figure out, but you'll need to dig to find it.

Fwiw, I couldn't cry about anyone close to me that's died, or feel a deep sense of grief... But emotions are a bit different since I had a breakthrough therapy moment

Edit: and I meant to say... So sorry about the SH. I knew someone I did and it was so senseless, and I felt powerless to help. I hope you find what it is you need, to not do that

Tell your therapist about this or talk to a good friend. do you prefer crying to talking about your problems? it's better if you pm some of the members here.