So I had an outburst against a difficult coworker today. I've put up with her passive aggressiveness, rude comments, and general irritating qualities for several months now and today I finally couldn't take it anymore. 

I did my best to remain composed while trying to hash out her most recent offensive but whenever I get that upset over something I start crying. I wasn't sobing but it was hard for me to talk without my voice waivering, which I hate. And there were obvious tears coming out sporadically.

She didn't cry though or get that emotional. Which I hate. I hate feeling like she got the better of me, since I cried and she didn't and the stereotype of tears is that it signifies weakness. I never thought about it before, but now that I am, I'm really upset and worrying that that was how the whole incident was perceived. It began with just us and then we argued in front of my boss for a while, as my boss kept saying that I'm just a "sensitive" person. Which again, is another one of those things characterized as weakness or not good. 

I don't feel like I was being too sensitive at all though. She made a genuinely rude comment. I tried to tell her I found it offensive and it just didn't go well. I think the crying makes me seem sooo "sensitive" and it didn't help that when we got in front of my boss, she begun to explain "I hurt her feelings." 

It was disrespect. Not hurt feelings. It wasn't like she told me I looked fat or anything. It's a long story regarding what it actually was, so I will spare you that. I just need to know that someone out there knows what I'm talking about though and how I feel. If so, how do you handle it?? Has anyone ever been able to master this crying issue?