Cheers to all the Feels
Cause for celebration!
Our first month together and we've cried over 850 times. Sad, stressed, scared. Happy, nostalgic, joyful. We're feeling it all. Crying might not feel like it deserves a celebration, but it most certainly does. Cheers to all the feels! 🤍
As you have used the app over the past few weeks, you've probably had some of the same thoughts as everyone else: What am I supposed to be doing? Am I supposed to be using the Community Wall or the Journal? How do I see tears once I've tracked them? Etc. etc.
You're not alone! Some answers and solutions already exist, and some are currently being developed! Accessibility concerns and functionality suggestions are being worked on regularly. We've answered some of the most common questions below. Don't see yours? Drop us a note.
What are the rules?
To keep everyone safe and protect our community, all personal data should be entered into the Tracker. Use the Journal to write personal thoughts (including anything with identifiable details -- names, locations, ages, etc.). Stories, thoughts, questions, etc. are welcome on the Community Wall.
If you're sharing something personal that may be triggering to another user, please consider adding a trigger warning to the beginning of your post. When you created your account, you accepted Community Guidelines. If you ever want to refer back to them, you can read the statement here.
Will we be able to see our data?
Yes! This is our top priority right now with our developers. For now, you can request data from certain dates and we'll send it to you. We'll verify your request via email before we send anything. Submit a request here.
How can I let you know if I'm concerned about a user on the app?
The Community Wall can be a very personal place and users are often sharing about really personal things. If a post concerns you, please let us know! We're keeping an eye on the Community Wall but we might miss something. In the app, you'll see an area called "Concerns" or you can fill out the Contact Us [http://www.trackingmytears.com/contact] form on the website.
Why am I getting so many notifications? Once you've opened a topic on the Community Wall, you're part of that group. You'll receive all notifications for that topic. If you want, you can turn notifications off on the side menu. Right now, all notifications are connected so if you turn notifications off in the app be sure to stay connected on Instagram so you don't miss ANY updates.
What do I do next?
Ah, so you've tracked your first tears. YAY! Keep going. At first, it may feel unnatural and weird to take a pause every time you cry and try to label all the emotions you are feeling.
Sure, I've cried at a video of the top 5 saddest moments from The Land Before Time, but was I really crying because these dinosaurs were becoming orphans or because I was stressed about something completely unrelated? Can I tell the difference between a cry of grief and a cry of nostalgia -- or do those emotions go hand in hand for me? The more I keep track, the more I learn about myself and the better I can tell the difference. If it feels weird now, lean into it. I promise it's worth it.
Next, get some people who *get* it. Don't tell my friends, but I've separated them into categories for when I need certain types of responses: encouragement vs. rationality vs. drama vs. validation. Different cries require different people to help me process them. Finding those people can change everything. If you ever feel like your people aren't getting it, I bet there is someone in this brand new community of criers who does. Don't know who to reach out to? Feel free to start with me!
Lastly, let your tears come naturally. Don't force your body to process something it's not ready to process. Sometimes you can experience something that makes you think you should be crying, but no tears come. That is okay. Take a moment and recognize your tears when they do show up. Everything else in between is just everything else in between.
Take your time. You're doing great!
- Trin 🤍
Don't have the app yet? What are you waiting for?
