[Humpty Dumpty]

As a child I heard this phrase often. I was often sad and crying for no reason & my dad would say "If you don't straighten up right now I'll give you a reason to cry."
I guess this is part of the reason I rarely cry anymore as a grown man. It is also partly why I feel I need to have a reason to be sad. Otherwise I'm just "doing it for attention".

[Fuzzybear]

I think your dad was ... misguided... at best. As I remember, I hardly ever cried

[Humpty Dumpty]

Fuzzy you're an "older" adult like me. When we were kids growing up depression was the same as having a case of the "blues" & you didn't take your kids to a doctor for that.

[MtnTime2896]

Honestly, as a young adult, I pretty much had the same experience. The whole, "I'll give you a reason to cry", I had a damn reason! I couldn't control it. So, I'd go to my dogs and I'd fall asleep in their dog house while they kept me warm. It was the only place I could cry without punishment. I don't cry now, I really can't. Every time I start, the whole, "Man up" phrase is shouted through my skull. I wipe my eyes, swallow whatever tears were on their way and get myself busy with something. My dad didn't believe in depression. I still think he doesn't. "**** or get off the pot," is his catch phrase. I don't know, I guess my folks are a little old fashioned. My mom believes me now and hears me out. Wasn't always like that but, hey, I'll take it.

Wish I had some advice to help you break this pattern that was ingrained in you as a child. I don't. Just have some understanding. Here to listen as always, take care friend.

[sky457]

If it helps any...I'm here to say that you can cry as much as you want, it helps the heart and does a body good.

[Artchic528]

Originally Posted by sky457

If it helps any...I'm here to say that you can cry as much as you want, it helps the heart and does a body good.

It makes me a snotty mess as well and if I cry long enough, RIP sinuses (at least for a few hours). It makes me wonder how the celebs in movies can do that oh so famous "sexy cry" so perfectly without looking like a complete and total wreck.



Anyways, it's for that reason, and because I don't like it when someone asks me, "Why are you crying?" or "What's wrong?" I don't cry in public.

[Olanza-what?]

Crying was also a no no for me growing up. My mother would secretly pinch if you cried in public after secretly pinching you to start with for something you did wrong but had no clue it was wrong until you got secretly pinched..."I dare you to cry", she would say.

I cry so much now, that I'm surprised that I've not run out of tears.

[TishaBuv]

I had that said to me, too. Of course I had a reason for crying already. The reason was her abusiveness. The adding insult to injury was just for extra measure.