I cry at movies, when they light the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, and begin the Macy's Parade... I very, very rarely cry at real things. I cried at my Dad's funeral. I only cry at the most traumatic things - other than the movies/etc...

I thought about this quite a bit. The theory I came up with is that the real stuff is just too overwhelming - whereas the lighting of the tree or whatever just touches itty bitty little pieces of things that I can have feelings about without falling apart in a bigger way. Does that make any sense?

I grew up with that thing that men aren't supposed to cry - and that strong/accomplished/successful people don't cry. I guess I realized that was pretty much false, but I still felt embarrassed. Not so much vulnerable as embarrassed. The last time I cried in front of anyone was that doctor in that nasty place back in May.


Maybe being hypomanic you give yourself the ok to express those things. Or maybe being hypomanic they just have a little more power and presence.

Sometimes I wish I could just have a good cry about things. I find it hard. On the other hand, playing music or working on some creative/fun project can sometimes be as cathartic.

I of course don't know anything about the woman in your group. I know that some of us have issues where we crave attention from other people and I read into this that perhaps your leader was saying not to comfort her because you were feeding that habit or something... Regardless of whether she was sincere or not sincere I still think that you should be allowed to act on your feelings to reach out... If she were truly not sincere, then it would be the therapist's job to gently place focus on her, why she was crying, how other people reacted, etc... Of course I don't know any of this for sure, that was just the picture I formed.

What really bothered me is that you felt bad about reaching out. That's just wrong.

PS - when I say "some of us crave attention" I mean I sometimes do. I wasn't meaning this in reference to anyone in particular.

thank you tritone,
I think that the support at the co-dependant support group is different than the support here on the forums if that makes sense, I said in a prior thread that I want to be more like my on line self in real life.
I freeze most of the time unable to participate in conversations due to many fears....I am just starting this process again.
no quick fixes here. The group is very supportive in its own way, it is more thoughtful and internal work, that is where I can improve my self esteem, it is an internal job no one can do this work for me.
thanks again for your support.
bizi

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Me too...

As for the person crying, your reaction and this allowing the person to grieve comment - I'm not sure.

It reminds me of the idea that parents shouldn't "spoil" their kids when they are little by giving them too much attention, or not picking them up when they cry, etc... I don't agree with that idea.

I think it is human nature, healthy human nature. You felt uncomfortable because you were identifying with her pain. I don't think that is bad. I certainly don't think it is inhibiting her.

If she were trying to manipulate the group with her crying I might understand it a little bit more, the same way I'd understand a parent trying to push a slightly older child into being more independent. But even still - I don't see how your feelings or comforting her were wrong or not helpful.

It would be the therapist's job to steer the group back on course - then maybe force her to work out those feelings with the group that would allow you all collectively to see it for what it was - an attempt to manipulate, or just a release of emotion...

Yes, it is easy to sit here and make comments or analyses... But its what we do and I think it is really helpful. I've carried these online conversations into my "real" life many, many times... It does take time. The beauty of these online forums is that we can process things with other people, over a period of time, and with an anonymity we don't have in the real world... Its like practicing an instrument or studying... At some point the learning becomes practical knowledge and we incorporate into our real lives.

At least it seems to work that way to me...

Wish I could just hook myself up to that machine they have in the Matrix and download it That was deep...