When Crying Is The Right Answer — High Sensitivity, Despair, Overwhelm, And Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

photo courtesy of Anthony Tran, Unsplash

Some days it is just too much. Some days it is all too sad. Some days your optimism gets crushed and left to rot under the sofa. Some days you wonder about human nature and if greed, rage, hatred, and fear are written somewhere in the genetic code. Some days you realize you came to the wrong planet.

Some days you have macaroni and cheese for dinner and strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert. And breakfast. Some days you need to tell the world Happy Motherf*ckers Day. Some days you fall off the cliff, collapse into a heap, and are grateful for nothing. Some days your pile of cool books to read just depresses you. Some days your playlist is out of tune. Some days your cozy chenille emotional support animal sweater makes you sweat. Some days you think maybe you should have chosen a husband, two and a half kids, and a picket fence. Some days humans’ vast neediness is terrifying. Some days you can not tolerate another person unwilling to examine their own ignorance. 

Some days you notice the guilt you feel for your despair when your life is full of privilege and you have a great job, can afford to pay your bills, and can buy strawberry rhubarb pie whenever you want, so you are probably contributing in a big way to the problems yourself. And, in this moment, you. do. not. care.

You just need to cry.

And cry some more. 

Join me.

We will have a crying party. 

I’ll bring the pie.

_____________________________________________________

To my blogEEs: Can you tell what I am feeling right now? I am glad that I can share it with you. Sometimes crying, giving up, grieving and falling apart is a way to find your path, your next steps, your creativity, and your spiritual guidance. And sometimes, it’s just crying. Sending you much love and appreciation for your willingness to feel and to deepen your self-understanding and your purpose here on this planet, even if it’s not the planet you thought you were coming to. Let us know how you are doing. And for those of you who are struggling with Mother’s Day because your mother was inadequate or depressed or abusive or alcoholic or sadistic or neglectful or not there, this is my favorite mothering song. Much love to you all.


Author: Paula Prober

I’m a psychotherapist and consultant in private practice based in Eugene, Oregon. I specialize in international consulting with gifted adults and parents of gifted children. I’ve been a teacher and an adjunct instructor at the University of Oregon and a frequent guest presenter at Oregon State University and Pacific University. I’ve written articles on giftedness for the Eugene Register-Guard, the Psychotherapy Networker, Advanced Development Journal and online for psychotherapy dot net, Rebelle Society, Thrive, Introvert Dear, and Highly Sensitive Refuge. My first book, Your Rainforest Mind: A Guide to the Well-Being of Gifted Adults and Youth, is a collection of case studies of gifted clients along with many strategies and resources for gifted adults and teens. My second book, Journey Into Your Rainforest Mind: A Field Guide for Gifted Adults and Teens, Book Lovers, Overthinkers, Geeks, Sensitives, Brainiacs, Intuitives, Procrastinators, and Perfectionists is a collection of my most popular blog posts along with writing exercises for self-exploration and insight.

36 responses to “When Crying Is The Right Answer — High Sensitivity, Despair, Overwhelm, And Strawberry Rhubarb Pie”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


  1. Face Your Demons. Slay Your Dragons. Mend Your Broken Heart. | Your Rainforest Mind

    […] for self-healing? Have you found a furry friend? Do you wear your emotional support sweater? Do you let yourself cry? I am sending love to all of you to help you mend your broken hearts and to give you courage during […]


  2. A Gifted Multipotentialite* in Chile | Your Rainforest Mind

    […] to Source or Guidance or Nature or Universal Love or Evolutionary Consciousness, or God or Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. Oh, and, let us know in the comments about your experiences with your multipotentiality and […]


  3. A Gifted Teen In Malaysia — What Is Normal? | Your Rainforest Mind

    […] Sensitivity. Compassion. Emotion = Exhaustion. […]


  4. Paula Prober Avatar
    Paula Prober

    Sending love to you, unschooling NL. <3


  5. unschooling NL Avatar
    unschooling NL

    In the beginning of this corona crisis, actually even before, I have been crying. Unstoppable. First I thought it was over losing my work, my future options, living without money and no idea what to do possibly instead of what I do now. But now I think I must have felt the big changes that keep coming in waves. About our freedom. And how travel – my oxygen – will be so overregulated. We are not out of the woods yet. I am sure I will have another wave of tears.


  6. Someti Avatar
    Someti

    I guess what works for me is music (and crying, at times, of course), but I’ll definitely have to try that pie. 😋

    Anyway: I know how you feel. All the best Paula! Stay safe, healthy and happy! 🙂


  7. Stef Avatar
    Stef

    Not sure why we’ve been so conditioned to try to fight tears. It finally dawned on me this week that crying is NEEDED when things are as sad and as stressful and as complicated as we deal with the massive grief of this world wide catastrophe. Tears help us get rid of cortisol, the stress hormone that can do us damage. I’ve begun celebrating when I’m able to cry–even the kind of crying that involves screaming (well, I live alone, so that’s easier, though I worry sometimes that the neighbors could hear), because it literally helps! Our bodies were built to be able to cry! Also to have rhubarb pie–just bought 2 frozen pie crusts so I don’t have to make the crusts–plenty of rhubarb in my back yard.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Wish I could drop by for some pie and a good cry, Stef!


  8. izabellacp Avatar
    izabellacp

    This is so true. I set the bar so high for myself, and still I make so little difference in the World. I am so angry, and sad, and frustrated, and helpless that I am unable to enjoy the good things in my life. And then, I am angry about not being able to enjoy life! And I am lonely, because no one shares my burden. But I am a Mom of a wonderful daughter, my miracle, and she gives me so much hope for the future. Because of her, I don’t give up on myself. I parent her the way I wanted to be parented. I love and hold her the way I wanted to be held. And in those moments of clarity, I know my place in the World.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Beautiful, izabellacp. Love that daughter of yours. Love yourself! <3


  9. Gail Post Avatar
    Gail Post

    Love this, Paula. Such hard times for all of us. And I see your nod to the guilt so many of us privileged experience when we feel so down about what is going on. And the rage over ignorance (I could go on about that…). I really like your “Some days” cadence – reminds me of the old “These Day” song from Jackson Browne – those of us of a certain age remember that ;). Thanks for another great article.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Ah…I remember Jackson Browne! Thanks for the comment, Gail. Hope you’re staying safe and healthy.


  10. Paula Prober Avatar
    Paula Prober

  11. Marcia Avatar
    Marcia

    With cream cheese crust.


  12. Chelsea Welch Avatar
    Chelsea Welch

    Paula, you are lovely and wonderful. You make me feel like it’s ok to be imperfect and also intense and also incredibly creative but also messy. You make me feel like it’s ok to not want kids. And you make me feel like giftedness is a gift more than anything. Hang in there! You’re doing so much for the world.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Oh, Chelsea. I am so happy to hear that I’m helping you in these ways. Yes to messiness! Thank you. And I will hang in there. Blogging is a lifeline.


  13. cathytea Avatar
    cathytea

    My mantra these days: it’s OK not to be OK. We’re living through significant history. I also have to remind myself that it’s OK to be happy, during those moments when joy pokes up.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Ah, yes, cathytea. Two wonderful reminders. Thank you.


  14. Maureen Helen Avatar
    Maureen Helen

    Trying not to dissolve completely, self isolating with a man who has a cognitive impairment. Trying to be kind, because that works…


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Oh Maureen Helen, that would be so hard. Sending love. <3


  15. Kim P Avatar
    Kim P

    Sending you love and Kleenex. Baking at my house has included brownies, banana bread and fruit danishes. Apple pie is coming soon. 😎


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Thank you, Kim. The baking sounds delicious!


  16. lauralynnwalsh Avatar
    lauralynnwalsh

    I want my strawberry-rhubarb pie without the strawberries. Why ruin good rhubarb with strawberries?

    But, seriously, tears are in evidence far more often here than is usual for me. I mean, my god, over 81,000 people are DEAD. The numbers don’t even make sense any more. But the stories. The stories hit me every time.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Hard to not cry when hearing those statistics, for sure, lauralynn. I’ll make your pie without strawberries!


  17. Andie Avatar
    Andie

    Paula
    I am so grateful for your post. Always helps to know one has company.
    I have been fighting off tears for several days. I feel so over whelmed with my own personal stressors and the global crisis which also is questionable is very tart cherry on top of my blueberry pie.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Don’t fight them, Andie. Let them flow! Blueberry pie is good, too… 🙂


  18. nickids79 Avatar
    nickids79

    Hi Paula,
    Just having a very “off” kind of day today, felt like crying even after one of my invigorating daily power walks. Came down to be isolated in my basement to open my emails and there you were 👍🏻. I just told myself yesterday that if Incould stop the earth, I’d get off on Mars or perhaps Venus. Sometimes I think maybe I should’ve been a career, goal-driven woman as this marriage thing is tough.
    Thanks for giving the green light to let it all out! Peace.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Yes, let it out, nickids79. 🙂


  19. catbadel Avatar
    catbadel

    Oh by all means. I don’t intend on entering into a debate with anyone. Happy for you to delete the comment 🙂


  20. catbadel Avatar
    catbadel

    It’s like you can see into my soul. Not to bring politics into it but this is how I feel about America right now. Though I’m an Australian expat living in Germany. And yet what is going on in America both with the pandemic and Trump, nothing has me more unglued! I know RFMs will get why I feel so impacted by Trump, America and what is happening there. Then there’s my own sanity of dealing with the crisis here and raising AND homeschooling a RFM child. Only the raising is debatable and what homeschooling… thank you for making me feel normal…


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      I do try to avoid specific political references here, catbadel, so will be monitoring comments for that. But sometimes I know it’s hard not to acknowledge the particularly disturbing situation here in N. America.


  21. Jen Merrill Avatar
    Jen Merrill

    My rhubarb is taking off; I can bring the pie. You bring the tissues.


    1. Paula Prober Avatar
      Paula Prober

      Sounds good, Jen. You bake the pie! Yum. I’ll have plenty of tissues on hand. 🙂


  22. simplywendi Avatar
    simplywendi

    I feel this!


  23. Marregn Avatar
    Marregn

    Thank you Paula. I really needed this <3


  24. kwalters73 Avatar
    kwalters73

    I need a big cry. And some pie.

%d bloggers like this: