Inability to Cry

So,I've been struggling with depression for several years now, and I've noticed something recently that's been bothering me. No matter how sad I get, and sadness is something I deal with every day, I don't ever cry.I feel all this emotion building up inside me and it's driving me insane. I think I've cried twice in the past five years, and the last timeit took me trying to kill myself. I would really like to release some of this emotion without it coming to that extreme. I need to be able to cry, someone please help.

When I want to cry, I listen to sad music. Songs about heartbreak or how difficult life is.

Hey sweets, I sympathize.

That seems to be part of depression for some of us.

I feel the same way.

Once upon a time, I would have a periodic epic cry, the kind that makes your head hurt for hours after. I sure do miss that.

On one hand, I find I'm more apt to tear up and be a little weepy, over almost anything. Writing this reply, for instance. But a real CRY? a sob fest?

I'm not even sure when I lost the ability. My mom died couple years back, and at the time I put it down to being too busy making arrangements. Sure, I cried a little. But not like I should have.

Seem to have lost the ability.

I don't know what to tell you sweets. Like you, I am frustrated in that I can't properly cry. Just get weepy. It's like it's teasing me. I've just learned to live with it, I suppose. Instead of really good cries, I just spread it out tearing up over television shows...

Friend of mine with major league depression says she's just numb to almost any emotion. I guess this is just part of it. I don't have an answer but hugs, I understand where you're coming from.

I found out recently that the fact my father never wanted me has actually affected me a LOT. I'm 38 and spent 38 years in denial. And finally it hit me -- so hard I fainted. 38 years of locked emotions exploding into your face.

I know I should grieve -- less the father I never had and more the boy that had to grow up like this. I remember being constantly terrified of being left on my own, since I was a kid. And not knowing why this was happening. I feel that I owe myself a big healing cry. But it's just not coming. I used to get tearful while watching romantic comedies. (OK, not tearful. Sob fest.) Now I can't remember how to cry.

This probably isn't helpful but I hope that at least it helps you to remember there are more of us. Big hugs if wanted.

I've had this in the past. For me after a while the sadness passes and I don't feel the need to cry anymore.

Well, thanks for the replies everyone

I have that problem just now. As if tears are close to come and don't.

I wish they came, and i cry and let go and rest. But they do sort of bullet in my stomach.

I wish i could cry and feel relieved. Just cry.

Two days ago I went to see my therapist and the moment I entered her office I started to cry so much that she brought me diazepam to calm me down enough so that I could actually say a coherent sentence without sobbing... so that worked for me. (Poor therapist.)

Did you feel relieved with crying?

I did. My depression has lightened -- it hasn't completely disappeared but it helped. Now that I am back home though I can't cry again. I have no idea why my therapist triggered this, maybe because I trust her a lot. And it's far from the first time she's seen me crying.