Is crying good for depression

Is Crying Good for You When You Have Depression?

Crying can help you release some emotional pain. But does it help you feel better when you live with depression?

Sudden and frequent crying can be a symptom of depression for some people.

On its own, crying may result from experiencing many emotions, from joy to grief. But as part of depression, crying can occur without an apparent reason.

Why do people cry? And does it help to let it all out if you’re living with depression?

In general, experts believe expressing your emotional crying can be a good thing for you.

Much like other natural bodily reflexes like yawning or sneezing, crying may provide a physical feeling of satisfaction or relief when you let it happen rather than trying to suppress it.

Everyone is different, but for some people, having a good cry can provide a sense of release that leaves them feeling lighter and calmer, says Dr. Gauri Khurana, MPH, a psychiatrist in New York City and a clinical instructor in the department of psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine.

“Crying is often viewed as cathartic, meaning it helps release feelings of stress and helps modulate chemicals in the body, such as decreasing the cortisol and increasing oxytocin and endorphins, and makes people feel better,” Khurana says.

“Studies have shown that it doesn’t always help people feel better,” she notes, “but in my clinical experience, it does soothe people when they are in a heightened state of mood.”

This is because crying likely leads to a chemical reset, even though the cause of someone’s crying has likely not changed, Khurana says.

Some experts believe that the significance of emotional tears is rooted more in their effect on others. That is, shedding emotional tears stimulates caregiving and protective responses from significant others.

Crying may also facilitate social bonding and reduce interpersonal aggression.

Benefits of crying for depression

According to Khurana, some scholars have thought that crying might release stress hormones like cortisol that accumulate in the body. They believe that after crying, people generally feel better.

A 2014 study showed that crying can provide soothing effects and release endorphins, or feel-good hormones. These effects can be delayed and come on a few minutes after you stop crying.

The same study showed that crying could also improve your mood due to the emotional release and reduced feelings of stress that it can bring.

“I have had many patients say, ‘You did your job because I cried,’ or ‘this is the first time that I have cried in a very long time,’” Khurana says. “And I have found that it often makes patients slow down and take stock of the range of emotions that they are feeling about whatever they are talking about.”

Why do we cry?

The biological purpose of crying has been the subject of thought and theories for a long time — from the 3rd century to modern times.

For instance, the Cappadocian bishop Gregory of Nyssa stipulated in his 3rd century “Notations on the Making of Man” that crying produced water vapor to cool itself down. This vapor would rise to the head, condense near the eyes, and escape as tears.

In 1662, Danish scientist Niels Stensen theorized that tears were simply a way to keep the eyes lubricated. And in 1983, biochemist William Frey stated that crying removed toxic chemicals from the blood that build up during times of stress.

However, modern theories center on tears as instruments of social bonding and human connection, Khurana says.

Even as people grow older and more capable physically and emotionally, we still experience bouts of intense emotions. From fear and sadness to excitement and pleasure, crying can be a way we respond to these heightened feelings.

“We cry to express a range of emotions, not just sadness — joy, pain, anger, love,” Khurana says. “And just about everything else on the spectrum of human emotion can be a cause for tears.”

She adds: “It takes a bit of understanding after the episode to often understand why someone was crying and what came up for them emotionally. ”

Crying for no apparent reason can also be a sign of depression, Khurana says.

Crying generally accompanies mild depression and can present as:

crying for no reason
crying daily
crying more often than typical
having trouble stopping crying

“In more severe cases of depression, people often do not cry at all,” Khurana says. “I have also thought that when people cry for seemingly ‘no reason,’ it is because they have suppressed their emotions and something can no longer be contained.”

Some other signs and symptoms of depression include:

persistent feelings of sadness, anxiousness, helplessness, or emptiness
irritability
feelings of guilt or worthlessness
loss of interest in hobbies and activities that normally bring you pleasure
fatigue or decreased energy
feeling restless or difficulty sitting still
difficulty concentrating
difficulty sleeping, or waking up and oversleeping
appetite and/or weight changes
physical aches and pains without a clear cause and that don’t respond to treatment
thoughts of suicide

If you’re considering self-harm or suicide, you’re not alone

You can access free support right away with these resources:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call the Lifeline at 800-273-8255 for English or 888-628-9454 for Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
The Trevor Project. LGBTQIA+ and under 25 years old? Call 866-488-7386, text “START” to 678678, or chat online 24/7.
Veterans Crisis Line. Call 800-273-8255, text 838255, or chat online 24/7.
Deaf Crisis Line. Call 321-800-3323, text “HAND” to 839863, or visit their website.
Befrienders Worldwide. This international crisis helpline network can help you find a local helpline.

Crying can provide a release for the emotions you may be experiencing. From sadness and depression to joy and excitement, crying can be a way to cope with heightened feelings.

In general, crying shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Experts say crying can be a good thing for you.

However, crying for no reason or an increased frequency of crying coupled with depression symptoms can sometimes be a symptom of depression.

It may help to talk with a mental health professional if you’re experiencing more symptoms of depression, such as:

fatigue
body aches
difficulty concentrating

If you’re looking for a therapist but unsure where to start, Psych Central’s How to Find Mental Health Support resource can help.

Is Crying Good for You When You Have Depression?

Crying can help you release some emotional pain. But does it help you feel better when you live with depression?

Sudden and frequent crying can be a symptom of depression for some people.

On its own, crying may result from experiencing many emotions, from joy to grief. But as part of depression, crying can occur without an apparent reason.

Why do people cry? And does it help to let it all out if you’re living with depression?

In general, experts believe expressing your emotional crying can be a good thing for you.

Much like other natural bodily reflexes like yawning or sneezing, crying may provide a physical feeling of satisfaction or relief when you let it happen rather than trying to suppress it.

“Studies have shown that it doesn’t always help people feel better,” she notes, “but in my clinical experience, it does soothe people when they are in a heightened state of mood.”

This is because crying likely leads to a chemical reset, even though the cause of someone’s crying has likely not changed, Khurana says.

Crying may also facilitate social bonding and reduce interpersonal aggression.

Benefits of crying for depression

According to Khurana, some scholars have thought that crying might release stress hormones like cortisol that accumulate in the body. They believe that after crying, people generally feel better.

A 2014 study showed that crying can provide soothing effects and release endorphins, or feel-good hormones. These effects can be delayed and come on a few minutes after you stop crying.

The same study showed that crying could also improve your mood due to the emotional release and reduced feelings of stress that it can bring.

Why do we cry?

The biological purpose of crying has been the subject of thought and theories for a long time — from the 3rd century to modern times.

However, modern theories center on tears as instruments of social bonding and human connection, Khurana says.

“We cry to express a range of emotions, not just sadness — joy, pain, anger, love,” Khurana says. “And just about everything else on the spectrum of human emotion can be a cause for tears. ”

She adds: “It takes a bit of understanding after the episode to often understand why someone was crying and what came up for them emotionally.”

Crying for no apparent reason can also be a sign of depression, Khurana says.

Crying generally accompanies mild depression and can present as:

crying for no reason
crying daily
crying more often than typical
having trouble stopping crying

Some other signs and symptoms of depression include:

persistent feelings of sadness, anxiousness, helplessness, or emptiness
irritability
feelings of guilt or worthlessness
loss of interest in hobbies and activities that normally bring you pleasure
fatigue or decreased energy
feeling restless or difficulty sitting still
difficulty concentrating
difficulty sleeping, or waking up and oversleeping
appetite and/or weight changes
physical aches and pains without a clear cause and that don’t respond to treatment
thoughts of suicide

If you’re considering self-harm or suicide, you’re not alone

You can access free support right away with these resources:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call the Lifeline at 800-273-8255 for English or 888-628-9454 for Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Crisis Text Line. Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741.
The Trevor Project. LGBTQIA+ and under 25 years old? Call 866-488-7386, text “START” to 678678, or chat online 24/7.
Veterans Crisis Line. Call 800-273-8255, text 838255, or chat online 24/7.
Deaf Crisis Line. Call 321-800-3323, text “HAND” to 839863, or visit their website.
Befrienders Worldwide. This international crisis helpline network can help you find a local helpline.

Crying can provide a release for the emotions you may be experiencing. From sadness and depression to joy and excitement, crying can be a way to cope with heightened feelings.

In general, crying shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Experts say crying can be a good thing for you.

However, crying for no reason or an increased frequency of crying coupled with depression symptoms can sometimes be a symptom of depression.

It may help to talk with a mental health professional if you’re experiencing more symptoms of depression, such as:

fatigue
body aches
difficulty concentrating

If you’re looking for a therapist but unsure where to start, Psych Central’s How to Find Mental Health Support resource can help.

Is it good to cry: the opinion of experts

Tear therapy is, of course, a playful term, but experts seriously say that crying is useful.

Website editor

Tags:

Richard Gere

Barbra Streisand

Interesting Facts

Helpful Hints

Tears

There are three types of human tears: basal, reflex, and emotional. Basal tears are constantly secreted, wetting the cornea and clearing the eye of small particles. Reflex tears are the body's response to irritants like onion fumes, tear gas, or a fallen eyelash. Emotional tears are a manifestation of our emotions and feelings.

An amazing fact: tears are very important for the body. They wash away everything superfluous and unnecessary from the cornea of the eye, simultaneously supplying it with useful substances, moisturize the eyes, improve vision and even relieve stress. It is also believed that tears remove toxic substances from the body, normalize blood pressure and increase immunity. nine0003

9 reasons why crying is good for you

Tears moisturize

The so-called physiological tears (those that are not connected with emotions and are formed constantly) are responsible for keeping your eyes from drying out. A good reason to cry or at least blink more often. If you have to sit in front of a computer for hours, you run the risk of causing a local, but no less harmful, “drought” to your organs of vision. When you feel that you are very tired, think about sad things and squeeze out a couple of tears: they will be evenly distributed over the surface and moisten your tired eyes. nine0003

Tears cleanse

And not only figuratively, but also literally. Biochemist William Frey from the United States found that emotional tears caused by grief remove toxins and stress hormones from the body. No wonder they say that the cure for all diseases is salt water: tears, sweat and the sea. By the way, men cry less, but they sweat more, therefore, in order to rid the body of all the unhealthy substances mentioned above, it is enough for us to cry on the couch, and men have to work hard in the sweat of their faces. nine0003

Tears comfort

According to the same Dr. Frey, tears contribute to the production of enkephalin, a substance that acts like morphine, that is, it can suppress pain. This, of course, does not mean that crying will replace going to the dentist, but while you are waiting for the doctor, you can grieve a little - in advance.

Tears protect

The enzyme lysozyme found in tears has antibacterial and antiviral effects. When we cry, some of the liquid gets into the nose (which is why whole packs of handkerchiefs go away), so the protection becomes even more effective. Although it doesn't make us prettier...

Tears help

We usually cry for a reason. In stressful situations, the pulse quickens, the pressure can skyrocket, and we sweat just like a marathon runner at a distance. Crying is designed to reduce the consequences of such a shake-up for the body - after it, the pulse and breathing slow down, the muscles relax, so that tears calm not only the soul, but also the body. “I cry at every opportunity,” Richard Gere once admitted. Have you seen how he looks in his sixties with a ponytail? That's the same. nine0003

Tears lighten...

. .. both the soul and existence. You know perfectly well that negative emotions driven inside can backfire in the future with serious health problems. Depression, an ulcer or a heart attack is clearly not for you, so you need to give vent to negative emotions. Tears are one of the easiest and most painless ways to do this. Especially if you don’t have inexpensive plates at hand, but only your mother’s favorite set.

Tears bring together

According to the Israeli psychologist Oren Hassen, tears and crying are an evolutionary mechanism that helps to build close relationships with others. When the eyes of your interlocutor are filled with water, and the soul is filled with sadness, it is difficult to perceive him as a rival or a threat to your plans. Crying, we demonstrate our own insecurity and vulnerability, make it clear that we trust a person if we are not embarrassed by our tears in his presence.

Tears explain

Tears are a very intelligible way of non-verbal communication. In a moment of strong emotional shock, few people can find the right words, but tears are clearly perceived as a desperate signal for help. However, keep in mind that if you cry in front of a man every time you want to achieve something from him, then over time he will perceive your tears not as a cry for help, but as active hostilities, and this will not cause anything but anger and irritation. Emotional blackmail has never done anyone any good. nine0003

Tears heal

Some experts consider tears to be an important stage of psychological adaptation after serious shocks. In the movie Tidemaster, Nick Nolte's character says of his dead brother: "Why the hell am I supposed to cry? It won't bring Luke back." “No, but it will help you get yourself back,” replies the therapist played by Barbra Streisand.

Why crying is harmful

“During sobbing, the muscles of the face, neck, chest, and abdomen are strained, they work in an unusual mode for them. It also increases intracranial pressure. Stress headaches that occur in response to mental stress occur precisely during a period of emotional discharge, says Irina Kreines, Ph.D. “But all these symptoms are short-lived and are relieved by a common analgesic.” nine0003

How many tears we shed

We shed about 70 L of tears in our lifetime.
Girls cry 5-6 times more often than men, but this does not mean at all that the latter have a happier life. We just have much higher levels of the hormone that causes tears. And stereotypes like "machos don't cry" don't apply to women.
40% of people prefer to shed tears alone.
Most often we cry in the evening - at 6-8 o'clock.
20% of sobbing attacks last more than 30 minutes, 8% more than an hour. nine0092
49% of women cry at least once a week.

TEXT: Elena Korovushkina

Is it good for your health to cry well?

Jason Goldman
BBC Future

13 April 2017

Image Credit, iStock

There is a common misconception that crying is a good way to relieve stress. Browser BBC Future wondered if this is scientifically true?

Until recently, scientists and writers disagreed sharply about the benefits of crying.

In his play "Henry VI" Shakespeare wrote: "Weeping weakens the bitterness of anguish", and the American writer Lemony Snicket noted that "if you cry well and for a long time, you will feel better, even if the situation has not changed at all."

Why people learned to cry
Is it harmful to accumulate anger in oneself? nine0092
Should the boss cry with you?
Blood, sweat and tears: the secrets of our secrets

On the other hand, Charles Darwin believed that the production of tears (regardless of the process of crying) was just a useless side effect of the muscles located around the eye.

In his opinion, these muscles must contract from time to time so as not to overflow with blood, and the release of tears is simply an accidental consequence of this physiological process that appeared in the process of evolution. nine0003

(However, Darwin admitted that crying helps babies get their parents' attention.)

We now know that crying (at least in adults) is a complex physiological response to certain emotional stimuli.

The main distinguishing feature of crying is the appearance of tears, but it is also accompanied by a change in facial expression and breathing rate.

So, for example, when we cry, we often sob, that is, we sharply inhale and exhale.

From a scientific point of view, this means that crying and producing tears in response to a chemical stimulus (for example, if you rub your eyes after eating something spicy) are two different things.

Even the tears themselves are different. In 1981, Minnesota psychiatrist William H. Frey II discovered that tears elicited by watching a sad movie contained more protein than those produced by a reaction to a freshly chopped onion.

Image copyright iStock

Image caption

The exact reasons why we cry are still a mystery

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At the same time, tears that well up in the eyes from an excess of emotions can be caused not only by sadness.

Anyone who has ever attended a hilarious humorous show or listened to the bride and groom read wedding vows to each other during the wedding will confirm this. nine0003

Many of us are familiar with a variety of reasons that can cause tears - both sad and joyful.

However, the reasons why we do this as adults are still not completely clear. Scientists have many hypotheses about this.

One of them is that adult crying is not really that different from a child's cry - at least as far as its social aspect is concerned.

In other words, weeping is a way to get attention, get support and help from friends when we need it most. nine0003

Through crying, we can tell our loved ones about our feelings when words are not enough for this.

This may explain some types of crying, but scientists have repeatedly found that adults often cry when left alone.

Image copyright, iStock

Image caption,

Crying alone can be one way of assessing one's emotional state and understand your own feelings. nine0003

This is a rather controversial theory, suitable only for certain cases, although there are still some arguments in its favor.

We cannot ignore the concept of catharsis: crying helps us cope with situations that carry a great emotional load.

This idea is consonant not only with the words of Shakespeare, but also with the opinion of the Roman poet Ovid, who believed that "crying comforts, and grief dissolves in tears."

The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that crying "purifies the mind." nine0003

In a 1986 survey of popular American magazines and newspapers, a psychologist found that 94% of articles about crying claimed that crying helped relieve emotional stress.

In 2008, a study was published in which 4,300 young people from 30 countries took part. Most of them said that after crying, they felt better both physically and emotionally.

At the same time, some participants did not notice any changes, while others felt even worse. nine0003

Apparently, it's all about the social context: if a person is embarrassed to cry in public, he will feel less relieved than if he cried alone or in the presence of one close friend.

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