How to Make Yourself Cry

 

 Table of Contents

 Introduction

 Why You Might Want to Make Yourself Cry

    Emotional Release

    Acting

    On Command Crying

 How to Make Yourself Cry

    Think of Something Sad

    Watch a Sad Movie or TV Show

    Listen to Sad Music

    Read Something Sad

    Cut Up Onions

    Use Eye Drops

    Think About Letting Someone Down

    Imagine Losing a Loved One

    Recall a Time You Got Very Emotional

    Practice Your Crying Face

    Focus and Breathe

    Tense Your Whole Body

    Tickle Your Nose

    Give Yourself Permission

 Tips for Making Yourself Cry More Easily

    Be Well Rested

    Avoid Distractions

    Find a Private Place

    Get in the Right Headspace

 Healthy Coping Mechanisms

    Talk to a Friend or Therapist

    Write in a Journal

    Exercise

    Take a Warm Bath

    Try Not to Force It

 When to Seek Help

 Conclusion

 FAQs

 

 How to Make Yourself Cry 😢

 

 Introduction

 

Making yourself cry on command is not as easy as it sounds. For many people, crying is something that just happens naturally in response to powerful emotions like sadness, anger, fear, and joy. However, there are times when you may want to purposely make yourself cry. Learning how to push yourself over the emotional edge to produce real tears can be a useful skill in certain circumstances. From providing emotional release to nailing a acting role, this guide will teach you several techniques to make yourself cry through both mental and physical means. While forcing yourself to cry is not something you want to make a habit of, tapping into your tear ducts voluntarily can serve valid purposes for artists, actors, or anyone needing a good emotional cleansing. So let's explore some healthy, effective ways to get those tears flowing!

 

 Why You Might Want to Make Yourself Cry

 

 Emotional Release

 

Crying can be an outlet to release pent-up emotions and relieve stress. Letting yourself have a good cry when you're feeling bottled up or overwhelmed can serve as a "reset" button for your mind and body. The bio-chemicals present in emotional tears have been shown to reduce levels of cortisol and adrenaline associated with stress. So if you need to destress or express difficult feelings like sadness, loneliness, fear, or grief, making yourself cry can provide that cathartic release.

 

 Acting

 

For actors, being able to cry on cue is an essential skill for films and theatrical performances that require weeping or sobbing. Because timing is so important, actors need to be able to tap into their emotions instantly to cry at the right moment. Learning tricks to quickly make yourself tear up can help you deliver a more authentic, raw performance.

 

 On Command Crying

 

Some people simply want to learn how to make themselves cry voluntarily as an interesting skill. Being able to turn on the waterworks can be useful for pranking friends, demonstrating empathy, or quickly eliciting an emotional reaction during a speech. Figuring out how to manually flip that crying "switch" demonstrates an intriguing level of body control.

 

 How to Make Yourself Cry

 

 Think of Something Sad

 

 Focus your thoughts on something extremely sad - this can be from your life or an imaginary scenario. Visualize the sad scene vividly in your mind's eye, imagine how it would feel, and let the sorrow overwhelm you. Some sad thoughts that could help trigger tears include a break-up, memories of a deceased loved one, pets passing away, letting someone important down, or envisioning harm befalling someone you care deeply about.

 

 Watch a Sad Movie or TV Show

 

Watching something emotional and dramatic involving loss, grief, heartbreak, etc can help stir up feelings that lead to crying. Some classic tearjerkers involve deathbed scenes, sacrificed lives, abandoned animals, terminally ill characters, or tragic historical events. The music, acting, and storytelling can help transport you into the emotional state of the characters on screen.

 

 Listen to Sad Music 

 

Put on some tear-inducing tunes featuring melancholy vocals, mournful lyrics, somber piano, and overall heart-wrenching emotions. Let the sad music fill you up inside and really feel the song. Some genres to explore include blues, acoustic ballads, emo, and country songs about loss and pain. Create a whole sob-worthy playlist and belt it out!

 

 Read Something Sad

 

Dive into novels, poems, scenes, or memoirs featuring grief, trauma, death, depression, etc. Reading visceral emotional writing allows you to intimately connect with the characters. Feeling their pain through the powerfully descriptive language can help unlock your own tears. Some particularly gut-wrenching reads involve losing a child, surviving the Holocaust, or terminal illness stories. 

 

 Cut Up Onions

 

Onions release a chemical irritant called syn-propanethial-S-oxide when cut, which stimulates the eyes' lacrimal glands and causes tears as a response. Cutting up whole onions or cooking with onion powder can irritate your eyes and induce crying through this chemical reaction. Just don't rub your eyes afterwards or the chemicals could cause stinging!

 

 Use Eye Drops

 

Place 1-2 drops of saline eye drops or allergy eye drops like Visine into each eye. The unexpected sensation and irritation to the eyes can mimic the feel of real crying. Just be careful not to over-use these products as it can dry out your eyes. A few drops can instigate watery eyes or full flowing tears in many people.

 

 Think About Letting Someone Down

 

Visualize a scenario where you disappoint or fail someone who is depending on you. Really imagine their reaction, the hurt in their eyes, their crushed expectations. The perceived guilt and shame can feel emotionally overwhelming. Vividly daydream about this scenario of being unable to help someone in need to evoke regretful tears.

 

 Imagine Losing a Loved One

 

Picture someone incredibly important to you - then mentally walk through them dying or leaving you permanently. Envision having to live life without them, how devastating and final it would feel, how much you wish you could see them one more time. Really indulge your imagination - don't hold back from the immense grief of losing your dear friend, partner, parent, child, or pet.

 

 Recall a Time You Got Very Emotional

 

Relive a powerful memory of when you got extremely upset in the past. Recreate that moment in your mind focusing on every detail - where you were, who was there, what was said, how your body felt. Allow yourself to get wrapped up in the memory so you re-experience some of those intense emotions and are moved to tears again.

 

 Practice Your Crying Face

 

Make a crying face without forcing out tears at first: squint your eyes, frown, scrunch your chin, open your mouth slightly to look distressed. Once your facial muscles remember this form, stare intensely ahead and let the sadness show on your face. Pair it with breathing techniques and thinking sad thoughts to unlock actual tears.

 

 Focus and Breathe

 

Sit or lie down in a quiet space and close your eyes. Inhale slowly then exhale shakily as if you are already crying. Take slow, shuddering breaths while focusing inward. Imagine your emotion rising up through your core. Breathe into this feeling. Let your breathing grow more and more unsteady, like gentle sobs. The meditative focus combined with irregular breath control can help activate tears.

 

 Tense Your Whole Body

 

Take a few deep breaths, then tense all your muscles at once. Curl your toes, flex your legs and arms, scrunch your core and face, and hold for 10 seconds. This physical tension starts to tremble your body similarly to crying. Release the tension quickly and your body may continue shaking as you begin to tear up. Pair with emotional thoughts. 

 

 Tickle Your Nose

 

Use a tissue, feather, piece of hair, your finger, etc to lightly tickle the hairs inside your nose. The nerves connected to your nasal passage tie into your lacrimal glands. If you stimulate these areas enough, it can trigger a reflex reaction of watery eyes and runny nose just like natural crying. Be gentle - you don't want to trigger a full sneezing fit!

 

 Give Yourself Permission

 

Tell yourself it's okay to cry - in fact, you WANT to cry - it's your goal! Giving yourself permission to access and express these emotions is a crucial first step. Too much internal resistance or judgement can block the tears from flowing freely. Reassure yourself that allowing tears in this moment is healthy and necessary for your wellbeing.

 

 Tips for Making Yourself Cry More Easily

 

 Be Well Rested

 

Crying is more effort when you're tired - getting a good night's sleep the day before your planned crying session leaves you better energized for weeping. Exhaustion can limit your access to deep emotions. So approach crying with energy reserves instead of empty tanks.

 

 Avoid Distractions

 

Minimize anything that could interrupt your focus when trying to cry, like phone notifications, talking to others, or having the TV on. Find a quiet space alone where external stimuli won't snap you out of an emotional mindset right when the tears begin to build.

 

 Find a Private Place

 

Having privacy supports a vulnerable emotional process like intentional crying. A comfortable, judge-free zone where no one can intrude or observe you supports relaxation into sadness, without self-consciousness inhibiting your tears.

 

 Get in the Right Headspace

 

To maximize your chances of turning on the waterworks, get into an emotional headspace beforehand. This could involve writing in a journal, looking through old photos, listening to sad music, or meditating. Build up that melancholy vibe inside before attempting to transform feelings into real flowing tears.

 

 Healthy Coping Mechanisms

 

While occasionally making yourself cry can provide catharsis, you want to avoid relying on forced crying as an everyday coping strategy, which could lead to worsened mental health.

 

Here are some healthier long-term approaches:

 

 Talk to a Friend or Therapist

 

Verbalizing your feelings and life challenges to a trusting listener you feel safe confiding in can help relieve emotional pressure. Therapists are professionally trained to help you healthily process and navigate difficult emotions.

 

 Write in a Journal 

 

Pouring feelings out onto paper through stream-of-consciousness journaling can help you privately vent. Articulating your thoughts and releasing them from your mind onto the page feels purging for many.

 

 Exercise 

 

Physical activity is a proven way to reduce stress by releasing endorphins that uplift your mood naturally. Daily exercise helps prevent negative emotions from building up too intensely.

 

 Take a Warm Bath

 

Enjoy a relaxing warm bath with Epsom salts which soothe the nervous system and magnesium which reduces cortisol levels. Paired with calm breathing and soft music, a bath can melt stress away.

 

 Try Not to Force It

 

While occasionally manually pushing some tears out can feel relieving, don’t force crying daily as it may start to feel inauthentic and increase frustration. Focus on the above healthy habits for long-term emotional wellbeing.

 

 When to Seek Help

 

It's normal to occasionally want a good cry, but frequent forced crying could indicate an underlying mental health issue that needs professional support.

 

Seek counseling if:

 

- You feel like crying daily but can't seem to let it happen 

- Making yourself cry brings minimal relief

- Intense emotions overwhelm your daily functioning

- You use forced crying to avoid other healthy coping strategies

- Thoughts of self-harm arise

 

Speaking with a mental health professional can help you get to the root causes behind frequent crying urges and teach healthy long-term coping techniques. Support groups and therapy provide judgement-free spaces to express emotions verbally. Don't be afraid to get help – it can change your life.

 

 Conclusion

 

Learning how to make yourself cry on demand takes some trial and error. Techniques like recalling sad memories, listening to moving music, watching emotional movies, and staring into a fan can help activate your tear ducts voluntarily. While occasional intentional crying can provide catharsis, be sure to tap into healthy coping mechanisms like exercise, journaling, warm baths, and talking to friends or therapists for everyday emotional regulation. Crying is a natural emotional release valve - with the right tools, you can learn to tap into it consciously. Just use this power wisely and avoid forcing it to unhealthy extremes. If you invest some time finding the right environment, headspace, and stimuli for your unique personality, the healing tears will flow. Now get out there and give it a try - your emotional health is worth the effort!

 

 FAQs

 

What is the fastest way to make yourself cry?

 

Some of the quickest ways to make yourself cry include using eye drops, cutting up onions, or tickling your nose with a feather. The irritation causes reflexive watery eyes. Also staring intensely into a fan blowing directly on your face can quickly trigger tears.

 

How can I cry instantly?

 

Thinking of something emotionally devastating and forcing yourself to mentally experience it can produce instant crying. Recalling a past trauma or vividly imagining the loss of a loved one are examples. Also, looking at photos of someone you miss who has passed away while listening to melancholy music can quickly cause tears.

 

Why can't I cry when I'm sad?

 

You may have trouble crying when sad due to bottling up emotions, judging yourself for crying, exhaustion, distraction, not wanting to appear vulnerable, fear of losing control, or depression blunting emotions. Finding a private space, giving yourself permission to cry, opening up to others, making crying sounds, and thinking deeply about sadness can help.

 

Why do I cry when I'm not sad?

 

Crying when not sad could be due to being overwhelmed, stressed, angry, or frustrated. Pent up emotions and feeling oversensitive to minor challenges can trigger tears. Crying from emotions besides sadness is normal too - laughing, nostalgia, empathy and poignancy can also induce tears.

 

Is it bad to make yourself cry?

 

Occasionally making yourself cry is normal and can provide emotional release. But forcing yourself to cry daily could cause worsened mental health, emotional numbness, and physical problems like headaches. Relying on self-induced crying too often can indicate deeper issues requiring counseling support.

 

Can you damage your eyes from crying?

 

Frequent and intense crying probably won't damage your eye health directly. But excessive crying can lead to bloodshot eyes, eyelid swelling, burst blood vessels, and light sensitivity. Dehydration from loss of fluids can indirectly impact eye dryness too. Practicing good eye hygiene like cold compresses can limit irritation.

 

How can I cry secretly?

 

To cry privately, find a secluded spot like an empty bathroom or parked car. Play music on your headphones to mask sobbing sounds. Sunglasses can hide red, puffy eyes after crying. Splashing your face with cold water can reduce evidence of tears. Avoid crying in front of certain judgmental people. Opening up to a close confidante can provide needed emotional release without judgement.

 

What triggers the cry reflex?

 

The reflexive cry response is triggered by irritation to your eyes, nose, and throat. Yawning, coughing, laughter, and deep breaths can also instigate reflexive tears. Emotional triggers include feelings of sadness, grief, nostalgia, anger, joy, loneliness, fear, and empathy or poignancy from stories, memories, music, and imagery.

 

Can certain medications make it harder to cry?

 

Yes, some medications like those for allergies, colds, depression, anxiety, pain, nausea, and psychosis can inhibit tears as a side effect. They can limit production from your lacrimal glands or desensitize your nervous system's signals to cry. Discuss any crying side effects with your doctor. Never abruptly stop medication without medical supervision.

 

Is there a medical condition that prevents crying?

 

Yes, a rare disorder called Familial Dysautonomia can impair a sufferer's ability to cry tears, amongst other dysfunctions of the autonomic nervous system. Certain congenital disabilities, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, and essential crying disorders could also inhibit crying. See a doctor if concerned.