[Ellsyian]

This comes up a lot in men's work. So many of the people I work with have extreme tension in the throat and the jaw from not truly expressing themselves - from trying to hold whatever happened to them in so that they don't have to truly acknowledge/experience any past trauma.

There exists a great deal of language in our culture around this - "chin up shoulders back" - forcing this biomechanically creates a break around the solar plexus as your rib cage and pelvis are no longer aligned, makes it harder to feel emotions. "set your jaw against the world" etc.

Crying is a form of regulation. When a nervous system gets overstimulated it can release tension similar to how a circuit breaker works. It is the primary regulatory mechanism of infants and toddlers.

Men are cut off from this to a point where the average man in society does not experience the emotional depth necessary. Think of all the stereotypical complaints of female partners about men relating to their empathy and emotional awareness.

It exists as a balance. It is the masculine polarity's job to remain grounded and out of any group in society, it is most necessary that men are capable of controlling their emotions. Yet without the ability to express yourself and discharge tension from the nervous system, you cannot truly be healthy.

Cry when warranted, not never, not with frequency.