Want to Avoid Crying During a Sad Movie? Try Out These Helpful Tips

There are times that there's nothing better than putting on a sad movie when you need a good cry, and others where being that emotionally vulnerable is literally the last thing you want to do.

Some movies are crafted specifically to make viewers shed a tear, whether their stories are tragic or joyous, or just super effective at using musical cues to manipulate your emotions. Even before you step into the theater or click on the thumbnail on streaming, you know what you're in for. Still, you'd rather not cry if you can avoid it. Maybe you don't want to mess up your makeup or spend the next day looking pink and puffy, or perhaps you just want to seem like you have a handle on your emotions. We have some suggestions for you to help stop the tears before they start.

Go in Prepared

When you already know the movie's going to be a sad one, it's good to go into it emotionally prepared. If you're already feeling slightly down, you're likely to be more emotionally vulnerable, and therefore more inclined to cry during the sad parts.

Start by simply ensuring your basic needs are met. You might be someone who gets extra cranky and emotional when you're hungry or when you haven't gotten enough rest, so feed yourself and get that much-needed sleep. Try first engaging in an activity that always puts a smile on your face, whether that's doing something creative, playing a game or just watching funny videos. A positive attitude and good mood will prime you to be more resilient against the onslaught of emotion that's sure to come later.

 

Drop Your Attention Out of the Movie

When you're feeling like that big, emotional part of the movie is coming up and you're not sure you'll be able to resist crying, try removing your direct attention from it. If you're at home, divert your eyes from the TV and try looking around or straight up at the ceiling, or if you're in a movie theater, look at your feet or at the back of the seat in front of you.

From there, guide your attention elsewhere, whatever that means for you. Think happy thoughts or try counting down from 100, reciting the lyrics of an unrelated song in your head or focusing all of your attention to the inward and outward directions of your breath. You might not be able to drown out the experience completely, but the less of the movie you're actively paying attention to at this point, the harder it will be for to leave you sobbing.

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Also read about: 15 Bold Taylor Swift Lyrics for Announcing Your Breakup

 

Physically Distract Yourself

Pairing your mental distraction from the film with physical distractions can make this technique even more effective. Rather than allowing yourself to get fully lost in the movie, work on temporarily grounding yourself entirely in your body and focusing on all of the physical sensations within it. Try wiggling your toes and putting your attention into how that feels, or fidgeting and squeezing your hands, counting each time you tense up and relax. Notice the way the seat feels underneath you. If your eyes do threaten to tear up, blink rapidly to flush away the tears, and try counting the blinks to create even more distance between yourself and the emotion in the film.

 

Remind Yourself It's Just a Movie

For some people, all it takes to break the spell is taking a step back and having a deeper awareness that what you're watching is only a movie, with a scripted story brought to life by actors. It might help to name the actors in your head, especially if you're familiar with their other work, and imagine how silly it would be if their other characters were thrown into this deeply emotional situation together. Think about them rehearsing their fake crying or applying false tears to get the wanted effect. Consider everything that's happening from an outside point of view and look for anything that's inherent seriousness or ridiculous about it. Also remember that it's highly likely every aspect of the scene was selected specifically to evoke tears, from the music cues to the lighting and facial contortions. If you're stubborn enough, that alone might help stop those tears in their tracks.

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Also read about: 15 Sad Netflix Movies for Teens Who Need a Good Cry

 

Just Embrace It

If all else fails, we recommend that you stop fighting the tears and embrace them instead. Chances are that you're a very sensitive and empathetic person to begin with, and you should see that as a strength, rather than a weakness. After all, it's healthy to let things out, from time to time, and not to keep all of your emotions bottled up inside of you. Try coming in prepared and packing tissues (with moisturizer, if you're prone to rawness) as well as a face lotion, or even makeup remover and your favorite travel makeup if you're going to need a full reapplication.

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Curious about why we cry at all? Click HERE to read our interview with an expert on the science of crying.