© Shutterstock

Medical reasons -

Several medical conditions can make crying difficult or impossible. Many of these conditions have medications and other treatments available, so seek the support from a medical professional.

© Shutterstock

Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) -

Often referred to as "dry eyes," KCS occurs when the tissues around the eye are inflamed and dry, making people unable to cry. It's one of the most common reasons people need to visit an eye doctor. 

© Shutterstock

Sjögren’s syndrome -

This autoimmune disorder is often accompanied by dry eyes and a dry mouth, which can make it difficult for a person to produce tears.

© Shutterstock

Prescription medications -

Many prescription medications can have side effects such as an inability to produce tears or a lack of emotional expression. For example, many antidepressants can cause or exacerbate dry eye.

© Shutterstock

Aging -

Although we might not lose the desire to cry, we produce fewer tears as we age.

© Shutterstock

Allergies -

Pollutants and allergens can affect our tear ducts and our eyes, making it more difficult to cry.

© Shutterstock

Other reasons -

In addition to medical reasons, several other factors can decrease tear production or make crying difficult.  

© Shutterstock

Environmental factors -

People who live in a dry climate may notice it's difficult to produce tears. It can also occur due to extensive smoke from wildfires or other sources of pollution.

© Shutterstock

Cultural expectations -

Many cultures teach that it's not acceptable to cry in adulthood, especially for men. If you grew up with the message that crying was considered unacceptable and shameful, you might feel uncomfortable crying. 

© Shutterstock

Gender stereotypes -

Gender stereotypes, such as the belief that men shouldn't cry or feel emotional pain, can keep many people feeling that they can't cry. 

© Shutterstock

Anhedonia -

Anhedonia describes a loss of interest in activities and things that used to bring them joy. This is often a result of a medical or mental health condition.

© Shutterstock

Repressed emotions -

When we push away difficult or painful emotions, this is repression. People who have experienced trauma, abuse, and grief commonly repress emotions, which can prevent someone from crying.

© Shutterstock

Childhood emotional neglect -

If you grew up in an environment that lacked emotional support and validation, you may have difficulty acknowledging and expressing your emotions. Many survivors of childhood emotional neglect find that they struggle to identify when they're sad, and therefore struggle to cry.

© Shutterstock

Personal beliefs -

When we're raised with the message that crying is shameful or wrong, we carry that with us, often resulting in adults who believe that crying isn't okay.

© Shutterstock

Family expectations -

If you grew up in a family who didn't express sadness through crying, you might be more likely to express your feelings that same way they did.

© Shutterstock

Mental illness -

While not everyone will experience mental health symptoms the same way, an inability to cry is common for people with certain mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder. 

© Shutterstock

Is it bad not to cry? -

In most cases, being unable to cry isn't a bad thing. Many people don't feel the need to cry, and are able to show emotions in other ways, and there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that.

© Shutterstock

Benefits of crying -

Crying is important because it provides a much-needed emotional and even physical release, for both men and women. 

© Shutterstock

Communication -

Crying conveys a lot of unspoken communication, including sadness and happiness. 

© Shutterstock

Cleanse your eyes -

Crying also flushes out dust, eyelashes, makeup, or other debris from our eyes.

© Shutterstock

Mood booster -

A good cry can help boost mood in times of stress and other emotional difficulties.

© Shutterstock

Pain relief -

Crying helps with not only emotional pain, but it can also provide relief for physical pain. 

© Shutterstock

Mental reset -

Crying can also give you a mental reset, helping to improve clarity and focus.

© Shutterstock

Decreases intensity of emotions -

Sometimes crying even helps decrease the tension and intensity of emotions, allowing you to reset. 

© Shutterstock

Ways to help oneself cry -

It's important that any medical concern should first be ruled out before assuming the inability to cry is psychological. However, there are steps to help oneself produce tears and connect with one's emotions, after learning that it's not a medical concern.

© Shutterstock

Explore emotions -

You may purposefully block out emotional responses. Taking time to explore how you feel when something happens may help reconnect with suppressed emotions.

© Shutterstock

Become comfortable with emotions -

In order to feel comfortable with your emotions, you could write down how you feel and acknowledge that it's natural to feel a certain way. It also helps to express how you feel out loud. 

© Shutterstock

Find a safe place -

Not everyone likes to express their emotions publicly or feel comfortable doing so. Therefore, find a safe space, like your bedroom or a quiet area in a park, to express your emotions.

© Shutterstock

Talk with someone -

Talking with someone doesn't have to involve formal therapy. Sometimes all you need is a trusted friend or family member to let your emotions out.

© Shutterstock

Therapy -

If other steps don't work or aren't enough, consider going to therapy, where you can express your emotions and learn to cry.
Sources: (Choosing Therapy) (Medical News Today) 
See also: Signs that you’re emotionally intelligent

© Shutterstock