Is it true? ‘Real men’ don’t cry? How sad – maybe they should.
There is often a negative stigma surrounding men crying.
Some men are afraid to cry and be classified as being ‘weak’, ‘unmanly’, or a ‘wuss’.
Maybe it’s because some people feel uncomfortable being around a crying man?
I remember one lady telling me, “Ugh – I don’t know what to do when my husband cries.
He makes me so uncomfortable.”
Well – I’m here to tell you – real men do cry.
Some of toughest, meanest, most ‘manly’ men on earth, cry.
And I’m glad they do.
The benefits of crying are pretty incredible:
Physically – crying helps reduce stress levels in the body, lower blood pressure, release toxins, and help protect our eyes.
Emotionally – crying helps release the build-up of negative feelings that can lead to anger, frustration, and depression.
So – if you had a rough day, stressed out, or just need an ‘emotional release’ – what’s a man to do?
CRY!
Come on – let it ALL out.
Ok – so it’s not that easy. I get it.
If you are having problems letting it flow – here are some helpful tips on ‘healthy crying’:
- Find a quiet, comfortable, and safe place to cry. (Crying while operating heavy machinery or in the process of arresting someone is not recommended!)
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out and don’t know how to start crying – watch a sad movie, listen to a sad song, or think of a sad thought. (Let me know if you need a list of sad songs or movies – I’ve got some great titles.)
- Don’t worry if the tears don’t start flowing right away. The act of acknowledging and embracing the sadness you feel is also quite beneficial.
- Don’t be shy – cry with someone. If you don’t want to cry alone, there’s nothing wrong with crying with a friend, family member, or with others in a movie theatre. As a dog owner, I cried in a movie theatre watching Marley and Me (2008). So did dozens of others – including the man next to me!
- After a good cry, always end on a positive note. Crying is a great way to re-set the mind, body, and emotions. The perfect way to do that is re-fill ourselves with positive thoughts, a happy song from our favorite artist, or look around and appreciate your surroundings.
For those ‘uncomfortable’ being with someone who’s crying – just relax.
Provide them with a warm hug, a little empathy, and a smile.
They just want you to be there for them.
Still not convinced that crying is ‘manly’ enough for you or makes you ‘weak’ or a ‘wuss’?
Tell that to World Heavyweight Boxing Champion – ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.
He’s cried a few times on TV – in front of millions of people.
Now that takes a ‘real man’!
For other helpful tips to reduce stress in your life, please contact our office and speak to one of our therapists.
Alex Guidotti, MC
