Is Crying Good for You? 5 Possible Benefits

Why Do People Cry?

“Emotional crying” is induced by a strong emotional reaction (to something good or bad).²  It is believed that humans have evolved to cry, because at some point in our history, we found this to be a useful way of receiving social care from those around us.² This type of crying is a mixture of tears, possible vocalization, and facial muscle movement.²

The three types of human tears include:³

• Basal: These are the tears that are likely in your eyes right now. They exist to lubricate your eyes and keep your eyes safe from debris.
• Reflex: These are tears formed to help with irritants that come in contact with your eye/eyes (smoke, fumes, etc.).
• Emotional: These are the tears that come from an overwhelming emotional response. Experts state that there are different proteins and hormones produced by this type that basal and reflex tears lack.

5 Benefits of Crying

Both in and out of my office, I have seen people view the act of crying in a negative light. This can cause someone to suppress their feelings and deny themselves emotional expression. Emotional crying should be approached without judgment, by recognizing that this is a unique human feature, and may even be beneficial. Studies are still ongoing regarding this, but have identified possible benefits of crying, such as stress relief, pain reduction, and increased chance of nurture and empathy from others.⁴

Here are five possible reasons why crying may be good for you:

1. It Can Relieve Physical & Emotional Pain

Some studies show that emotional crying can release endogenous opioids and oxytocin, which have the power to help decrease physical and emotional pain a person is experiencing.⁴ In short, this means that crying may be able to help with pain reduction. Crying can relieve many different emotions, including crying to relieve anger, embarrassment, or shame.

2. It Can Be Self-Soothing

Crying may sometimes be used as a form of self-soothing.¹ Self-soothing is an emotional coping skill that can generate emotional regulation, leading to a reduction of an unwanted feeling.¹ Research suggests that crying may even help maintain homeostasis in the body.⁵

3. It Could Elicit Help From Others

There are suggested evolutionary reasons for emotional crying, such as receiving and eliciting support from others. When a person cries, it is expected that others will come to offer support and aid, thus fostering community and further bonding.¹ Social support is great across the board, and crying can stimulate such an interaction. Additionally, crying can signal to others that someone is not a threat, and a person should respond with compassion, even if they don’t necessarily offer support.

4. It May Improve Overall Mood

One study found that intense emotional crying, such as sobbing, increased the likelihood of mood improvement in participants.² Additionally, crying in front of another person can further increase this chance.² Thus, having a “good cry” may actually be of benefit to overall disposition.

5. It Can Help You Tap Into Your Feelings

In my years of practicing psychotherapy, something I’ve noticed is that when a person cries, they are often better able to identify what matters most to them. Tears of overwhelming gratitude may show you what you value most, just as tears from stress can signal that something in your life needs to change. Crying can be used as a guide to help you tap into your true feelings–then, you can work to enhance the areas that help you feel more content with life.

When to Seek Professional Help

Crying isn’t beneficial in every situation or for every person, and sometimes it can even make a person feel worse.² Keep that in mind, and listen to what your mind and body are telling you. If you are crying excessively, feeling constantly overwhelmed, or having trouble functioning like you used to, it could be a sign that you have an underlying condition that you are struggling to manage. In this case, professional support is often helpful. Consider finding a therapist, as you may be experiencing depression or another mental health condition. In this case, therapy can be beneficial.

Symptoms of depression to be aware of include:

• Changes in appetite
• Sleeping issues (such as insomnia or hypersomnia)
• Uncontrollable crying
• Ongoing low mood and feelings of sadness
• Lack of motivation and interest in doing things
• Suicidal thoughts / ideations

Final Thoughts

Emotional crying is a human expression that can provide benefits in certain situations. Remind yourself that experiencing emotion is natural, and you should not try to suppress your tears and feelings. However, if you notice continuous distress or other symptoms of depression that are negatively affecting your well-being, you may want to explore if therapy is necessary for healing.