In 2025, What Do Mental Health Experts Advise About Crying at Work?
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Introduction
Anne of Carversville is embarking on a unique experiment focused on women crying at work. I’m a heavy user of one AI platform in particular, although I use three. This experiment came together in recent days, triggered by Naomi Osaka’s tears shed last week at the Auckland Classic, a charity event that is a run-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne, a Grand Slam tennis tournament currently underway.
We all know that Osaka is a crier. It’s just her mojo. Naomi cries and we all rush to her side and shower her with hugs and comfort and tell her what a champion she is.
For the first time ever, I found myself exasperated with the 27-year-old mother, entrepreneur and tennis pro, projecting her teary-self to the world yet again in Auckland.
Those tears are Osaka’s business, helping her generate about $15 million in 2023, even though she hasn’t won a Grand Slam tournament since 2021. Yes, Naomi had a baby. That will screw up your tennis game.
In this moment, Naomi’s tears flowed days before a very tense Trump administration hearing for Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth.
That hearing happened yesterday, January 14th. Hegseth is on the record many times that he’s opposed to women in combat in the US military.
Now he did a tap dance at his confirmation hearing, with the weight of multiple women senators bearing down on him and two of those senators having resumes that include combat veterans.
There are additional reasons for my choosing to write in-depth about women crying at work that I share in the introductory article: Does Naomi Osaka’s Crying Give Support to Pete Hegseth’s Belief that Women Fold in Combat?
Osaka has become an uncredentialed ‘authority’ on the topic of women’s mental wellness, as an ambassador to Maybelline’s ‘Brave Together’ initiative. For decades as a layperson, I’ve paid attention to all messages being sent to women about anxiety, depression and other psychological challenges.
Reading that Osaka is a leader in this area gave me pause. I understand that people come in all sizes, ages, races and national heritages.
Being totally open with readers, I have much more confidence in another 27 year-old, Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, as a compassionate leader on the topic of younger women’s health.
In My Foxhole: Malala Yousafzai
I am not pitting Naomi and Malala against each other. But I am saying that if the guns are blazing, I want Malala Yousafzai in my fox hole, not Naomi Osaka, who is enormously gifted in designing outrageously memorable tennis outfits with Nike.
Humans make judgments about each other instinctively— fairly or not. Some of those judgments seem harsh, but I would call a draw if both women were sharpshooters in emotional intelligence and bravery. This is not the case in this situation. There is no question which young woman I want in my foxhole; her name is Malala.
As the Taliban climbed onto her school bus on October 9, 2012, specifically looking for that 11-year-old girl who blogged about girl’s education, Malala not only took a bullet in her brain and survived; she has worked tirelessly on behalf of girls and young women worldwide since them.
Malala’s brain swelled so dangerously after the shooting, that doctors removed a section of her skull and temporarily placed it in her abdomen. AOC traveled that entire route of courage and survival with Malala, who didn’t shed one tear in public.
On 9 November 2021, Yousafzai married Asser Malik, a manager with the Pakistan Cricket Board in Birmingham, England. Malala also signed a multi-year relationship with Apple in March 2021.
In an exclusive interview below, Jennifer Lawrence, Malala Yousafzai, and Sahra Mani talk about their new documentary showing the struggles of Afghan women with CBS Morning’s Gayle King. Their "Bread & Roses" documentary premiered on Apple TV+ on November 22.
Anne’s Personal Biases
It’s important to me that Anne of Carversville readers understand where I’m coming from. We all have our own biases, and I’m trying to articulate mine to you. Throughout the pages of AOC, I’ve always challenged the idea of women weeping so openly at work — or in online videos.
I am myself the daughter of a very complicated, physically and emotionally abusive mother. Backbone became an act of defiance for me as well as survival, as I endured her constant blows and excruciating, aimed-to-ruin-me foul mouth.
Mind you, I cried a lot. So for me, saving crying for happy, joyful occasions — or getting misty-eyed watching Malala with Jennifer Lawrence and Sahra Mani — is my strong preference. I also lied to my teachers when they asked me about my bruises. I was always falling down, was my response.
I was considered to be a talented executive with high expectations of my team. Committed to expanding my own emotional intelligence at work, I totally remodulated my voice one weekend, after understanding that some of my team members thought I was angry or disappointed, when I was not.
Photo by Sydney Sims on Unsplash
Long ago, I placed my own experiences in perspective, when examining the lives of others — specifically women who have suffered excruciating experiences like Malala or women living under rules of the Taliban.
My activism to end the flogging of women in Sudan has put me at significant risk in the Arab world, which is why there are no comments on AOC. I could not go through those 3 days of online terror ever again.
I did take pride to almost single-handedly keeping a young woman from being stoned to death in Sudan, after her baby was born.
In 2009, Anne of Carversville was so well-known in Khartoum, that it took one article about this dreadful sentence handed to this young woman — while the man walked free [seriously] — that the death by stoning sentence was changed to a punishment that was rational.
Given the status of women and girls worldwide, it’s fair to say that I have a pretty low tolerance for narcissism and self-pity among privileged women. These privileged women come in all races, heights, nationalities and skin colors.
This is NOT a white woman’s issue — not on Anne of Carversville. Anne has a wide range of experiences in this arena, working internationally for 10 years as Fashion Director and Director of Product Development for Victoria’s Secret. My emotional intelligence is very high in noting the good, the bad and the ugly around me.
Anne Asks A Question and AI Answers Her
Very few of these topics exist in a black and white universe of real-life experiences. And it’s no different with crying at work. My process here is to ask a series of questions of my best AI program, which I have completed.
These words are not my own, and they often do not reflect my own views. My first goal is to understand the current state of professional thinking on crying at work. While a much smaller number of men also cry at work, my focus is women only.
Certainly, both women and men benefit from improved mental health. But my focus is women and girls, and I myself want to understand the current landscape of professional thinking around these questions, applied primarily to females.
Working with this particular AI program, I have access to all of their sourcing on the articles. While we are reading initial AI responses unedited by me, I do find the body of research returned to me to ‘ring true’. If I have issues with a section, it’s not shared, even in this first pass. Meanwhile, I am digging deeper into these topics, generating a body of links and references that will hopefully benefit readers interested in the topic.
Anne’s #1 Question: In 2025 What Do Mental Health Experts Advise About Crying at Work?
AI Generated Answer
Understanding The Emotional Landscape Of The Modern Workplace
In 2025, the emotional landscape of the modern workplace is increasingly recognized as a critical component of overall employee well-being and organizational success. Mental health experts emphasize the importance of acknowledging and validating a range of emotions, including crying, as a natural part of the professional environment. The pace of work, heightened expectations, and constant connectivity have led to increased stress levels among employees, making emotional responses like crying more prevalent yet still stigmatized.
Decades ago, the workplace was often viewed as a domain of stoicism, where personal emotions were to be checked at the door. Expressions of sadness or vulnerability, such as crying, were frequently stigmatized and considered unprofessional. This perspective was rooted in the belief that emotional expression was incompatible with productivity and efficiency.
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
The 21st century has seen a progressive shift towards embracing emotional authenticity in professional environments. Mental health experts now advocate for a more holistic approach that acknowledges the impact of workplace stressors, such as job performance anxiety, on employees' emotional well-being. Crying, once seen as a sign of weakness, is increasingly understood as a natural response to stress and an important release mechanism.
Organizations are encouraged to foster environments that are empathetic and supportive, where employees feel safe to express their emotions without fear of judgment. This shift is not only about compassion but also about recognizing that addressing emotional well-being can lead to greater individual and organizational resilience, productivity, and creativity.
Experts argue that understanding the roots of these emotions is crucial, as they often stem from high-pressure situations, feelings of inadequacy, or fear of not meeting performance standards.
Photo by Susan Wilkinson on Unsplash
By fostering an empathetic and supportive workplace culture, organizations can create an environment where employees feel comfortable expressing their emotions without fear of judgment or negative repercussions. This involves leaders and managers demonstrating vulnerability and encouraging open conversations about emotional well-being. Mental health professionals advise training programs and workshops to equip staff with skills in emotional intelligence and resilience, helping them to better manage their emotional responses and support their colleagues.
Sharing feelings with trusted colleagues or supervisors can foster a supportive environment where emotions are understood and respected. Seeking professional guidance, such as therapy or counseling, is encouraged to explore deeper emotional patterns and develop tailored coping strategies. Mental health experts advise incorporating regular self-care practices and ensuring a healthy work-life balance to minimize stress-related emotional responses. Ultimately, recognizing the importance of self-compassion and understanding that it is acceptable to express vulnerability at work can lead to more authentic workplace interactions and improved mental health outcomes.
In such a workplace, crying is viewed as a sign of humanity rather than weakness, promoting a healthier, more inclusive atmosphere where employees thrive personally and professionally while enhancing overall job performance and satisfaction.
I’ve laid out Question #2 and will post it on Friday.
Thursday, I have two more names to add to my ‘In My Foxhole’ list: Jennifer Rubin, who left the Washington Post and is now on Substack. I LOVE Jennifer Rubin for years. Yesterday, Rubin interviewed Amy McGrath — who is my bad-ass, political champion since 1917. All those links will be in that article that will post tomorrow and link from here.
