The Benefits of Having a Good Cry

For decades, American society has viewed crying as a sign of weakness, a sometimes unnecessary response to life’s challenges. This is especially true of men.

Luckily, showing emotion is becoming more acceptable, even welcome, in our society. Research shows that crying is actually good for your health, both mental and physical.

Scientists describe crying as a natural response to a variety of emotions including happiness, anger, and grief. Its role, according to researchers, is essential due to a condition called repressive coping. This emotional response happens when we keep difficult emotions inside and this can be especially dangerous for our health.

According to research at Harvard Medical School, repressive coping can lead to a weakened immune system, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, as well as anxiety, stress, and depression.

Tears resulting from emotion force stress hormones and toxins out of the body, while releasing feel-good chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins.

Can crying be problematic?

Psychologists say that at times, frequent or uncontrollable crying, crying for no reason, or even not being able to cry can be signs of clinical depression. Consult your doctor if any of these occur.