Psoriatic Arthritis & The Healing Power of Tears

How often do you cry? In a world where we have become so aware of mental health and shed light on the importance of feelings, there are still folks who don't feel comfortable crying.

"Real men don't cry" "Women should not show weakness, be strong."

Oh, come on! We're in the year 2021. Crying is a perfectly normal human response.

Feeing our feelings

Our emotions are a large part of what makes us human. We use them to express feelings and it also helps others to know what is going on with us.

I am a firm believer that crying is healthy. It is a way to help us deal with, feel and face big emotions. Somehow a good cry makes things seem better, only afterward of course. 

Big stressors that affect our health so severely can bring us to our knees. Crying and processing seem to take these really big emotions and break them down into bite-size chunks.

Letting the tears fall

Honestly, it time for me to adjust to being okay with crying. I cry for many reasons. When I am sad, when people look at my skin funny or when my anxiety just becomes too much. However, there are other moments too. 

When my daughter makes me really proud, man, that can get the waterworks going. Talent shows, seeing people achieve the dreams, or do that thing that they really thought they could not do. Tears of joy and tears of sadness have the same emotional impact on me.

A happy aftermath

When I am done having my cry, I can honestly say that I feel better. I feel healed and ready to take on the world. To be fair this is often accompanied by a hot bath, some music, and a good night's sleep. My strength and peace return, if only in small bits. I am reminded that I am human and that it is okay to not be okay.

I constantly remind myself that crying does not make me weak. That often, oh so often, it is just what the doctor ordered to get me on my feet again. Dealing with constant pain is something that can often bring you to tears. It brings with it several big emotions.

Watch a movie that makes the tears flow, allow yourself to be vulnerable, if only in your own company. Wrap yourself up on the couch. Watch your favorite golden buzzer moments and allow yourself if only for a moment to cry.