Healthy Living

Cry Your Eyes Out: 10 Reasons Crying Is Good For You

3. It's one of the best stress relievers

Many people often do not realize just how tense they become when under emotional duress. Whether it’s simple frustration or the overwhelming shock and pain of grief, negative emotions trigger the release of multiple stress hormones that can cycle through the body, building up and causing continuous distress for the affected individual. And it’s not only emotional — an overabundance of these chemicals can lead to tension in the body and headaches, among other maladies.
Crying, however, removes these distressing chemicals, thus acting as a form of cathartic release for both one’s mind and body. Licensed psychotherapist Sharon Martin says, “Crying is a safe and effective way to deal with stress… It provides an emotional release of pent up negative feelings, stresses, and frustrations.” Stress is a powerful survival mechanism that manifests itself through our emotions as well as our biological processes. Too much of it is not beneficial to our health, but thankfully, crying allots us a healthy avenue to release such emotional distress.