Did you know that crying is healthy? This makes sense when we say that it’s a type of emotional release. Bottling up emotions or just feeling overwhelmed will lead to the need of release. Just like shaking up a can of soda, the pressure builds before it’s about to explode. However, it’s best to avoid that explosion and release those emotions sooner rather than later.
Since crying is healthy, why does society view it as a weakness? This sends the wrong message because it forces us to hold in our tears. The reason that we need crying as a release is because it literally releases toxins from the body caused by increased stress hormones. So when we hold in our tears, we’re also holding in all these toxins. This would explain how our emotions have a physical affect on our bodies. Some people suffer from symptoms and ailments that seem to be unexplainable. Sometimes really, it’s caused psychologically. These are clinically known as somatoform disorders.
Examples of these physical symptoms and mental health issues would be:
- Acute pain
- Muscle aches/soreness
- Neurological problems
- Gastrointestinal complaints
- Sexual symptoms/issues
- Eating disorders
- Alcoholism
- Drug abuse
- Marijuana dependency
- Depression
- Anxiety
Some people cry easily than others. We see this commonly between men and women. Women are more comfortable with crying and it’s also more acceptable. Men are more hesitant as they see it as a weakness or not manly. This is recently slowly starting to change, fortunately. Interestingly, those who experienced past trauma tend to cry more easily, especially when remembering that trauma. Crying is also a state of vulnerability and not everyone is comfortable with feeling exposed.
However, too much of good thing can be a bad thing. There are times we shouldn’t let the tears flow uncontrollably, such as at work or when we need to be focused and responsible. Don’t just ignore or dismiss your tears, just postpone them for a more appropriate time. It’s also a sign of something to look into when we can’t control our tears. When we become more neurotic than just cleansing our feelings.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress or sadness, or need to release some bottled up emotions, please contact Crownview Medical Group to get in touch with a medical professional who can provide some helpful advice specific to your needs and/or situation.
Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/minority-report/201601/real-men-cry
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/why-we-cry-the-truth-about-tearing-up?page=2
