Growing up, I didn't really cry. I would bottle it up just like everyone said to because crying was embarrassing. As I've gotten older though, I've come to understand that sometimes you just need to cry. For some reason, there is this stupid social stigma about crying (for both men and women) so I really wanted to get to the bottom of this and find out if it really was okay that we cry.
"Crying activates the body in a healthy way," says Stephen Sideroff, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at UCLA "Letting down one's guard and one's defenses and [crying] is a very positive, healthy thing. The same thing happens when you watch a movie and it touches you and you cry... That process of opening into yourself... it's like a lock and key" (Article here). Neuroscientist and tear researcher Dr. William H. Frey II, PhD, has spent over 15 years studying crying and tears. What he has found is that actually, crying isn't only okay, but it's healthy for you! (source here)
They say that crying...Relieves Stress: Relieving stress has a whole host of benefits! Not only does it lower blood pressure, it decreases your risk of heart attack and damage to certain areas of our brain. Emotional tears are even better for you to express! Emotional tears contain higher levels of stress hormones that you body can get rid of. (source here)
Tears Remove Toxins: In addition, Frey says tears actually remove toxins from the body. Tears help humans remove chemicals that build up during emotional stress. This included minerals that directly affect your mood that are more potent in tears than in your blood! (Frey)
Emotional Crying Means You're Human"While the eyes of all mammals are moistened and soothed by tears, only human beings shed tears in response to emotional stress. Emotional expression acknowledges the feelings you're having. Emotions motivate us to empathize, coordinate and work as a unit to best survive." (Frey)
Basically crying is important, healthy, and shouldn't be looked down upon the way it is! Emotions are good! Without them we'd all be boring unthinking robots. I'm not saying lets break down in the middle of campus (although lets be honest, we've all been there) but sometimes a good cry is just what you need!
