Grieving process: Is crying required?

Date Updated: 05/15/2020

Answer Section

Crying is an important part of the grieving process for many people, but it is possible to grieve fully without shedding tears.

Although grief is a universal human experience, your response to grief might be highly individual. In addition, many factors can affect the grieving process, including:

The age of the person who died
How the person died
The nature and quality of the relationship with the person who died
The time you had to prepare for the loss
Your personality

It's OK if you don't feel like crying. You might simply need time and space to grieve the death in your own way. It's important to make sure that you're dealing with your feelings appropriately, however.

If you're persistently isolating yourself or having trouble handling your usual daily activities — or you feel like crying but can't — seek the help of a grief counselor or other mental health provider. A counselor might suggest various behavior therapies to help you deal with your loss. You also might find comfort through a support group. Depending on the circumstances, short-term use of antidepressants or other medications might be recommended.

The grieving process requires time. However, unresolved grief can lead to depression and other mental health problems. If you're concerned about reaching a healthy resolution to your grief, seek the help you deserve.