So, today I had an interesting bathroom experience. 4 offices share the bathrooms on my floor. Today, as I was in a stall doing my business a woman from aother office entered, and she was clearly crying, sobbing really. She locked herself in one of the stalls. After washing, I did tentatively ask if she was ok (I did prefeace it with "I don't want to intrude, but are you ok?"). She said she was and thank you, so I left. WWYD? Would you even ask, try to help? Or did she just want to be left alone?
And a poll: if you were the one crying, would you want someone, a stranger even, to ask if you were ok?
As I've gotten older, it turns out I'm a crier. Sometimes just tears during a sad moment in a movie, to all out ugly-crying in my car. Although it's never happened to me, I think I would like to know someone cares if they overheard me.
[Poll]
Re: Bathroom Q: WWYD and Poll
I chose "maybe" because honestly, it depends on the situation. There have been times when I've just felt so miserable that I would have wanted comfort from anyone - and other times when what I'm crying and frustrated about is something that I'd prefer to keep to myself.
That said, I'd probably do the same thing that you did. I have a hard time leaving people if it looks like they're distressed.
I voted no thanks but I guess it would depend on the situation.
I have only cried in a public or sem-public place once that I can remember and I was mostly just embarassed. I had a really DUMB breakdown after taking the bar exam and I had to ride the bus back to my apartment. People asked if I was ok and I just nodded and tried to hide
I voted no just because I hate crying in public and I wouldn`t want people to know.
But I think it`s really sweet that you asked, she didn`t have to make eye contact and she knew somebody cared enough to ask!
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i think what you did was PERFECT! although she wanted to be alone, she knows you cared enough to ask and that in itself can bring a smile to someone's face.
i'm a mad cryer...if I don't get my way, i get pissed and cry and really don't care who sees me. if i was in the stall and you asked, i would have told you i was okay and actually made me feel a lot better that people in the world really care and my crying fit is petty
I voted "maybe" - I would want someone to ask if I was okay. I probably wouldn't divulge very much, but it is good to know we are there for our fellow humans if they need it.
But with that said, if I am trying to pull it all together & someone asks if I am okay, it will probably just make me breakdown again!