United States President Barack Obama celebrated his November 2012 victory with a mix of cool eloquence and raw emotion rarely seen in public leaders. The emotion culminated in a teary moment during his speech thanking campaign workers.
Underneath the obvious reasons for celebration lay an ancient mechanism of stress release and interpersonal bonding found in tear production. Contrary to Western stereotypes about crying and weakness, Obama shared something with his audience that has served human needs throughout history.
What is the science behind tears? What is their purpose? Let’s find out…
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For quite some years now, I have lost the ability to cry, even at some of the saddest moments of my life such as funerals of people very close to me.
It really bothers me. I have been trying to find some sort of therapy that can help change the lack of my ability to cry. There is laughter therapy for those who have a hard time laughing. Is there something for crying?
Don’t tell me to find a good therapist because I have been through quite a bit of therapy with different counselors and different approaches. Nothing has worked. I can’t even get the tears flowing chopping onions.
I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and myofascial disorder. I believe if I could muster up a good cry, it might release some of the tension built up in my body.
Any suggestions?
Hey Jest,
First off I would like to say thank you for reading my article and commenting. I am not a doctor or a psychologist but this is my personal opinion which you don’t have to follow. I you feel you need help, talk to a doctor or a psychologist like you have been doing.
Jest, there is nothing wrong with you. As human beings we have the ability to show emotion and put ourselves in other people’s shoes. But the beauty behind all of this is people handle things way differently. I myself am a lot like you. When I find myself at funerals I find it difficult to cry when other people next to me are crying their eyes outs.
I have been through a lot in my life with family death’s and I can tell you that I had the same problem. The one thing I learned is you can’t control feelings. Some people can show emotion really easily and believe me I am not one of those people.
You can’t force emotions Jest, when you feel like crying you cry, when you feel like smiling, you smile. Try not to over think things but if you feel like this is a really serious problem, please get help.
You don’t have to take my advice but that’s how I feel about emotions.
Nice article!
One of the best things about our species, I think, is our capacity to be moved by genuine feeling on the part of another. The audience response to President Obama’s tears is a great example of that.
I really enjoyed this article. I hope that President Obama’s natural well deserved tears will enable men to feel that it is okay to shed a tear when they feel it. You are still a strong,virile man when you cry. As a matter of fact I believe that you are a more genuine man when you let those feelings out. You are human like us Women and believe me the tears turn on too easily for me sometimes. There was a day when I could not let them out. I lost my Dad and then my Mom and then my Brother. The Dam burst so badly at the end that I had a breakdown from holding in the grief to keep everyone else comfortable and happy. I say LET IT OUT!!!