When life makes you cry, realize that is a healthy reaction to stress, loss and occurrences that touch your heart—good or bad.  Often we feel or are taught to keep emotions in but if we do this and never release, the consequences can be dire, affecting our health and relationships.

Sometimes a life altering event will occur and we are initially numb.  It seems strange that tears do not fall and to the general world we seem okay.  But then, months or years later the tears flow, almost randomly—but it is not random.  Emotions have been brewing and then, when a trigger occurs, they boil over, and the tears flow. Finally, all those bottled up emotions are released, or begin to release—although painful and difficult, this is a good thing and a first step towards understanding and recovery.

When a person is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), no matter what their age, it is a life-altering discovery.  Often it is painful, confusing and fear is prevalent.  It is okay to cry and probably important to cry.  The world as we expected it to be is not at all what we anticipated and we need to realign our thinking.  There can be a kind of mourning period as we let go of the imagined life and come to grips with a new reality.

Crying is a cleansing that is private and shared with those closest to us.  Crying is a cleansing that can be shared with professionals who can help guide our thoughts. Crying helps us transition and go forward.

During our lifetimes, we will all shed some tears— sad tears, happy tears and many other kinds of tears–markers of our humanity and our courage.  When life makes you cry…cry!  It is healthy to a point and for most of us, it will end and we can begin again, freer, fresher and clearer. If not, seek help, support and guidance, do not go it alone!