Crying spells, or frequent, uncontrollable crying without an obvious trigger, often signal underlying emotional distress like depression, anxiety, or burnout, serving as a release for pent-up stress or unresolved feelings. They can also stem from hormonal changes, such as those in pregnancy or menopause, lack of sleep, or neurological conditions, indicating your emotional resilience is low and needs attention from a doctor or mental health professional.
While crying spells aren't a symptom for a major depressive disorder diagnosis by the DSM-5-TR, they're often used as an indicator in screening tools for depression. A crying spell is usually defined as crying uncontrollably or without a discernible trigger.
They are periods when an individual finds themselves crying uncontrollably, often without a discernible reason. Depression crying spells can strike at any time, creating a sense of unpredictability and fear.
Frequent, uncontrollable crying spells can be a symptom of depression, an anxiety disorder, or other conditions. It's a key sign that your emotional health needs attention. Sometimes crying spells overlap with anxiety or panic — see our panic attack vs anxiety attack guide to learn the difference.
While it might happen at seemingly random times or in confusing situations, there's almost always a reason behind your tears—even if that reason isn't immediately clear. Stress, anxiety, grief, hormonal changes, and fatigue are among the most common causes of unexpected crying.
Anxiety disorders can also lead to crying spells. People with anxiety are more likely to interpret stress as dangerous, which keeps their emotional systems more reactive. A study of adult crying behavior found that anxiety has a direct positive effect on crying through two paths: Feelings of personal threat.
The first stage of a mental breakdown, often starting subtly, involves feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and increasingly anxious or irritable, coupled with difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep/appetite, and withdrawing from activities or people that once brought joy, all stemming from intense stress that becomes too much to handle.
If your crying spells are linked to stress, incorporating stress-relieving techniques can help you manage your emotions. Activities such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are proven to reduce stress and promote emotional balance. Regular exercise also helps alleviate tension and improve mood.
Babies with neurological impairment may have high-pitched, fussy cries that sound like pain cries. Children with brain damage are more sensitive to stimuli, resulting in increased fussiness.
It's the third category, emotional tears (which flush stress hormones and other toxins out of our system), that potentially offers the most health benefits. Researchers have established that crying releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins.
We have three distinct types of tears: basal tears, reflex tears and emotional tears. Most researchers believe that emotional tears—triggered by strong feelings such as joy and sadness—are unique to humans.
Crying can be a response to the overwhelming emotions experienced during a panic attack. While not everyone will cry during a panic attack, it is not uncommon. The intense fear, frustration, and sense of helplessness can lead to tears as the body's way of coping with the stress.
There's evidence that many emotions can activate your sympathetic nervous system and trigger extra tear production. People commonly cry because of sadness or happiness. But you can also cry because of intense laughter, deep frustration, sudden anger or extreme fear.
Defining high-functioning anxiety
They often are successful in careers or other roles, yet internally struggle with persistent feelings of stress, self-doubt and the fear of not measuring up. They feel extremely uncomfortable inside and struggle with significant self-criticism.
Bipolar Disorder
During depressive episodes, feelings of deep sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness can overwhelm a person, leading to bouts of uncontrollable crying. On the other hand, during manic or hypomanic episodes, heightened emotions can also trigger uncontrollable crying.
Overview. Pseudobulbar affect, also called PBA, is a brain condition in which a person suddenly starts to laugh or cry and can't manage the reaction. The term "pseudobulbar" means a condition in the brainstem's corticobulbar pathways that control facial and emotional expression.
'Crying for long periods of time releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, otherwise known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can help ease both physical and emotional pain.
Anxiety is usually associated with excessive worrying and physical symptoms like sweating and tremors. But for some people, anxiety manifests as frequent or intense crying. Anxious crying is crying that happens during periods of high stress or anxiety, often without a clear trigger or reason.
The “90-second rule,” introduced by Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, reveals that an emotional surge in the body lasts only about 90 seconds—unless we mentally keep it alive.
Emotional tears flush stress hormones and other toxins out of our system, and they offer the most health benefits. Crying can help your body to release oxytocin and endogenous opioids (endorphins). These feel-good chemicals help to ease both physical and emotional pain.
Five key warning signs of mental illness include significant mood changes (extreme highs/lows, persistent sadness), withdrawal from friends/activities, major changes in sleep or eating habits, difficulty coping with daily problems or stress, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide, alongside other indicators like substance abuse, confusion, or changes in hygiene. These signs often represent a noticeable shift in behavior, functioning, and emotional state that impacts daily life.
You can only be given medication after an initial 3-month period in either of the following situations: You consent to taking the medication. A SOAD confirms that you lack capacity. You haven't given consent, but a SOAD confirms that this treatment is appropriate to be given.
At Stage 1, a person begins to show symptoms of a mental health condition. However, he or she is still able to maintain the ability to function at home, work or school—although, perhaps not as easily as before they started to show symptoms. Often there is a sense that something is “not right.”