My friend has not been able to cry for most of her life??

Question

I have a friend who has rarely been able to cry for almost as long as I can remember. It is not that her tear-glands are blocked, it is simply that when she is sad or frustrated, and wants to cry, she can't. Can anyone tell me why this is, or preferably something that she could do to fix this? Or would a doctor be needed? Thank you.

Somehow I don't think that this is about not wanting to give up power, sometimes she does cry and often she *wants* to cry, really wants to, but is not able to cry. Is there anything else that could be wrong?

Answer 1

I have the same problem that you describe your friend having. First off though, I want to say that I don't agree with what the first responder said, I really don't get what any of that would have to do with crying, but to each his own I suppose. Anyways, like your friend I am not able to cry often, though I do want to. To put my 2 cents in though, it might have something to do with her repressing her feelings or pain or something? I only say that because thats what it is pretty much for me. She might just be so used to pushing aside her pain and feelings that she can't express them in the form of tears, despite what she feels inside. I'm not sure though, just a guess. That's very interesting though, it might be something biological (maybe she is just a person that doesn't cry alot by nature), or she might actually have some emotional thing going on that is making her unable to cry. Well, it's just a thought, I hope things go well for you. Best of luck
-Sarah

Answer 2

I am one of those people. As a child I was like most other people.
As a young adult I was traumatized. Many of my reactions changed. No dreams, no tears, little empathy, I feel distanced from emotions that others in the same circumstance would be responding to.
I have been helped to a great extent through working with a Psychologist and Psychiatrist, and with medication, as well as an EMDR light treatment. I have one of the "dissociative disorders"

Answer 3

She could probable use some counseling on this. I have the same problem.Crying is a form of power and no one can make you do it. It is self power we do not want to give up no mater how hard we try. Sometimes when one feels they have no control on anything ,crying is one thing they refuse to give up. I hope you understood this as it is complex.Also one can feel if they start crying they will never stop so they never start.