Feeling sick after crying happens because intense emotions trigger your body's stress response, activating the fight-or-flight system, releasing hormones that affect your gut, causing nausea, headaches (like migraines or tension), fatigue, and sometimes even a drop in blood pressure (vasovagal response). This physical reaction, sometimes called an emotional hangover, happens as your body processes stress, anxiety, or grief, leading to stomach upset, dizziness, or general unwellness.
Research has found that crying may activate the autonomic nervous system. Additionally, research shows that migraine attacks may occur due to dysregulation of the sympathetic nervous system, which is part of the autonomic nervous system, indicating a possible connection between the two.
If anxiety-induced nausea is interfering with daily life, there are practical strategies to reduce symptoms and regain control.
This lack of oxygen leaves us feeling sleepy, and the tiredness is compounded by the release of hormones in our tears. “Crying releases a ton of hormones, including chemical endorphins (painkillers) and oxytocin, also known as the 'love hormone'. These induce a sense of calm and promote sleepiness,” explains Rhodes.
Your immune system is taking a hit
Stress hormones suppress immune function, making you more likely to catch colds, get sick more often and take longer to recover.
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.
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.
Moreover, intense crying uses up a lot of energy so that you feel tired at the end of a long crying session. In some cases, you might feel tired enough to fall asleep quickly. The many stress-relieving and calming effects that crying has may also help you fall asleep more easily.
Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout
Feeling helpless, trapped, and defeated. Detachment, feeling alone in the world. Loss of motivation. Increasingly cynical and negative outlook.
Bad Effects of Crying on Health
But for some, the act of crying can cause medical complications. It can lead to fits or can cause acute shortness of breath. For those with severe heart conditions, there can be a cardiac pain. Crying can take a toll on your body if you have certain medical conditions.
Trauma occurs when a person experiences a forceful blow to the head, causing the brain to rush within the skull. This movement can damage brain cells and disrupt the brain's normal functioning, leading to vomiting. The fluid buildup in the brain can also trigger nausea and vomiting.
Anxious crying is when intense emotions from stress or anxiety lead to sudden tears, even without a clear reason. Crying can be a healthy form of emotional release, but if you feel like you can't stop even when you want to, or that it's happening constantly, it may be time to seek support.
If you have nausea from anxiety, you can try a few things to relieve the symptoms.
Crying every day isn't very common, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's unhealthy. If you're going through an especially difficult time. For example, if you've lost a loved one or ended a relationship, you may find yourself crying almost every day.
Hydrate Inside and Out
Crying dehydrates both your body and your skin. Drink a glass of water and apply a gentle eye cream with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or aloe vera.
The "42% rule" for burnout suggests dedicating roughly 42% of your day (about 10 hours) to rest and recovery activities like sleep, hobbies, exercise, and socializing to prevent mental and physical exhaustion, countering the "always on" culture that leads to burnout. It's a science-backed guideline emphasizing that sustainable success requires balancing intense work with sufficient downtime for your brain and body to recharge, not just a quick nap.
5 signs you could be experiencing too much stress:
The 5 stages of burnout typically progress from initial enthusiasm to complete exhaustion, involving: 1. Honeymoon Phase (high energy, excitement), 2. Onset of Stress (initial decline, fatigue, anxiety), 3. Chronic Stress (persistent symptoms, irritability, withdrawal), 4. Burnout (feeling drained, ineffective, physical symptoms like headaches), and 5. Habitual Burnout (deep-seated fatigue, chronic sadness, potential depression, complete apathy). Recognizing these stages helps in intervening before severe mental and physical health issues develop, notes thisiscalmer.com.
'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. Once the endorphins are released, your body may go into somewhat of a numb stage.
Eliminate caffeine 10 hours before sleep. Cut alcohol 3 hours before bed. Stop working 2 hours before bed. Stop screen time 1 hour before bed.
[KIT]5 things you should do after a big crying
5 of the Hardest Emotions to Control
While there are many emotions, psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven universal emotions recognized across cultures: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and contempt, often remembered with the mnemonic "CHAD SurFs," which are fundamental to human experience and have distinct facial expressions. Other models suggest different sets, like those focusing on basic brain circuits (rage, fear, lust, care, grief, play, seeking) or common emotional challenges (joy, anger, anxiety, contemplation, grief, fear, fright).
Emotional dysregulation means having difficulty managing your emotions and the way you react to them. When this happens, your feelings or reactions might seem stronger or more intense than what others might expect in a given situation.