[s4431915]

I have been seeing a really nice psychologist for help with managing my studies while coping with anxiety and panic attacks.

Some days are worst than others and during our last session I was having a particularly bad day. I got to the point where I just really wanted to break down and cry.

I did shed a tear but held a lot of it back as in my adult life I have never cried while sonebody watched before.

Should I feel like that again, is there anything to be gained by breaking down to full crying infront of the therapist? Or is it better to just get on with the session?

Any thoughts appreciated.
Thank you.

[stopdog]

I have never felt a need to cry in front of the woman

[LostOnTheTrail]

I find the way you've phrased this post interesting. 'Is there anything to be gained'? That's a question I think only you can answer. Do you feel better for holding it in, or would it feel better to release it in the relative safety of your session?

I'm working towards being able to release emotion with R, because I can't seem to do it otherwise. I ask myself daily 'Who the hell am I holding it together for?' Anyway...I wish you peace with whatever you choose.

[SoConfused623]

I have cried in front of my old T a bunch of times and even been pretty teary in front of the new T. It doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I cry easily and there's no way that I can stop myself from crying most times. I feel like it's a safe place to cry and that's why they have all of the tissue boxes there...

[Waterbear]

As someone else said, I think only you can answer that wauestion. For me, I think that there is something to be gained by releasing the emotion that is in me somewhere. I have felt tears, and may even have shed one or two, but I still feel this need to cry, to let it all out, to heave and rack and have her hold me through that. We are getting there with this, and each time, a little more seems to escape. I find it helpful when I can 'allow' it.

I have cried in front of my T a fair bit. She is the only person I cry in front of

[MBM17]

I rarely cry, even in front of my therapist. Sometimes it's like I can't feel the full comfort of his words unless I'm feeling the whole emotion.

[Elio]

I have cried everything from singlet tears to sobbing. Sometimes I find it helpful others just misery. This last Wednesday, I cried more than singlet tears, but not heavy. As I was comforting myself, T was providing nonverbal holding and sitting with my feelings. It was a healing moment for me. This has been my experience, that sometimes the crying, nonverbal holding, sitting, and having someone witness my emotions have made a difference.

[malika138]

When I really hurt, then I cry in front of t. It used to be weird to do so (4 t's ago) but at some point I decided there was no point in hiding that which I don't have words to express.

[luvnola]

I have cried in front of ts but don't like to if I can help it. Most of the time, I feel it's wasted session time. I can cry at home and would rather use the time I'm paying for to work on things.

[Out There]

I think he'd welcome crying - he's big on feelings and it's OK to cry he tells me.

[rainboots87]

I cry more often than not in therapy. It's nice, because in any other environment I feel I have to hide my tears, but with her I can just let it out. She doesn't draw attention to it, which I prefer. She just lets me cry and I keep talking. There's no shame or pressure to stop.

Originally Posted by s4431915

I have been seeing a really nice psychologist for help with managing my studies while coping with anxiety and panic attacks.

Some days are worst than others and during our last session I was having a particularly bad day. I got to the point where I just really wanted to break down and cry.

I did shed a tear but held a lot of it back as in my adult life I have never cried while sonebody watched before.

Should I feel like that again, is there anything to be gained by breaking down to full crying infront of the therapist? Or is it better to just get on with the session?

Any thoughts appreciated.
Thank you.

I'm a guy and i cry in session frequently, especially lately bc of the things we've been discussing. Am i embarrassed to admit that? YES!!! Cuz i'm a guy and we aren't supposed to cry, or show emotion, or be weak, or be less than perfect, or be anything less than a successful, have-your-****-together pillar of society.

[Trace14]

I've cried in session, doing the PE Therapy and felt horrible about it, the good thing was I had my eyes closed, so I couldn't see her looking at me.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I've cried in therapy. I've also cried over the phone (sobbing so much that she couldn't even understand me!). I don't cry much anymore, but I know it's safe to do so.

[kaleidoscopeheart]

T encourages me to cry, insisting that "feeling = healing". As of now the most I have cried is just a few tears before I shut it down.... I'm not even sure how to not do that but maybe someday it will happen. :P

[Argonautomobile]

I don't know if there's anything to be gained by breaking down in front of the therapist. I know for some people it's important to be able to express these emotions and have the therapist accept them. Some people find it cathartic to cry. I personally dislike it and try (with varying degrees of success) not to weep in front of the therapist. When it happens, I just feel humiliated and angry with myself for wasting time. I've never found crying productive.

Maybe you won't know what's true for you until it happens. Have you asked your T about it?

[jesswah]

I used to cry a LOT and easily (I was/am sensitive), including the first time I was in therapy ~15 yrs ago. I think I spent every session crying most of the time. For me that felt worse, but it was more to do with lousy, inexperienced T in-training than the crying. I hated that I would cry so easily and couldn't stop it.

Now... I can't seem to be able to cry, anywhere. I don't know if I've learned to shut it down or more likely from the meds I am on, as far as I get is a 1-2 tears. And as uncomfortable as I'd find it, sometimes I really would like to cry as I think I would feel a lot better afterwards.

I cry more often than not in therapy. Then again, I've cried during Cheerios commercials.

I agree with everyone else who says you're the only one who will know whether or not something is gained by crying in session. For me, it's important to be as authentic as possible in session, and if that means I cry, I cry. If I don't, then I don't. You're the person in the room doing the work. Do what you feel you need to do.