Crying: Why it is sometimes good for you
It’s reasonable to say that the past two years have provided us with more than enough reasons to cry. Nonetheless, it appears that we were sobbing very frequently even before last year. According to studies, American women weep 3.5 times per month on average, whereas American males cry 1.9 times per month. These numbers may surprise some of us, especially because sobbing — especially by males — has long been viewed as a sign of weakness and lack of emotional strength in our society.
Researchers have discovered that crying has health advantages for both the body and the mind, and that these benefits begin with a baby’s first cry at birth. Continue reading to learn more about crying’s health advantages.
# 1: It detoxifies the body
Tears can be divided into three categories. First, reflex tears remove particles from your eyes, such as smoke and dust. Tears that flow continuously lubricate and protect your eyes from infection. Next, emotional tears may be beneficial to one’s health in a variety of ways. Emotional tears include stress hormones and other poisons. Finally, continuous tears comprise 98 percent water. Crying, according to researchers, flushes these substances out of your system, though further research is needed.
# 2: Tears are self-soothing
Crying may be one of your most effective self-soothing techniques. Crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system, according to researchers. The parasympathetic nervous system aids digestion and relaxation for your body. However, the advantages aren’t instant. It may take many minutes for the calming benefits of weeping to become apparent.
# 3: It helps you cope with pain
Crying over lengthy periods of time releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins, from the body. These feel-good molecules can aid in the relief of both physical and mental discomfort. Your body may fall into a numb state once the endorphins are released. Oxytocin is a hormone that may make you feel calm or happy. It’s another example of sobbing as a kind of self-soothing.
# 4: It helps you grieve better
Grief is a process that takes time to complete. It includes feelings of sadness, apathy, guilt, and rage. Crying is very necessary at times of bereavement. It may even assist you in processing and accepting the death of a loved one.
Everyone passes through grief in their own unique manner. If you notice that your sobbing is becoming excessive or interfering with your daily activities, you should consult your doctor.
# 5: It improves your mood
Crying, especially weeping, can make you feel better as well as relieve discomfort. When you sob, you inhale a lot of cold air in a short period of time. Cooler air can assist in regulating and even lowering the temperature of your head. A cool brain is better for your body and mind than a heated brain. As a result, following a crying session, your mood may improve.