It’s no surprise that women cry more than men. It’s in their nature -- with hormones playing a part in why women cry. Studies show that women have significantly more prolactin than men -- 60 percent, to be exact. This is the reproductive hormone responsible for producing milk after childbirth -- and emotional tears have been found to contain high levels of prolactin. Conversely, male testosterone levels can halt crying.
In truth, crying is a healthy thing. Not only can it elevate moods, but it also can release bacteria from the body. And it can help us to process difficult and painful issues.
Following are four reasons why it’s healthy to cry -- and how to have a good cry in a productive manner.
1. Crying now lifts your mood later.
Sure, crying feels awful in the moment. But later, it may make you feel better.
Relatively recent research shows that crying can lift the mood. One study published in the journal Motivation and Emotion videotaped subjects viewing films that evoke strong emotions. The intent was to see how crying affects the mood.
The findings were fascinating. Following the films, participants weighed in on feelings both 20 minutes and 90 minutes later. Those who cried initially experienced a low mood. But 20 minutes later, moods were back to where they were before viewing the films. And 90 minutes later, those who cried were in better moods than before they viewed the films.
So go ahead and cry. Pull out When Harry Met Sally and go to town on the tears. You’ll feel the beneficial effects later.
2. Crying helps to work out emotional issues.
When we suppress emotions, they build up. But if we deal with them, they eventually dissipate. That’s because a good cry forces us to face what’s going on in our lives. It’s the ultimate example of living in the moment -- uninhibited.
Think of it like this: What happens if you fill a balloon, and you don’t stop the inflation process? It eventually pops, and the pressure subsides. The same is true for a good cry. It’s our way to “pop” the emotional baggage in our lives. By crying in a healthy way, we release the emotion that’s built up.
Remember this the next time you want to suppress those much-needed tears. Perhaps a good release will help in the long run. After all, you deserve to feel whatever it is that troubles you.
3. Tears remove toxins from the body.
As New York Times reporter Benedict Carey once put it, tears are “emotional perspiration.” Not only can this analogy apply to releasing what’s built up, but it also can also include the tearful perspiration of toxins in the body.
One reason for this is that there is a hormonal release associated with crying. According to Dr. Jerry Bergman, research has shown that the act of crying can remove chemicals that accumulate in the body as a result of stress. Scientists have found that when emotional tears are compared to non-emotional tears produced by onions, the emotional tears contain more “toxic biological byproducts.”
So think of crying as one way to detoxify the body. Grab a tissue, and let it all go. Your body will thank you later.
4. Tears are good for your eyes.
Crying serves many purposes when it comes to eye health. In fact, the eyes need tears for health in general.
According to Look After Your Eyes, tears keep the cornea both moist and nourished. This is important because the cornea is blood vessel-free. Therefore, it must have tear film to get oxygen.
Tear film evens out the surface of the eye. Interestingly, this film regenerates with every blink. Kind of cool, huh? It’s like a biological factory of sorts.
Tears also help to remove bacteria from the surface of the eye. And the antibiotic proteins found in tears help eliminate bacteria. These are all important to keeping the eyes healthy.
That said, it’s important to know how to cry in a healthy way. Consequently, experts say that there are rules you should follow for a healthy cry. According to Psychology Today, the first of these is to remember to cry for yourself. In other words, don’t just cry over sad songs and movies. Deal with your own pain. Cry because you need to.
Second, allow time for crying over the little things. We’re often taught to cry over monumental events -- like death or a breakup. But it’s OK to cry about whatever pain you need to release. Don’t judge it.
Third, refrain from giving yourself a set time to cry. As Psychology Today puts it, “Your heart will decide when enough is enough.” There’s no right or wrong regarding how long is too long to shed tears.
Just remember that if a cry gets cut off, you may need to go back to it later to finish resolving the issue. And don’t beat yourself up for crying in public. Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing wrong with that. People will come to your rescue when you least expect it. And who knows -- you might make a new friend.
Fourth, don’t criticize yourself while you cry. Experts say to look for phrases like “it’s not that big of a deal.” It is a big deal because it’s your feelings. Your feelings count -- no matter what they are. Instead of beating yourself up, replace unhelpful phrases with loving words of kindness.
And finally, be compassionate with yourself. After all, it’s you for whom you’re responsible. And part of this is allowing yourself to be human. If you’re unkind to yourself, how can you expect others to treat you with kindness? Set your own example of how you expect to be treated, starting with the way you treat YOU.