Humans are the only species that cry in relation to emotions. There has been limited research looking at why people cry. Crying is a normal and healthy response to many different situations. However, if you are crying uncontrollably or very often with no explanation, it can significantly impact your life and ability to function.1 Causes for extreme crying could include depression, medical conditions, joy, and grief.
Why Do People Cry For No Reason?
When people cry, there’s usually an explanation, even when it’s not readily apparent. Although we frequently think of tears in a negative way, crying can offer health benefits. What psychologists call repressive coping can be bad for our health. Studies link repressive coping with a less resilient immune system, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and mental health conditions, including stress, anxiety, and depression.2
Bouts of unexpected crying can be related to or triggered by strong emotions and mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, burnout, grief, and shame.
Here are seven emotional triggers that may cause crying for “no reason”:
1. Depression
Mental Health experts describe mood swings and emotional outbursts as common symptoms of depression. One minute, you may be angry, and the next, you’re crying uncontrollably. In other cases, you may shut down and go numb.3
2. Anxiety & Fear
Uncontrollable episodes of crying can often be linked to anxiety. It can elicit some of the body’s most powerful emotional responses, affecting emotions and causing symptoms like sadness or the urge to cry. Fear can also cause people to cry if they believe they’re powerless or vulnerable to a serious threat.4
3. Burnout
Burnout is a form of complete mental and physical exhaustion created by ongoing chronic stressors. Causes of burnout may include work, parenting (especially for mom), teaching, and caregiving. It’s not unusual to experience unexpected tearful outbursts or crying episodes because of this exhaustion and burnout.5
4. Grief
Uncontrollable crying is often connected to grief. It’s likely that the helplessness and hopelessness associated with attachment-related issues like bereavement, romantic break ups, moves, or separations have the power to elicit tears.6
All of these circumstances relate to grief and loss. Grief can be particularly challenging if people are dealing with disenfranchised grief or ambiguous loss where there is no closure.
5. Shame
Uncontrollable crying can be a logical response to the types of feelings shame evokes, including embarrassment or self-consciousness. Shame often occurs when people move beyond the boundaries of social norms. Research also shows that criers felt worse if they were embarrassed or ashamed of crying, or if they were with unsupportive people.7
6. Feeling Overwhelmed
Feeling overwhelmed is intertwined with feeling stressed. It creates a host of negative emotions.
that can grow and become uncontrollable. Crying acts as a way to release these extreme emotions and cope with feeling overwhelmed.
7. Feeling Empty
Feelings of emptiness can create a confusing internal battle of emotions.8 When emptiness occurs, you may not be able to identify the feelings, but they will likely be related to loneliness, sadness, or feeling numb. These emotions can build up and take an emotional toll that results in crying.
Underlying Medical Causes That May Cause Crying
There are underlying medical issues that could cause people to randomly cry for no apparent reason. These include hormonal imbalances and pseudobulbar affect.
Here are two underlying medical causes that may lead to random crying for no reason:
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormonal changes can occur during menstruation, premenstral syndrome (PMS), and menopause. Pregnancy also causes a flood of hormones. Medical experts say that hormonal imbalances can cause mood swings and crying for no reason.8 Hormone imbalance can be treated with medication management to help stabilize mood.
Brain Disorders or Neurological Disease
People may experience uncontrollable crying as a result of an undetected brain disorder. Pseudobulbar affect (PBA), for example, is characterized by episodes of uncontrollable and inappropriate laughing or crying. This typically occurs in people with certain neurological conditions or injuries (e.g., brain injuries, multiple sclerosis (MS), or strokes) that affect the way the brain controls emotion.9 PBA is often treated with medication management.
When to Get Help
If you find that episodes of uncontrollable, unexplained crying seem to be happening with greater intensity and more frequently, it may be time to seek help. If these episodes are interrupting your daily life or negatively impacting relationships, consult your doctor or a mental health professional.
If you choose to seek out a mental health professional, it’s important to find the right therapist for you. Look for someone who has experience treating people with similar issues around emotional lability and unexplained tearful episodes. You can also find therapists that are geographically convenient by consulting a professional therapist directory.
Final Thoughts
Crying is a natural reaction to certain life events, but when it comes out of the blue, often, or at unexpected times, it can be confusing or overwhelming. If random crying for no reason happens to you, talk with your doctor or a mental health professional to further assess the root cause.
Why Am I Crying For No Reason Infographics
