Crying is great for the mind and body. It happens for different reasons. For instance, you cry when you’re feeling emotional. Basal tears ensure your eyes remain lubricated. Dry eyes can be very irritating. Irritant or reflex tears are caused by onions, vomit, or when you have dirt in your eyes.
Humans are the only species that produce tears because of emotions. Babies perfect crying as a form of communication but as we grow older, it becomes frowned upon to cry, more so for men. You’re also more likely to cry if your body needs help. Emotional tears also have surprising benefits for you. Some people cry more than others, which can be because of various reasons.
Saying you don’t remember the last time you cried isn’t a good thing. Research shows that repressing your tears contributes to hypertension, heart disease, and lower immunity. It would help if you didn’t stoically go through trauma or stress without emotional regulation. While some people may try not to cry, others cry a lot more than usual.
Why you may cry more than others
Women cry at least 60% more than men. It’s unclear why. Some scientists think this is because men have higher levels of testosterone. Other reasons could include men having smaller tear ducts, and men producing less prolactin- a hormone that affects other sex hormones like testosterone, and social conditioning. How The Male Loneliness Epidemic Affects Fathers And What Can Be Done To Help
People with an insecure attachment style are also more likely to cry. If you struggle to regulate your emotions, crying may be how you respond to most issues. Highly nervous people also cry whenever they feel overwhelmed or if it looks like things are going out of their control.
Why crying is good for you
1. Symptoms
Crying for no reason can be normal. However, when it’s frequent it can be a sign of depression. When it’s paired with hopelessness, apathy, over or under-eating, insomnia or hypersomnia, and guilt, it means your mental health is at risk. Uncontrollable tears can also come with Alzheimer’s, stroke, or brain diseases. See a doctor if you experience these symptoms. Mental Health: How To Spot Depression In Loved Ones
2. Pain relief
Sudden intense pain from stubbing your toe or burning your hand while cooking can make you cry. Other causes of pain like migraines, chronic pain, kidney stones, fractures, or menstrual cramps can lead to crying. When you cry, it releases endorphins and oxytocin, which are hormones that have pain-relief properties. Useful Pain Management Tips From The Experts
3. Community
Crying is a sign of showing you’re hurting, physically or mentally. When you experience profound grief, crying is a way of expressing emotion. When you see a stranger crying, you’re most likely to ask them what the problem is. Crying is a sign of vulnerability that invites people to check in on you. When you show vulnerability, people will show support fostering bonds and a sense of community.
You may also cry when you see others in distress. Crying is an effective way to show sympathy whether the stressed person is real or fictional. Having a great capacity for sympathy means you’re more likely to be thoughtful of other people’s situations. Being kind is never a bad thing.
4. Emotional processing
When something moves you to tears, this means that it’s made you emotional. Whether it’s a video of an act of kindness, a cute animal, or something really sad, crying to express emotions is a healthy way of dealing with feelings. When they get intense, they need regulation or expression. Crying is a great way to unplug these emotions. This can also happen during an orgasm if you feel extreme pleasure or are really in love with your partner. Crying from being moved also enables you to gain awareness of your emotional state. Crymaxing: Is It Normal To Cry After Sex?
5. To get help
While it may not be the most mature response, some people cry on command to get assistance. This can be done by people experiencing physical or emotional abuse. They may have too many repressed feelings and can resort to crying to get support. In addition, manipulative people can use tears to get what they want from others. Those with learned helplessness can also cry to express their emotions. Using crying instead of communication to resolve conflicts or express needs isn’t the healthiest option.
Check out:
Mental And Health Benefits Of Crying
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