Key points. Research on the potential benefits of tearful crying has focused on self-soothing and social soothing. Though the research is still in its infancy, studies suggest tearful crying can affect mood regulation. Social reactions to tearful crying may hinder the potential intra-personal self-soothing benefits.
Many people find crying to be self-soothing when they experience intense emotion, perhaps because crying releases feel-good hormones, like endorphins and oxytocin. Crying doesn't necessarily improve health or resilience, though.
The science behind crying
The body and brain are always trying to achieve and maintain homeostasis. When a person's sensory threshold is crossed, tears release pleasure hormones, oxytocin and endorphins, to restore stability — emotional equilibrium.
Tears brought about by emotions have a different chemical makeup than those for lubrication; emotional tears contain more of the protein-based hormones prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and Leu-enkephalin (a natural painkiller) than basal or reflex tears.
Emotional response: sadness, grief, happiness, frustration, or even relief. Tears are produced in response to heightened feelings, and the act of crying can serve as a cathartic release, helping to alleviate tension.
Although there are potentially a limitless number of crying causes, they typically fit into one of five general categories: hungry, upset, overstimulated, overtired, and in pain. Below, learn how to know what your infant is trying to tell you with their cries.
Know the 5 signs of Emotional Suffering
Strong emotions.
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.
Crying is a natural emotional response to many different factors. However, frequent, uncontrollable, or unexplained crying can be emotionally and physically exhausting and greatly affect daily life. Crying for no apparent reason may result from a mental health condition, such as burnout, anxiety, or depression.
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.
Protectively, tears lubricate your eyes, remove irritants, reduce stress hormones, and contain antibodies that fight pathogenic microbes. Our bodies produce three kinds of tears: reflex, continuous, and emotional. Each kind has different healing roles.
For some, it's linked to a sensitive or empathetic personality; for others, it might stem from overwhelming stress, grief, or life changes. However, if crying is interfering with your ability to function in daily life, it may be a sign that professional support is needed.
This is because crying activates our parasympathetic nervous system, which has a calming effect, and it triggers our brains to release feel-good chemicals like oxytocin. The endorphins released are natural painkillers that can help to reduce physical and emotional pain.
The onset phase – This stage is reached when you recognize that certain days are more stressful than others. You have insufficient time for personal needs, family, and friends. As you struggle to keep up with your stressful schedule and workload, your productivity levels begin to diminish.
It won't rid you of PTSD and your fears, but let your tears flow and you'll maybe feel a little better afterwards. '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.
The investigators distinguished three consecutive phases: (1) the pre-tear stage; (2) the tear-triggering stage; and (3) the crying stage.
Frequent crying can stem from various emotional triggers and stressors, like sadness or overwhelming situations. Understanding why you have strong emotions, whether it's hormonal changes, mental health conditions, or something else, is essential for addressing the issue.
“After a tough crying session, have a quick catnap if possible,” advises Rhodes. “If this isn't practical, try some meditation or go for a walk in a green space. You need to actively work on calming the emotional part of your brain down. Drink some water to get your fluid levels back up.
Researchers have found that crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS helps your body rest and digest. The benefits aren't immediate, however. It may take several minutes of shedding tears before you feel the soothing effects of crying.
Tears are produced like every other fluid in the body. As long as the glands are functioning properly and your body is hydrated then the will constantly be produced. It's not like there is a tear reserve in your head that depletes.
Emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, and shame have fixations predominantly on the region of eyes, while other emotions, such as joy and disgust, draw more attention toward the upper lip.
Symptoms of emotional damage
Symptoms of stress
Signs of an Emotionally Abusive Relationship