From deep existential dread to brief moments of sadness, women have long been made to feel uncomfortable showing their emotions through tears. Though crying has been socially equated with weakness and sensitivity marketed as a “character flaw,” a woman’s ability to process her feelings is powerful. Rather than being made shameful, we believe it is something that should be celebrated and even encouraged.
Let's start with the stats. On average, the American woman cries 3.5 times each month while the American man cries around 1.9 times each month. Yet, we’re often told that we must constantly muster up the strength to conceal any semblance of sadness, to “look on the bright side” and hide what we’re really going through. But what if letting out your true emotions is the actual secret to contentment, rather than feigning a repressive joy?
The Benefits of Crying
Many wonder “Is crying good for you?” That mostly depends on the kind of tears you’re expelling. The body produces three types of tears: basal, reflex, and emotional.
Basal tears are antibacterial tears continuously released in small quantities to clear the cornea and keep the eyes lubricated, while reflex tears are a response to irritation, from chemical fumes to bright lights, or vomiting and coughing. Emotional tears, as one may presume, are a result of strong emotions being felt and processed.
It's easy to assume that crying signals a deeper descent into heavy emotions, especially since it's often linked to mental health issues. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. Crying is indicative of an emotion being fully felt, amongst many other physical and psychological benefits:
Emotional release:
Crying relieves stress hormones and releases feel-good hormones like endorphins and oxytocin, which can help improve mood and reduce pain. After a good cry, your parasympathetic nervous system can take over, allowing you to shift out of a “fight or flight” response and feel as if a heavy weight has been lifted.
Eye health:
Crying contains a fluid called lysozyme, which helps kill bacteria and keep the eyes clean. Basal tears also help keep the eyes comfortable and prevent mucous membranes from drying out.
Social connection:
If you’ve ever cried over something with a friend or simply let them see you cry, you understand how deeply bonded it allowed you to feel. Crying can help communities connect and cultivate more mutual compassion.
Body detox:
Reflex tears clear debris from your eyes and contain 98% water, which can help protect your eyes from infection. Emotional tears, however, contain stress hormones and other toxins, effectively flushing them out of your system.
Improved sleep:
Ever yawn or get sleepy after a good cry sesh? Science shows that crying can help relax the body by relieving stress hormones and tension, helping you fall asleep more easily.
Physiological balance:
Crying may help you regain physiological balance more quickly when you’re feeling down. The facial muscle activity during crying restores cerebral blood supply, which can lead to effective cerebral thermoregulation and mood enhancement.
Indirect skin benefits:
Many wonder about the benefits of crying for skin.Tears have a higher pH than skin, so short-term exposure may sometimes cause slight irritation; however, tears can also contribute to skin hydration.
In fact, bottling up your emotions can negatively impact your health and lead to a myriad of issues, from increased diabetes and heart disease risks. The stress that follows pent up emotions can compromise one's physical health, impacting your hormones and leading to unhealthy weight gain. Crying allows you to release and self-soothe, returning your body to a state of ease. Sometimes, the happiest humans are the ones who embrace their ability to cry rather than perform as emotionless humans with full control.
So, Is Crying Good for You?
Crying in response to something that makes you happy or sad is normal, healthy, and should be celebrated rather than made to be taboo. However, if you’re crying chronically, it’s certainly worth it to consider seeking a trusted healthcare professional to manage your mental health and access resources that can help.
But beyond that, crying is our birthright. In fact, hearing a baby cry when they arrive into the world is what indicates a baby’s lungs adapt to breathing outside of the womb—a signal of life.
Whether in front of your loved ones or the comfort of your own space, because of all the reasons or none at all, let yourself laugh, process, rejoice—and cry. True contentment is not an unwavering state of happy; it's the peace that comes with accepting and expressing your emotions in healthy, authentic ways.
A note on sex and gender: Sex and gender exists on spectrums, and this article uses terms like “male” or “female” to refer to sex assigned at birth. Learn more.
