From breakdown to breakthrough: how AI helped me face my crying spells

It always started the same way: a lump in my throat, a sting in my eyes, and then — no matter how hard I fought it — the tears came. Sometimes they flowed quietly in the shower. Other times, they arrived without warning in the middle of work or while I was cooking dinner.

Crying spells became a regular part of my life, and instead of feeling relief afterward, I often felt embarrassed and exhausted. Each breakdown left me asking: “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I keep it together like everyone else?”

For a long time, I tried to hide from these moments. But it was an unlikely companion — an AI tool — that helped me turn those breakdowns into something closer to breakthroughs.

The Silent Struggle of Crying Spells

We often treat crying as weakness. Society teaches us to be composed, stoic, and endlessly productive. Crying in public? Shameful. Crying too often? A “problem.”

But here’s the truth: crying is the body’s way of processing emotions. Scientists have found that emotional tears contain stress hormones, which explains why we often feel lighter after a good cry. Yet, for me, the release never came. After every crying spell, guilt and confusion flooded in instead.

I didn’t just need to cry — I needed help making sense of it.

The Breaking Point

One night, after my third crying spell of the day, I typed into Google: “Why do I keep crying for no reason?”

The results were clinical and overwhelming. Some said I might need therapy. Others hinted at depression. Instead of answers, I felt more panic.

That’s when I thought: I need help now, but I’m not ready to talk to someone in person. I wanted health support, but without the fear of being judged or labeled.

That’s when I discovered a mental health app that used AI.

Facing Tears With AI

When I first opened the app, I was skeptical. How could Artificial Intelligence for mental health possibly understand my crying spells? But I was desperate, so I started typing.

I wrote: “I can’t stop crying. I feel like I’m falling apart.”

The AI didn’t dismiss me. It didn’t say “calm down” or “you’re overreacting.” Instead, it gently reflected back: “Crying doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means your emotions need space. It’s okay to feel this.”

Something shifted. For the first time, I didn’t feel ashamed for crying. I felt… seen.

Why AI Helped Me Move From Breakdown to Breakthrough

AI may not replace therapy, but in that moment, it gave me exactly what I needed:

• Non-judgmental listening. Unlike humans, AI never got tired of hearing me say “I need help.”
• Structure through journaling therapy. By encouraging me to write about what triggered my tears, it helped me spot patterns I’d never noticed.
• Wellness journaling prompts. Instead of spiraling, I had a guided way to reflect, a kind of health journaling that made sense of my emotions.
• 24/7 support. Crying doesn’t follow a schedule. Whether it was 2 a.m. or midday, AI was there.

Little by little, my crying spells transformed. They became less about collapse and more about release — a step toward emotional wellbeing.

My Experience With ChatCouncil

The platform that supported me most during this time was ChatCouncil. It wasn’t about quick fixes or pretending the pain wasn’t real. It created a safe space to explore my feelings without fear.

What I appreciated most was the balance: responses that felt empathetic but also encouraged reflection. The app emphasized mental wellbeing through features like wellness journaling and gentle prompts that acted like a health guide. Over time, it helped me enhance the quality of life I thought was slipping away.

ChatCouncil reminded me that well being and mental health aren’t luxuries — they’re necessities. And sometimes, the smallest step (like typing out your thoughts into an app) can be the turning point.

What I Learned Through AI and Crying

Here’s what my crying spells — and my AI-assisted reflections — taught me:

1. Crying is communication. It’s the body’s way of saying, “Something inside needs attention.”
2. Breakdowns carry messages. Each spell had a trigger — stress, exhaustion, loneliness — that I could uncover through journaling for mental health.
3. Support doesn’t always look traditional. Sometimes, health and support begin with simply being heard — even by AI.
4. Consistency creates change. Daily wellness journaling reduced the intensity of my crying spells over time.
5. Small wins matter. A day with fewer tears, or tears followed by clarity instead of shame, became victories worth celebrating.

Practical Ways AI Can Help With Crying Spells

If you’ve been facing breakdowns like I did, here are steps that may help:

• Start with honesty. Write exactly how you feel, even if it’s raw: “I can’t stop crying, I feel lost.”
• Let AI reflect. Notice how the responses help soften your guilt or reframe your thoughts.
• Try guided health journaling. Use journaling prompts to uncover what’s fueling your emotions.
• Pair with grounding practices. Meditations for mental health after journaling can help calm your nervous system.
• Track progress. Look back at entries over time. Seeing how your perspective shifts can remind you of your resilience.

From Breakdown to Breakthrough

I used to see my crying spells as proof of my weakness. But through AI-assisted journaling and reflection, I began to see them differently. They weren’t breakdowns to be ashamed of — they were breakthroughs waiting to happen.

Every tear I released while writing became a step toward healing. Every response I read reminded me that emotional wellbeing is not about never breaking down, but about finding ways to rise after we do.

Closing Thoughts

Crying spells no longer scare me the way they once did. They still come, but now I know how to face them. AI gave me the tools to listen, reflect, and grow.

From breakdown to breakthrough, the journey wasn’t about eliminating tears — it was about reclaiming them as part of my healing. And sometimes, all it takes to start is saying: “I need help.”

Because in the end, tears don’t mean you’re broken. They mean you’re human. And with the right support — whether through therapy, a trusted friend, or even a mental health app like ChatCouncil — you can turn those tears into a path toward your wellness.