So crying makes you feel BETTER? This is new

[Daisy Jane]

Yes! This is new to me too! I haven't been much of a crier in the past, but last fall I cried about a friend that died and twice in the last month I've cried about the loss of my dad, something I haven't done since his funeral a year and a half ago. Typically I'm more prone to panic attacks, which are anything but cathartic. It feels like emotions jammed into a space to small. Crying was the opposite. A release, as you said. I felt better after just a few minutes of crying. It was rejuvenating! I mean, other than the blotchy face.

[Cassi]

Yes! This is new to me too! I haven't been much of a crier in the past, but last fall I cried about a friend that died and twice in the last month I've cried about the loss of my dad, something I haven't done since his funeral a year and a half ago. Typically I'm more prone to anxiety attacks, which are anything but cathartic. It feels like emotions jammed into a space to small. Crying was the opposite. A release, as you said. I felt better after just a few minutes of crying. It was rejuvenating! I mean, other than the blotchy face.

Interesting you mention anxiety attacks.  While I've been anxious in my life more times than I could count if I had a hundred hands, I would call them more panic attacks or feelings of doom and whoa.  I've never had them treated and in the past have kind of brush them aside until they pass.  I mention this because, other than the old male trying to jump out, I really haven't had any in the past two months.  Good thing I guess.

[Daisy Jane]

Interesting you mention anxiety attacks.  While I've been anxious in my life more times than I could count if I had a hundred hands, I would call them more panic attacks or feelings of doom and whoa.  I've never had them treated and in the past have kind of brush them aside until they pass.  I mention this because, other than the old male trying to jump out, I really haven't had any in the past two months.  Good thing I guess.

I was about to fall asleep when I wrote that post, and used the wrong word, but yes they were panic attacks. My first two full blown panic attacks happened within a week of my dad dying. Then when I got laid off from my job in Jan 2017 I had multiple panic attacks every day during the second week without a job. Then when I was living in Virginia during this last fall/winter I was having them pretty frequently for one reason or another, lots of them due to feeling of isolation. Since I left I've only has one start to happen suddenly it changed gear and became the first big cry about my dad.

[Donna]

I was a person that never cried. In all my years before I'll venture a guess of 5 or 6 times I actually cried about something. Each of those was a major event and closely personal. Now I cry talking about my feelings, our situation at home, my new wig or my dress or a pretty nail polish. Alternately I find myself having a grin from ear to ear and head to toe all the time. I love both feelings as they were shut down by abuse when I was young and I appreciate having the emotional  part of me back.
I can drive thru rush hour traffic and not mumble ( scream) at anyone or even bump up my BP.

[alex82]

No difference here two years on. Could before, could during, could after.

Still know straight binary biological women who don't, and straight binary biological men who do.