IWTL to not look like I cried
Recently I had to attend a social event right after I cried. I had stopped crying by then, but my eyes were bloodshot, my nose was red, my face was all puffy, tears kept welling up and I kept hiccupping. Fortunately the night didn't get any worse as my glasses hid my eyes and I wore a mask except when I ate, and it was busy enough that no one stopped by to talk to me. However, I still spent the whole time trying to stiffle hiccups and avoiding any contact. I tried washing my face with cold water beforehand, but it didn't help much. Breathing exercises did help me slow down a bit but it did not help with my puffy eyes and blocked nose.
I know crying is healthy and normal, and I wasn't raised with the "crying is weak" thing. I just want to know something to do in case you need to look alright and socialise (more specifically, going to the bathroom or somewhere to let it calm down a bit is kinda not an option), because I don't want to draw attention or make people talk. An emergency hack, if you will.