[Soccer mom]

I haven't been able to cry with my T. and I'm wondering if my anxiety prevents it. I only have anxiety before and the first part of my sessions. Anyone else have this issue?

[Leah123]

No, it doesn't prevent me from crying, but my therapist's experience/training suggests that anxiety usually is a cover for sadness, so I could see how it might.

[atisketatasket]

Not sure. Oddly, the anxiety can drive me to the edge of tears, but I never go over the edge. So I don't know if it's the anxiety or something else that stops me.

[stopdog]

I don't know if anxiety plays into it or not. I always thought it was more because I did not want to do so.

[JaneTennison1]

Nope. I think focusing on it too much may not help though. Like a sneeze it might hide if chased, plus I can feel sad without ever crying. In fact sometimes I cry and I'm not even sad so it's no indication of anything. I have a tendency just to feel how I do and let the chips fall where they may.

[divine1966]

I cry. When things are good or bad. No anxiety doesn't stop me

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[ruh roh]

It might be true in your case. For me, stress makes me cry uncontrollably at times. I wish I could shut that s**t down.

I could see, though, how it might make another person respond in an opposite way. Maybe the stress/fear of showing emotion shuts it off?

[JustShakey]

Yeah, it does, and the more I try to push it away and talk myself out of it, the more it stops me from crying.

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[JustShakey]

Originally Posted by ruh roh

Maybe the stress/fear of showing emotion shuts it off?

Yeah, pretty much.


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[Cinnamon_Stick]

Yes I think anxiety plans a huge role in why I don't/can't cry.

[RedSun]

I hadn't thought of that connection before. But I don't cry, ever, in therapy (or anywhere else!), and I get anxious before therapy and often for the first half. I don't want to show my emotions. I don't want to lose control. I'm scared of what would happen if I became vulnerable in front of T.

[StressedMess]

I'm another "hates to cry" in front of people. Anxiety and frustrated anger make me cry, which I find humiliating. When I've got a handle on my emotions I can be combative and even (dare I say?) have a scathing argument, and no tears. When I'm all over the place, feel unheard and like I'm being stifled, waterworks.

[divine1966]

Oh I have such opposite problem. I cry a lot and it takes people to get used to my crying to understand that it's just how I am.

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[Ad Intra]

It does for me

I don't know if its anxiety but I remember as a child being hit for crying and told to shut up and that I had nothing to cry about, maybe it is anxiety about the fear.

[RTS?]

Yes it plays into my inability to cry in T even if I am very upset before a session.

[Daystrom]

I refuse to cry in front of her or anyone else.

That said, in private, I've cried more this year than I have since I was a kid. And I hate myself for it. I kind of hate myself even for admitting it to my T but I felt like I had to.

[aetheorist]

Many possible reasons - I'm not comfortable enough, reluctant, on some level don't want to - I'm sure there's at least a little anxiety involved whatever the reason. Anxiety itself preventing it though.. as in, I was so anxious I couldn't cry? Not that I can recall.

I think there's a self-protection element for me. I have become quite hardened to my own emotions, and this is because it wasn't 'safe' to express emotion as a child. If something is difficult to talk about I'm more likely to get into dissociation territory. I have made progress though and recently shed a tear over my mother's death (outside of therapy). It proved to me those feelings are in there and I just need to learn to access them.

I definitely think anxiety keeps me from crying in therapy. I get so sick to my stomach before a session, and all I can think about is trying to keep myself from puking during the session...

[rainbow8]

I don't know if it's anxiety or just that I'm inhibited. It's more an inability to let go. Yesterday I tried to stop myself from crying with T. I wasn't anxious, just afraid to let the tears come. A trickle came out, but the rest stayed inside of me. It's not wanting anyone to see me being vulnerable, I think, more than anxiety.

[ameliaxxx]

Yes. It probably happens every sessions for me.

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