Why do I cry when

Crying - why it's good for us

Crying is uncomfortable for many people. At least in public. If our eyes become moist and we feel the well-known lump in our throat, the first instinct is often to suppress the tears.

Crying creates closeness between people

Crying is something very original and tears are an additional form of expression of emotions on a person's face. Young children cry to seek support from their parents, and even later, a crying person primarily evokes empathy in others. Crying in front of another person creates a new form of closeness to that person. You can look behind the hard facade and open up a little bit, free from the desire to have to be perfect.

Crying is healthy

But whether in company or alone, crying can be very liberating and even healthy. Those who forbid themselves to cry too often and hold back tears increase their stress level and thus favor complaints such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stomach problems, depression or anxiety.

Not all tears are created equal

It all depends on the reasons we cry. Researchers differentiate between different types of tears: reflex tears that occur, for example, when a speck of dust hits us, basal tears that naturally keep our eyes moist and clean, and emotional tears that express our mood. Each of these types of tears has a different chemical composition. Our bodies know why we are crying and respond accordingly to help us.

Crying reduces stress and keeps us balanced

Emotional tears contain a significantly higher concentration of toxic hormones that raise the stress hormone cortisol in the body. So when you cry, stress is literally flushed out of your body. In a study, researchers also found that crying helps us maintain the natural balance of body functions.

Also read:Reduce stress - 3 psychological methods for the office and everyday life

Crying makes you happy (again)

In addition, our bodies release endorphins and some calming substances when we cry to bring our feelings back into balance. Often you feel relieved after crying, a little happier again and can think more clearly.
But don't worry if we don't jump into the air again immediately after shedding the tears - we need some time to recover. While the mood is often quite depressed right after crying, studies have shown that after about 90 minutes it is often even better than before you cry.

Crying is also important from a psychological point of view. Because who suppresses the tears, holds back feelings and builds them up.

It is healthy and normal to have a really good cry now and then. However, if the situations increase and the tears flow more and more often for no reason, it may be advisable to consult a doctor or psychologist. This could be a sign of depression, a side effect of medication, or the like. If in doubt, go to the doctor again and get advice. You can find more information and free advice on depression at the German Depression Aid Foundation, for example.

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