As I get older, I tend to well up easier - whether it’s from a sappy movie, a heartwarming story, a child's innocence, or merely thinking about the injustices in the world and the millions of people who suffer as a result.
But wait - men aren’t supposed to cry….or at least that’s what we’ve been taught. It didn’t used to be that way. Historic literature is full of weeping, noble men, and has even been associated with strength and virtue in some cultures. The shortest verse in the Bible, which is the only one I ever learned verbatim, is "Jesus wept".
Recent studies have shown that men who hide or disregard their emotions out of self-preservation or embarrassment might have what’s called, “repressive coping style”, which comes at a high cost. Cancer, high blood pressure, and a compromised immune system have all been linked to this condition.
But perhaps the greatest risk of holding back tears is a higher level of stress and depression, particularly in those men who suffer from narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), which manifests itself in an inflated sense of self-importance, a constant need for attention and praise, and a lack of empathy toward others.
In 2015 while running for president, Donald Trump boasted, “the last time I cried was when I was a baby”.
That says a lot about our former president.
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