In a society based on appearance, the most accepted emotions are joy and happiness, this makes it even more difficult to express sadness or pain. Many people to adapt to common expectations repress their feelings but this can become harmful. So let's see why crying has several advantages.
Calming effect
Crying is a good way to self-regulate your emotions, reduce your tension, anger or any other strong and impactful emotion. In fact, it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to calm down and relax;
Helps relieve pain and improves mood
emotional tears, unlike tears that are generated naturally because there are foreign bodies in the eye or due to irritation and allergies, are accompanied by a release of oxytocin and endorphins, which relax, calm, and also allow to relieve physical pain (besides the emotional one);
Releases toxins and reduces stress
According to William Frey, a biochemist at the University of Minnesota (USA), crying serves to expel the substances produced when emotional tension builds up. In fact, emotional tears are rich in corticotropin and prolactin (hormones whose levels increase in a state of stress) and manganese (present in high concentrations in the brain of depressed people);
Helps sleep
A 2015 study found that crying can help babies sleep better. Research has not yet investigated the effect on adults but it is easy to imagine that the calming and positive mood moderation effects can help each person fall asleep more easily;
Fights bacteria
Yes, crying has an antibacterial and antimicrobial effect and keeps the eyes clean because tears contain lysozyme, a substance with an interesting antimicrobial action;
Improve vision
Tears keep the eyes moist and this helps to see better;
It allows to change perspective
When we cry we can become more aware that there is something wrong and therefore do something to change the situation;
Helps to get support from others
In addition to helping people calm down, crying can help people get support from others around them. In fact, crying is a very powerful non-verbal communication, much more effective and immediate than words. Tears represent a signal that others can see and trigger an interpersonal connection with those around us.
If crying is beneficial, what happens when we hold back tears whenever we feel the urge to cry?
When we voluntarily repress the tears, the accumulated stress sooner or later returns to the surface and can manifest itself in the form of various ailments. The most frequent symptoms are intestinal ones, with problems of nausea, gastritis and diarrhea without the presence of a specific pathogen, but there is also the onset of circulatory, respiratory and cardiac disorders, as well as high levels of anxiety.
However, even crying too often is not so healthy, in fact, it can be a sign of a deeper malaise. Some signs could be:
- Cry very frequently
- Crying for no apparent reason
- Crying affects normal daily activities;
- We cry uncontrollably.
Therefore, crying in response to emotions such as sadness, joy, anxiety or frustration is normal and is not at all, as is believed, a form of refuge for the weaks, but a refined form of anti-stress, a self-defense of our organism to counteract the stress of daily life.