The Benefits of Crying

When the going gets tough, we don’t break. We push through, do what needs to be done, and swallow the fear, anxiety, stress and exhaustion. But all too often, we may find ourselves breaking down. The stress, the expectations, the deadlines, the social aspect of college life and sometimes just getting through the day can be too much. We have so often been told that crying accomplishes nothing, so we stifle it and hide it, but perhaps shedding a tear is beneficial for us. 

There are three main types of tears. The first category is reflux tears, which are usually only triggered by irritants such as smoke and onions. They often contain antibodies to help fight off bacteria. Continuous, also called basal, tears are similar to reflux in their purpose except they are produced constantly in small amounts to keep the eye moist and are almost entirely water. Both of the aforementioned categories contain about 98% water. The final category is emotional tears, and these are the ones we will focus on.

Crying can have many important benefits. It can visually convey to others that you are experiencing a negative emotion, making it easier to ask for and gain support. Another benefit is that it can actually help relieve pain, as it is self-soothing and releases oxytocin and endorphins, which are “feel-good” chemicals that also ease both physical and emotional pain.Additionally, crying helps relieve stress and expel toxins from your body. This is because when we cry in response to stress, our tears will contain stress hormones and other chemicals. So crying could reduce the levels of these chemicals in the body, reducing the stress you are experiencing. Crying also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxing our bodies and aiding in the digestion of food. It also helps us restore emotional balance, for although we usually cry when we are sad, extreme joy, fear and stress can also trigger tears, helping to restore emotional equilibrium to the mind and body. 

Now that we understand some of the helpful benefits of crying, perhaps it is time we reconsider the stigma surrounding it. Although we all know the saying “real men don't cry,” perhaps they should. Boys are often rewarded for being brave and encouraged to hold in their fear and sadness. Girls are also sometimes mocked for being “too emotional,” crying “too much” or being “cry-babies.” This pressure discourages people from expressing their emotions. However, the benefits of crying push against this stigma by proving that crying is an important part of regulating emotions and dealing with stress.

However, if crying impacts your daily life and doesn’t provide any sort of relief, it can be a sign of a deeper problem, such as depression or prolonged stress. In addition, sadness and loneliness related to friendships and relationships could also be indications that you are in a toxic relationship. If you are experiencing any of these or know some who does, reach out to the Counseling and Testing Center here on campus for help, or for immediate mental health help, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.