Shedding What Hurts: The Quiet Healing of Tears in Trauma Therapy Atlanta
Tears have a complicated reputation. Some of us were taught they were a sign of weakness, a lack of control, or something to be ashamed of. Maybe you learned early on to apologize when you cried or to hold it in to keep the peace. But what if tears aren’t the problem? What if they’re part of the healing? As a trauma therapist in Atlanta, I’ve sat with many people who struggle with tears—their own and others’. And I can tell you this: tears are not weakness. They’re often a sign that something brave is happening.
Is It Better to Cry or Hold It In?
In our culture, we often reward people for keeping it together. But in trauma therapy, we understand that "holding it in" can come at a high cost. When we suppress tears, we also suppress emotion, connection, and healing. Crying is the body’s natural way of releasing built-up emotional energy. It helps regulate our nervous system, reduce stress, and signal to others that we need support.
Crying doesn’t mean you’re out of control. It means your body is doing something it was built to do. When clients ask whether they should cry or hold it in, I often say: Let the tears come. They're messengers. They know where the pain is, and they also know the way out.
The Social and Psychological Impact of Holding Back Tears
Many of us carry silent rules about crying, shaped by early experiences and cultural expectations. Maybe you were told, "You're too sensitive," or punished for showing emotion. These messages train us to tuck our feelings away where no one can see them, and often, where we can't see them either.
But uncried tears don’t disappear. They show up as anxiety, tension, irritability, or emotional shutdown. In trauma therapy Atlanta clients often discover they’ve been holding their breath emotionally for years. When crying becomes unsafe, the body learns to armor itself. That armor can keep out pain, but it also keeps out connection, relief, and love.
Learning to trust your tears again is often part of trauma recovery. It’s not just about crying more. It’s about giving yourself permission to feel.
What Does It Mean If You Cry Every Day?
It’s not uncommon to worry that daily tears mean something is wrong. Sometimes they do. And sometimes, they mean your emotions are finally rising to the surface after years of being suppressed.
During periods of grief, transition, or trauma healing, it’s normal to feel raw. Crying often can be a sign your body is discharging old pain, making room for something new. But if your tears feel like despair—if they don’t bring relief, feel uncontrollable, or come with intense hopelessness—it could be a sign of something deeper, like depression.
Is It Depression or Just a Need to Cry?
Here are a few ways to tell the difference:
Tears that bring relief are usually part of healing.
Tears that bring shame, exhaustion, or numbness might be signs of depression.
Crying with no clear trigger that persists for weeks can also point to emotional overload or unresolved trauma.
You don’t need to figure this out alone. In trauma therapy Atlanta, we approach these questions with compassion, not judgment. Your tears are not a problem to fix. They’re a language your body speaks when words fall short.
How Trauma Therapy in Atlanta Helps You Feel Again
One of the most sacred parts of trauma work is the moment someone cries in therapy for the first time. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes it’s messy. Always, it’s healing.
When tears have been met with criticism or silence in the past, it can take time to believe it’s safe to cry. Trauma therapy helps create that safety. It says: your pain matters. Your body is wise. You don’t have to hold it in anymore.
I often hear clients say things like, "It feels good to let this out." That release is not a setback. It’s a step forward. A softening. A return.
Tips for Making Peace with Your Tears
Name what’s coming up. Say to yourself, "I feel sad,” or "This is grief." Naming brings grounding.
Breathe through it. Place your hand over your heart or belly. Remind your body: You are safe now.
Write it out. Journal your feelings before or after crying. Tears often reveal what words cannot.
Don't apologize for crying. Especially in therapy or with safe people. Your emotions deserve space.
Give yourself permission. Allow yourself permission to cry when you need to. Your emotions don’t need a justification to be valid.
Notice patterns. If you cry every day and it feels heavy rather than relieving, reach out for support.
Letting the Tears Teach You
Tears don’t mean you’re falling apart. They mean something inside you is being seen, held, and healed. They are not weakness. They are strength wrapped in softness. And sometimes, the only way out is through.
If you’ve been afraid of your own tears or unsure what to do with the emotions they carry, you’re not alone. As a trauma therapist in Atlanta, I offer a safe space where your tears are welcome, your story is honored, and your healing matters.
Let the tears come. Let the pain speak. Healing often begins in the quiet moments when we finally stop holding back.
Looking for trauma therapy in Atlanta?
If your tears feel too heavy to carry alone, trauma therapy can help. Let’s talk about how we can work together to help you feel more, carry less, and reconnect with the parts of you that are ready to heal. As a trauma therapist in Atlanta, I offer a safe space where you can finally let go, feel what’s true, and begin to heal. Your emotions are not too much, they're a doorway to freedom.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation. You don’t have to keep holding it all together. Let’s make room for your healing. I offer a space where your story is safe, your feelings are honored, and your healing is possible.
Kristy Brewer is a therapist Atlanta offering online therapy in Georgia helping people find peace amidst the chaos. Her specialties include trauma therapy, attachment therapy for trauma within toxic relationships, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, and parents raising a traumatized child.
Request a free 15-minute phone consultation today by clicking here.
