‘Tear’ It Up: Why Crying Might Be The Best Form Of Self-Care

In a world that prizes toughness, we’re taught from childhood to ‘be brave’ and ‘never cry’. Yet science reveals the surprising truth: shedding a few tears isn’t weakness; it’s a powerful way to soothe your mind, release stress, and feel lighter.

A 2014 study cited by Medical News Today found that crying provides direct relief by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which relaxes the body and reduces stress.

Mental health experts even describe crying as the body’s ‘self-cleaning mode’, and here are a few reasons why:

4 Benefits Of Crying

1. Crying Detoxes Your Body Naturally: Just like sweat removes toxins from the body, tears help flush out toxic chemicals from the brain. Stress hormones like cortisol build up in your system, and when you cry, these hormones are released, giving you a sense of instant lightness.
2. Triggers ‘Feel-Good’ Hormones: Ever noticed that after a good cry, you feel calmer and sleep better? This is because crying releases oxytocin and endorphins, the body’s natural ‘happy chemicals’. They help reduce physical pain, lift your mood, and make you feel emotionally balanced.
3. Prevents Emotional Pressure Build-Up: Emotions work like steam in a pressure cooker. Bottling them up can lead to mental breakdowns over time. Experts warn that suppressing emotions increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and even heart diseases. Crying acts as a ‘safety valve’, releasing built-up emotional pressure.
4. Clears Your Perspective: When weighed down by emotions, decision-making becomes difficult. Crying removes the emotional burden, helping your mind calm down. A relaxed mind can think clearly, make better decisions, and find solutions to problems more easily.

Breaking The Myths About Crying

Crying is not a sign of weakness. Expressing emotions is actually courageous. Boys and men can cry too; phrases like ‘men don’t feel pain’ are harmful to mental health. Emotions are universal and everyone is entitled

to express them.

If you feel irritable over small things, cannot sleep, or feel sad for no reason, it might mean your ’emotional tank’ is full and needs to be emptied. Crying is a healthy remedy.

However, if you cry non-stop for weeks or feel that life is meaningless, it could be a sign of depression. In such cases, consult a professional counsellor or therapist immediately.