is this the face you let cry it out?

After 40 minutess of screamng, painful crying, we stopped our first attempt at crying it out, There's gotta be a better way. His whole head of hair was soaked from crying. He was in the worst state I've ever seen him. I was having a hard time too. My body was hot and I literally felt like I had a fever while I listened to him cry. I know, I've heard that tons of parents, perhaps even millions go thru this. But I don't think I can. I also don't want him sleeping with us when he is waking up and getting ready to catch the bus to school. :) But I believe there's a middle ground!!!