Many people often try to hold back their tears, believing that crying is a sign of weakness or failure. However, in reality, this action brings numerous benefits for both physical and mental well-being.
Crying is a human action that can be triggered by various emotions. But why do people cry? Researchers have found that crying can benefit both your body and mind, and these benefits begin right from birth.
According to the Hindustan Times, crying is never a sign of weakness; rather, it is a vital function for human connection, self-soothing, and health.
Crying is a healthy and normal function that provides pain relief, keeps the eyes healthy, and creates support networks.
Additionally, the tears shed while crying are emotional tears. They contain two types of “happiness hormones”: endorphins and oxytocin, which help reduce pain and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Emotional tears not only soothe and relieve pain but also help regulate the stress hormone cortisol in the body.
Here are some amazing benefits of tears that few people know about:
Tears have the power to heal and detoxify the body – (Photo: Getty Images).
1. Detoxification
There are three types of tears:
- Reflex tears
- Basal tears
- Emotional tears
Reflex tears help wash away smoke, dust, or foreign objects from the eyes. Tears keep the eyes moist and protect them from infections. While basal tears contain 98% water, emotional tears have many health benefits. They contain “lysozyme,” which can kill 90-95% of harmful bacteria in just five minutes.
2. Emotional Release
Crying can be one of your best mechanisms for self-soothing emotions. Researchers have found that crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The PNS helps the body relax and stimulates digestion. However, these benefits may not be felt immediately; it may take a few minutes after shedding tears for you to feel lighter.
3. Pain Relief
Crying helps release oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins. These substances can help alleviate both physical and emotional pain. Once endorphins are released, they provide the body with a sense of calm or happiness. This is why we often cry as a defensive action.
4. Mood Improvement
Along with helping to relieve pain, crying can even elevate your mood. Sobbing allows for deeper breaths, which can help regulate and even lower the brain’s temperature. When the brain cools down, it can help improve your mental state. Additionally, crying reduces manganese levels. High manganese levels can lead to increased emotional turmoil. Thus, crying helps lower manganese levels, improving mood.
Tears are an emotional balance and connect people – (Photo: Pinterest).
5. Enhanced Bonding
Crying is a way to draw those around you closer. This is known as the community benefit. From the moment we are born, crying is a bonding behavior. Its function is to seek comfort and care from others. In other words, it helps build your social support network during difficult times.
6. Restoring Emotional Balance
Crying does not only occur in response to sadness. Sometimes you may cry when you are extremely happy, scared, or stressed. Researchers at Yale University believe that crying in this way can help restore emotional balance. When you are intensely happy or fearful about something and cry, it may be your body’s way of recovering after experiencing such strong emotions.
7. Lowering Blood Pressure
Crying helps reduce excess salt in the body—the leading cause of high blood pressure. Therefore, if you have issues with blood pressure, never hold back your emotions. This will help prevent high blood pressure, which is beneficial for your health.
