10 Reasons Why People Who Cry Are More Healthy Than Those Who Don’t

Jun 08, 2018 by apost team

Due to the negative stigma attached to the act of crying, it’s often frowned upon and even seen as a sign of fragility. Even as young children, the idea that crying is wrong is ingrained in our heads. If you cry often, you’ve probably been taught to believe that it’s one of your shortcomings. Although many see the act of crying as a display of weakness, it can actually be healthy for you to let those emotions out. Due to the healing benefits that crying brings us, those who let the tears fall actually may be more healthy than those who hold them in. 

Although it may be perceived as a weak act, crying is actually a superior way to release feelings. All of us likely bottle up our emotions, which can lead to a boiling point and bring us excess stress. By venting these feelings through crying, we allow ourselves to be free from these repressed emotions.

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Crying allows us to display our human emotion of empathy. Allowing ourselves to connect with the feelings of others by crying during a heartfelt story or speech can be a way to showcase that you’re connected emotionally with your peers and other humans.

You may wonder why you feel much better after a crying session, but it’s due to our endocrine system. This system allows your body to release hormones such as endorphins that will automatically result in feelings of relief. Stress hormones are also released, allowing you to feel much more relaxed.

Although some people see crying regularly as a character flaw, it can actually provide you with stronger bonds with others. Crying is an outlet for your feelings that can actually double as a method to communicate these emotions with your peers. Once someone sees you crying, it will evoke an empathetic reaction from them, creating a bond between the two of you.

Because we’re often told that crying makes you weak, we may fail to see how courageous the act of crying actually is in modern times. Tears are a natural, yet very meaningful reaction from our body, and letting yourself release these emotions is brave and extremely genuine. 

Your true vulnerability shines through when you choose to allow yourself to cry. Letting yourself properly release and feel emotions can trigger others into believing you are able to create emotional bonds easily, giving you the appearance of being more trustworthy. 

The frustration of holding in emotions can negatively impact the way you function day-to-day. These feelings can cause us to reach a snapping point if not released, so it’s advised to let yourself feel the emotions by letting the tears flow. Giving yourself permission to cry allows you to positively manage your feelings.

Hormones that are released when our body triggers a crying response are scientifically proven to help comfort us. The physical crying reaction allows endorphins and oxytocin to be released inside our bodies, which brings us relief of pain and an all-over soothing feeling. 

Crying also prompts our PNS, also known as our parasympathetic nervous system. The PNS is typically triggered during sleep and digestion but has similar soothing effects when it is activated while crying. When this system is stimulated, effects aren’t noticed immediately, but you’ll eventually feel emotions of serenity.

Crying isn’t a healthy mechanism? Wrong. Allowing tears to flow can break down walls in your life. Others will believe you are genuine, trustworthy and respectable when you cry. The act allows you to be more vulnerable with others, which can be a great way to support another person’s mental health journey through your great example of being comfortable with releasing your emotions. 

Although tears are seen as forbidden in many cultures, especially for men, it’s a myth that crying is a sign of weakness. The emotional vulnerability not only has benefits for your body but is an excellent coping mechanism that can actually help you connect with others.

Are you someone who loves to cry? Forget the standards of society and allow the tears to flow and let your friends and loved ones know that its ok to cry!