Crying is something I do on a pretty regular basis. I feel like crying is often seen as a sign of weakness or something negative but, for me, it is one of the healthiest things I do. It regulates me like nothing else.
Regulating, for me, is resetting. It means that I am upset and off balance and I need to do something to get back on track. The ways I regulate my body when I’m upset aren’t always the best for me. I’m a huge fan of banging my head on a wall or hitting it with my hands. That’s not great. Crying is a way to regulate my body and emotions in a safe way.
It works when I am happy, sad, and any other feeling I’m not aware of because it wasn’t on my flashcards growing up. Ya know, the little flashcards with facial expressions meant to educate us autistics on human emotions? Both negative and positive emotions can be very overwhelming. When I cry, it’s not always because I’m upset. It usually means that the emotions I’m dealing with are just too much.
We as a society need to normalize crying. Crying does not mean you are weak. It means that you realize you aren’t in the best place or too overwhelmed and you need a coping mechanism. Let the tears fall freely and without shame!
I'm Not Drunk, I'm Autistic 