Are any other seniors experiencing a need to cry more often?

I've always been a huge weeper--music, good news, bad news, books, poetry, prayer, landscape...pretty much everything except for ice cream, which I love but never makes me weep. Sometimes I also think I may be crying about things long in the past...a friend's suicide, the death of my first husband, living in San Francisco at the start of AIDS. Some things can just never be "processed" and get evoked by things I'm currently experiencing. As long as you bounce back, tears are very healing and I think they show affection and respect for or shared human condition. All best to you.

Yes for sure... human body is well equipped to cry... and in my humble opinion we all cry for different reasons and things that pull at our heartstrings especially... i do think though that crying very much and every day may be a symptom of depression but it's all relative... i often cry at the things you mention but i remember a few years ago i just couldn't seem to cry at "anything" and that bothered me more than shedding a few tears! Mostly now I cry when I am having a bad spell and that's upsetting to my husband but even at my old age it scares me and I cry from frustration when I dont feel well, so that to me is a bit odd....in fact was crying when thought will go on to connect and see what new comments there are and take my mind off myself!

That’s a good question and I’m sure it’s pertinent to a lot of people. I find I cry when I am a bit overwhelmed by life on Earth. So I take charge snd stop watching the NEWS ir reading about wars or animal abuse or child poverty.! The world is a mess and we can see snd feel that. So we have to guard against it. Just live more for yourself and be in control of what’s happening to just you. Create things and laugh at things snd Pat your pets and eat strawberries snd ice cream. One day soon you will say HEY I haven’t cried for ages!

Thank you shirleynz. You reminded me of the positive feelings from being creative, being in nature, and going "placidly amid the noise and haste." Vegetable gardening and watercolor painting serve my mood well. Mother always told me, "Buck up! You're too sensitive. Stop asking so many questions. You think too much for a little girl. Stop crying, or I'll give you something to cry about." Aahhh, the joys of being born an introvert. But it has also enabled a life of spiritual breakthrough. A gift in disguise.

in reply to @littleoaksc52 I'd say there is a lot to cry about these days, and I too often cry at the drop of a hat. I attribute this to my sensitive artistic nature. Just reading an item in the news a few days ago brought tears to my eyes. Crying is healthy, and often after I have cried I really do feel better. Just the relief of letting go of all of this grief I carry around with me. Grief about the lack of humanity in our world, the lack of empathy from others you expect them to have and things of that nature. Sometimes just looking at my now dead dog's picture still brings tears to my eyes, and I tell myself I would give my right arm to have her back for just one minute. In any event, I choose art and gardening to help me through these trying times. Yes, I talk to my plants and tell them how beautiful they are. I rescue plants people leave by the dumpster. If a small piece of one of my succulents falls off, I replant it. Crying can be very cleansing and is not necessarily a bad thing.

I'm an 80 year old guy, with all that implies. We shouldn't cry easily. I've thought about it but believe it would be surrendering to my physical problems to do so. The only times I can remember breaking down was at the loss of good dogs. There is no reason to believe one of our daughters will be a cause for sorrow. In the unlikely event that I survive my wife, I know that I will. Probably daily. As for prayer, I avoid praying for myself. He's given me tools to deal with my problems. That's more than I'm entitled to.

I used to joke that my wife would cry at K Mart openings. Now it’s me!!
I relate some of this to aging, some to MCI and some to empathy for others that I no longer try to hide.

I never used to cry much, especially during childhood and young womanhood, despite major clinical depression/anxiety, except when my mother died then a daughter and then my husband and then a grandson and a son plus beloved dogs. Few tears otherwise until now at 77 with several chronic life-threatening diagnoses and failing to meet the challenges of routine housework and meal preparation. I'm so overwhelmed with real problems and realistic concerns that I feel like crying every day, several times a day, even though I seldom shed actual tears. My medical team, including PCP, nephrologist, psychiatrist and therapist all tell me that my sadness is normal for someone in my situation. But that doesn't make me feel less like crying. Sorry to be such a Debbie Downer, just needed to share.

Hi, your mind can only handle so many worries and thoughts. Once I attended a class and the first thing the instructor had us do was take five minutes for a "brain dump," writing down everything on our minds. I still do brain dump lists today and they really help me.

There’s a book written by Bonnie Ware called, “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing” that’s probably available in your local library. The five regrets are:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

Lastly, I’ve posted this elsewhere but I enjoy walking my dog twice a day in the neighborhood. It’s a great excuse to exercise and see other dog walkers, children, contractors, people in their yards and the goings on in the community. If you don’t want a pet in your home, I’ve also read that people can volunteer at a pet rescue facility where animals need love, attention and training.

If pets aren’t your cup of tea, forest bathing might be a thought. The purpose is twofold: to offer an eco-antidote to screen burnout and inspire people to reconnect with and protect the forests. Forest bathing is not just for the wilderness-lover; the practice can be as simple as walking in any natural environment and consciously connecting with what’s around you.

I hope something here is helpful. Take good care.

Wow …. I thought I was the only one. I embarrass my kids and others around me because I cry so much. Some of it is depression I’m sure, but also for all the reasons you all have mentioned.
Ilikegreen, I love the quote from the book. It is lovely and thoughtful and so true. Thank you for sharing!