There are always days when a good cry is just required. A moment of sobbing is needed to release all the pent-up emotions. But when this crying becomes uncontrollable, and there is no way to stop the tears from rolling down, then this nonstop crying is embarrassing and frustrating.
But what triggers these spells of uncontrollable crying? Is there a specific psychological reason or a medical one behind it?
Whatever the cause of your uncontrollable crying, we have solutions for you. Keep reading from therapy to self-help strategies to learn about the causes and how to stop it.
Uncontrollable Crying: Signs to Know!
Everyone who experiences nonstop bouts of crying can experience different levels of severity and for different reasons. Here are some signs of uncontrollable crying you need to know about;
- You cry unexpectedly without cause.
- You constantly feel like you want to cry
- You can’t find a reason for why you want to bawl your eyes out
- You can’t seem to stop or slow down your crying
- You feel sad with no explanation
- Your emotions feel all over the place
- You experience frequent mood swings
- Your crying goes from weeping to sobbing and suddenly stopping
The Causes of Uncontrollable Crying
The incidents of unstoppable crying are rare but persistent. If you’re experiencing this condition, you may begin to withdraw from social events and feel constantly frustrated and overwhelmed. In toddlers and infants, uncontrollable crying can be common as children struggle to express their feelings with words. If your symptoms of uncontrollable crying occur in your teenage years, then hormonal changes can be a reason.
Let’s look at other reasons – psychological and medical – behind uncontrollable crying in adults;
1. Depression
If you’re diagnosed with depression or have depressive symptoms, then you might experience uncontrollable crying. Depression can cause and increase feelings of loneliness, sadness, and helplessness. If you’re experiencing depression, then you might have low energy, low motivation, no appetite, suicidal thoughts, and even nonstop tears.
2. Anxiety
Another cause of uncontrollable crying is anxiety. If your anxiety is not addressed or treated, then it can lead to nonstop crying. You might feel yourself getting overwhelmed by the thoughts of past and future. These negative feelings and thoughts can cause irritability, oversensitivity, and restlessness. If you don’t know how to address these feelings, it can all come out as bouts of uncontrollable crying.
3. Burnout
When you keep suppressing emotions and feelings of stress, it can lead to burnout. Once you’ve reached the limit and are experiencing burnout, you might feel a sense of loss, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, low performance, and no motivation. This can lead you to difficulties in managing your work and life obligations. Too much of overwhelming emotions can cause nonstop crying spells and have a long-term impact on your health.
4. Loss and Grief
When you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, you might feel like you’re losing control of your emotions, including crying. This kind of distress can also trigger bouts of uncontrollable crying. Grief and loss can often cause depressive feelings, anger, and anxiety – all triggers to nonstop tears and uncomfortable emotions.
5. Feeling Sadness
Sadness often overwhelms us and when we don’t know how to combat sadness, we end up crying our emotions out. While sadness and depression share similar symptoms, knowing the difference between these two experiences can help you understand what’s causing your episodes of uncontrollable crying.
6. Feeling Lonely
Another cause of your uncontrollable crying could be a sense of loss or loneliness. When you feel lonely, you limit your social interactions, and can’t make sense of your emotions. It’s common for chronically lonely people to experience nonstop spells of crying when they don’t have a support system.
7. Experiencing Shame
Yes, shame is another reason that can trigger your spells of nonstop crying. Shame is often accompanied by feelings of depression, embarrassment, and sadness – all of which can trigger uncontrollable crying. Shame can stem from negative thoughts and feelings of inadequacy. While it’s a complex and common emotion, it can leave you feeling mopey.
8. Feeling Overwhelmed
When you’re overworked and overstressed, you can’t cope with emotions healthily. When this happens, it’s common to find yourself crying uncontrollably to release your emotions.
9. Anger
Anger is another reason you might be crying uncontrollably. You might notice some people crying when they are angry. This happens because crying can be one way to release emotions and uncomfortable feelings that come with anger. When you’re overwhelmed with anger, you experience hurt, regret, guilt, and shame – all of which can also trigger your crying episodes.
Apart from psychological reasons, there are medical and neurological reasons as well that can trigger uncontrollable crying. Here are some of them;
10. Alzheimer’s
A neurological disorder, Alzheimer’s can impact memory and emotional regulation. Studies suggest a strong relationship between Alzheimer’s, depression, emotional outbursts, and crying spells.
11. Stoke
When someone suffers a stroke, they can experience cognitive issues. More than cognitive, stroke can trigger depression, too. When these experiences are combined, they can trigger uncontrollable crying episodes.
12. Parkinson’s
Another neurological condition that can trigger nonstop crying spells is Parkinson’s disease. This condition can impact a person’s ability to move freely and talk normally. Parkinson’s can also cause a chemical imbalance in the brain that can cause mood swings and emotional lability.
How Does Non-Stop Crying Impact Us?
Crying nonstop can be confusing, as it can be embarrassing. Now that you know the potential causes of uncontrollable crying, let’s take a look at the ways it can impact your life and well-being;
- Isolation and withdrawal from social settings
- Social embarrassment
- Issues at work, school, and other events
- Trouble understanding the emotions behind crying
How to Stop Crying Uncontrollably?
While it may seem like it’s hard to stop crying once you’ve started, there are always steps you can take to slow down your crying. Here are some quick tips to help you stop crying;
- Try some breathing exercises: You can try some breathing exercises such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or box breathing exercises to calm down your emotions and slow down your crying.
- Engage in healthy distractions: When you can’t seem to stop crying, try to focus on other things. Shift your thoughts, do something active with your hands, or try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique.
- Go for a walk: If you want to stop crying, you can walk or try some walking meditation. The idea is to give yourself a break from the emotions overwhelming you at the moment.
- Engage your vagus nerve: You can also try engaging your vagus nerve by relaxing your stomach. This exercise can help you calm your brain and relax your body and mind.
- Seek professional help: If you can’t seem to figure out the reasons or patterns of your crying spells, then it’s recommended that you speak to a counselor or therapist. A therapist can help you figure out what is causing your crying and how to stop it.
Seeking therapy and getting help can be challenging in the beginning, but when you find the right therapist to treat your condition, you can feel relief. If you feel nervous or overwhelmed at searching for a therapist, you can always connect with your friends, family members, or support group to find support and ask for help. Also, you can drop us a line in the comments; we are all ears.
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No More Crying – Keep Smiling
Uncontrollable crying can be confusing, frustrating, and embarrassing. But knowing what causes your crying spells can be the first step in addressing the condition. Maybe there’s a psychological or medical reason behind your nonstop crying. Whatever the reason, seeking a professional’s support can help you get through it.
Know that you’re not alone in your experience. With the right help and strategies, you can learn to prevent emotional outbursts from affecting your daily life.
I hope this blog helped you understand uncontrollable crying, what causes it, and how to stop crying. Please share your thoughts and tips with us in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing from you!
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