Crying...weakness or strength?

[thtrngng]

this may depend on the situation. I always looked at crying as an emotion, however, to me it is a sign of weakness. when someone cry, they usually need a strong shoulder to lean on.

[Timberlan127]

I think crying is a strength. It is a great way to release emotion so that you can think more clearly and cope with a situation better.

[pmagalei]

Thanks for the great comments everyone. This now gives me the strength to know that I am not a cry baby. Sometimes, I tried to put myself in the shoes of those families who have lost a loved one in the aftermath of the Boston bombing. Even the many lives that have changed from the injuries. I can't imagine the grief that these families are going through and I know crying is a source of emotion and strength that we can go to when expressing our thoughts and love for them. 1 love to you all!!!

[maxinmotion]

I think crying is an emotion that every one have access to when needed. Crying in my opinion is  a pressure valve or a protector of the heart. No matter what the situation is death, someone getting married, the birth of a child, a car accident or someone won the lottery. The hype or surprise of "it" may trigger one to cry.

So again in my opinion crying helps one to deal with pressure, be it happy or sad.

[mill8277]

I think it all depends on if it is truly heart felt and not used as a weapon...some people cry just to get their way because they know crying works.....some hate to cry because they think it makes them look weak....if a person feels that crying will help them at that moment to feel better cleanse....cry.....

[Nancy5]

I think it shows a sign of strength.  It shows you have emotions and you are not ashamed or afraid to show them.  The first time I saw my husband cry was when his father died.  To me it showed a sign of strength he didn't care who saw him or what they may or may not have thought of him, he was sad, and missing his dad and he was strong enough to show his emotion.

[rcbrad]

I think that crying is a sign of strength.  It is very cleansing to cry.  On the other hand, even though we all are all different, there can be occasions where some people may cry too much over nothing and who may need to learn to control their emotions better.  For some a good cry can be a  great release.

[cgilliland09]

I think its a weakness for women and its a strength for man because it takes so much strength for man to not cry.

For both genders, I believe crying is a strength. It’s our own inner Ego that says otherwise. A human heart is not made of stone.

I agree. It also shows a Huge amount of trust in our fellow man/woman to openly expose ourselves. Some of the time that backfires. But if you are willing to take the risks, the benifits far outweigh the down side.

[plennis]

I wouldn't call it a weakness or a strength.  I'd call crying an emotional release that is healthy for everyone....

regardless of gender.  

    I agree.  I am one that cries easily and gets it out of my system.  I know some people who just mope around, where a good cry gets it out and over with.

[djohnson43]

for me I think that crying is both. If you are crying just because then it is a weakness but if you are crying because for instance you have lost someone then it is a strength. Many people heal when they cry making themselves even stronger.

[dauna]

I hate to cry.  Always have.  Still, I probably ought to do it more often as a safety valve-type of measure, because when I don't cry for a long time under severe stress I get to the point where I simply experience one straw too many--and then I can't help but cry.  And the last straw doesn't even have to relate to the stressful situation!  it just happens.  And the bad part is that I never know when that last straw will show up.

[articx]

I think its a weakness for women and its a strength for man because it takes so much strength for man to not cry.

How can crying be a strength for men? If it takes a lot of strength for men not to cry, that means a lack of strength is what it takes for a man to begin crying.

[Delphyne]

Psychologically, it is a normal reaction.  But, it can also be an extremely cleansing action.  It is necessary for the human mind to cry.  Keeping emotions bottled up is one of the biggest reasons America has such a high rate of depression and suicidal thoughts. 

It is a strength to cry.  It is a strength to laugh.  It is a strength to love.

Our society seems to value violence, aggression, and negativity.  Violent humor.  Violent games.  Violent comedies.  Society tends to make those who express their emotions feel weak and inferior.  This is a horrible thing. 

We are humans.  We are not machines.  Our ability to express emotions like love, sorrow, humiliation, and compassion are what make us human.  Why would being human be a sign of weakness? 

Why is being cold and unfeeling a strength? 

[kqa]

I think it depends on the context. A good cry can be cathartic, but if someone cries a lot, it could mean underlying depression or something else.