Counseling Psychologist Dr. Dela Mawutor says it is perfectly healthy and often therapeutic to cry when grieving. She explained that many people wrongly believe they must “stay strong” in the face of loss, but expressing emotions is a vital part of healing.
“When you feel like wailing, go ahead and do it. It’s very therapeutic,” she told GTV’s Breakfast Show on August 8, 2025. “Just don’t remain in a particular state for too long, like crying the whole day.”
Speaking in the wake of a national aviation tragedy, Dr. Mawutor urged Ghanaians to reject common myths about grief. She warned that ignoring pain will not make it disappear; instead, it can worsen over time.
“People think that if they ignore their pain for a while it will go away that’s a myth,” she said. “The more you ignore it, the worse it gets. For real healing to happen, it is necessary to face your grief head-on.”
She also dismissed the idea that crying is a sign of weakness, noting it is a normal phase of mourning. Parents, she said, should not feel ashamed to cry in front of their children, as this helps them understand that expressing emotions is natural.
Another myth, Dr. Mawutor added, is that those who do not cry are not truly sorry about a loss. “Crying is not the only response to sadness. Some people express grief in other ways but still feel the pain just as deeply,” she said.
On the length of grieving, she stressed there is no fixed timeline, as the process varies from person to person. She also challenged the belief that moving on means forgetting.
“Moving on means you’ve accepted your loss, but that doesn’t mean you’re forgetting,” she said.
