What do your tears mean

Why Do We Cry? The Truth Behind Your Tears – Cleveland Clinic

Why do we cry even when we’re not sad? What are tears good for anyway? According to wellness expert Michael Roizen, MD, tears are extremely useful. They help you see clearly. They wash debris from your eyes. And they communicate all kinds of feelings.

But did you know that not every tear is made up of the same material? And while some people cry more than others, it’s OK: You can cry if you want to. Dr. Roizen walks us through all of the amazing facts about the fluid that fills your eyes each and every day.

Why do we cry?

We cry for a variety of reasons. Your emotions can cause you to cry when you’re sad, angry or happy.

“Crying for emotional reasons can make you feel better, releases tension and gives you a psychic reboot,” Dr. Roizen says.

But there are physical reasons, too, like if you’ve got dirt in your eye or you experience some physical pain.

“Crying also happens for physical reasons to deliver nutrients and wash out stress-related toxins,” says Dr. Roizen. “And we cry for social reasons to communicate distress, sincerity, attraction, aversion — depending on the context.”

The fluid that makes up your tears contains water for moisture and oils for lubrication and to prevent your tear liquid from evaporating. Your tears also contain mucus so they can spread evenly across the surface of your eyes. Plus, that mucus contains antibodies and special proteins for resistance to infection. Oxygen and nutrients are also transported to the surface cells of your eyes by tears since there aren’t blood vessels on your eyes.

There are three kinds of tears, and each kind has a very different job. Some tears keep your eyes moist, while others wash away debris and protect your eyes from infection. Then, there are the emotional tears.

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Here’s why life would look much blurrier without all three kinds.

Types of tears

1. Basal tears

These are your basic tears. Your eyes roll around in them all day. They contain oil, mucus, water and salt, and help fight infection. The oil keeps your tears in place and prevents them from evaporating into the atmosphere. Blinking spreads them evenly over the surface of your eye. These tears can improve your vision and sharpen your focus.

2. Irritant tears

These are your eyewash tears. The glands under your eyebrows push them out when you peel an onion, vomit or get dust in your eye. They flush out the material that’s irritating your eyes. These are the kind of tears that stream down your face when your allergies are kicking into high gear.

3. Psychic or emotional tears

These tears gush in response to strong emotions like sadness, grief, joy or rage. They have the same chemical makeup as basal tears, but contain more stress hormones and natural painkillers. Humans and animals have compounds in our body fluids that give off subtle messages to other members of the species. That’s why sometimes our tears can relay chemical messages (either intended or unintended) to someone close by. This can bring about empathy or compassion in other people, or signal them to stay away, for example.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology emotional tears are triggered by empathy, compassionate and societal pain, physical pain, attachment-related pain, and sentimental or moral feelings. Some studies also suggest people are more likely to feel better after crying if they received social support while doing it.

How much crying is considered normal?

Crying is a normal behavior caused by a variety of reasons that include emotional, physical and chemical responses from your body. But it’s possible you can cry too much or not cry enough. Either can cause damage to your eyes if left untreated. Some conditions that aren’t considered normal may include the following.

Too many tears

The tiny openings in the inner corner of your eyelids are drains. When you get a cold, these drains can swell and become blocked. This causes your tears to overflow onto your face. Sometimes, your tear glands produce too little oil for the basal tear mix. This can also cause an ongoing tear spill.

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Dry eyes

Your eyes can temporarily dry out because of atmospheric conditions. But they can also dry out from disease. Some medications and cancer treatments can cause dry eyes as well. In these situations, your eyes may not produce any tears, causing irritation. Or your eyes could produce emergency tears too quickly to overcompensate for the lack of lubrication needed to keep your eyes clean and fresh. These emergency tears can contain excess mucus that you might feel like wiping away when it becomes too much, but that could lead to mucus fishing syndrome.

“Drug stores carry different types of artificial tears to treat dry eyes,” Dr. Roizen recommends. “But if this sort of thing goes on, see your doctor to obtain treatments that can help with any eye conditions you may have and treat the underlying causes. ”

Pathological laughing and crying

This neurological condition, which brings uncontrollable tears to the surface of your eyes, is caused by Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and other brain diseases. If this happens, be sure to consult your doctor and detail your symptoms so you can receive the proper treatment, Dr. Roizen advises.

When to seek help

“Remember, all tears are there for the greater good,” Dr. Roizen explains, “so there’s absolutely no need for you to ever hold them back.”

But if your eyes are irritated, itchy, red or swollen, or if you’re constantly crying without any noticeable reason, you should seek out your healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause in case you have an eye infection or other untreated condition.

Three Types of Tears | What are Tears Made of?

The cornea is covered by a three-layer tear film. Those layers are:

Mucus: This is the innermost tear film layer produced by the conjunctiva—the eye’s outer membrane. It keeps your eyes moist by distributing the layer of water over the eye’s surface.
Water: Your eye’s lacrimal gland produces this middle tear film layer, which is the bulk portion of each tear. This layer is an eye cleaning agent that removes particles from the eye.
Lipid (oil): The meibomian glands produce this outermost tear film layer. The oil creates a smooth surface on tears and acts as a protective barrier that prevents the water layer of tears from drying out.

Tears are produced in the lacrimal gland. This tear gland comprises the middle layer of the tear film. Healthy tear production prevents your eyes from drying out and becoming inflamed, which in turn protects your corneas from damage.

Why Watery Eyes Occur

Watery eyes—formally known as epiphora—occur when the tear ducts become clogged and tears have nowhere to escape but outside your eyes. When eyes start tearing up like this, it’s typically caused by an irritated cornea or conjunctiva.

Common Watery Eye Symptoms

Here are the top symptoms of watery eyes:

Itching
Swelling
Excess tear production
Infection
Pain
Runny nose
Blurry/Impaired vision
Allergies
Redness

Treatment Options for Watery Eyes

But how can you stop watery eyes? When you visit Cleveland Eye Clinic for treatment, we’ll do one or more of the following things to treat the condition:

Prescribe medication
Remove any foreign objects from your eyes
Unblock your tear ducts
Perform eyelid repair

Did you know there are three different types of tears? Take a look below at the three types of tears your eyes produce.

Basal Tears

Containing three separate layers, basal tears are complex. The combined layers coat the eye and supply nutrients to its outer structures.

Basal tears are what appear when dust, follicles, or debris get in your eyes. They protect the eye from drying out and the cornea from damage. Your eyes constantly shed basal tears, even when you don’t notice.

Emotional Tears

Your eyes produce emotional tears when you’re overcome with emotion. Scientists have found traces of stress chemicals in emotional tears, which could mean crying is a form of stress relief.

Other studies suggest that crying stimulates the body’s production of endorphins—the feel-good chemical produced in the brain. Only humans are known to produce emotional tears.

Reflex Tears

The eye’s lacrimal gland produces reflex tears, which are composed primarily of water. The body makes these tears in response to an external stimulus.

For example, if a bug flies into your eye, it will produce reflex tears to flush it out.

Dry eyes result from either insufficient or low-quality tear production. Common causes include inflamed ocular glands, medications, and hormonal changes.

Common Symptoms

Common symptoms of dry eye include:

Redness
Dryness
Scratchiness
Blurred vision
Foreign body sensation
Burning sensation
Sandy or gritty sensation

When to Get Them Checked

Get your eyes checked if you’re experiencing intermittent fuzziness or any type of discomfort that over-the-counter eye drops don’t relieve.

Take Our Dry Eye Self-Test

If you want to consult an eye doctor about tear production problems, schedule an appointment at the Cleveland Eye Clinic office closest to you. Our skilled eye doctors are ready to assist you in finding the best eye care treatment available for your condition.

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Why do tears dream: interpretation of dreams about tears

When we cry, we throw out our emotions, free ourselves from negativity. And we cry not only in reality, but also in a dream. What do such dreams say? Tears in a dream can be interpreted in different ways, depending on what details are present in it. According to many dream books, sadness in a dream has the opposite meaning and portends rather joyful events.

Let's figure out what tears dream about and what famous dream books say about it. nine0003

Tears in Vanga's dream book

Tears in a dream are a good sign. Good things await you. Cry a little in a dream - to the good news. If in a dream there are rivers of tears, then real fun awaits you. You dream of hysteria with tears, you can’t calm down - expect news of someone’s wedding soon. Crying in a dream, but there are no tears, which means that something is haunting you with some unfinished business. Think about what is left unfinished so that this task does not prevent you from moving on. In any case, tears - to the flow of abundance, to goodness and prosperity. nine0003

Tears in Freud's dream book

Freud's dream book interprets dreams with tears quite unexpectedly. Any dream in which liquid appears symbolizes ejaculation. If in a dream you cry endlessly and strongly, then your new partner is exactly the one you need and who you were looking for. And consequently, sexual relations will be close to ideal and will exceed all your expectations. There is one "but" - all of the above applies only to the bed. Otherwise, your relationship will be far from ideal and, perhaps, you will not get along in everyday life. nine0003

If a man cries in a dream, such a dream shows that a man strives to possess a woman, feels a strong passion.

For a woman, a dream with tears means that she is tired of fleeting relationships and is looking for a man who will become a father to her future children.

Tears in Loff's dream book

Tears in a dream are a response to what is happening to you in reality. Loff's dream book says that you are psychologically cleansed with tears. Try to remember the details of the dream. What exactly triggered the tears? nine0003

Crying in a dream from resentment - such a dream will bring relief. Crying in a dream because of death - expect a change in the life of your loved one. If in a dream you cry and wake up in tears, you just need to throw out the accumulated negativity, something that haunts you in reality. Perhaps you are a closed person and do not show your emotions in public, suppress them. Feel free to show weakness and worries.

Tears in the Esoteric dream book

Esoteric dream book tells us that tears in a dream are the end of suffering and experiences. If in a dream you are in tears because of a trifle, an insignificant reason, you will have empty chores. Most likely, the planned trip will fail, or the project you worked on will not be accepted. nine0003

If in a dream you cry because of some letter, it means that you will soon meet a person from the past who will make you happy. Try not to attach importance to trifles if you have a dream in which you cry because of someone's grief.

Tears in the Islamic dream book

According to this dream book, tears in a dream mean joy, deliverance from sorrows, misfortunes. A good sign if you cried because of repentance for your deeds or in black thoughts. If you feel that cold tears are on your face - be happy. But if the tears were hot - expect trouble. nine0003

Tears in Miller's dream book

Miller's dream book interprets tears in a dream as follows: if you see tears in a dream, then in reality you will also cry. Tears bring misfortune to those who see them in a dream. The exception is to see a crying little child in a dream. Such a dream promises good news from your loved ones. If you see a lot of tears on your face, get ready for a black streak in life.

If a woman dreams of a crying husband, soon his financial situation may be greatly shaken. nine0003

If a woman cries and her loved one comforts her, this indicates that their relationship will not be long-term.

If a lot of people cry in a dream, in real life you may remain unheard.

Tears for no reason are a sign…

02/26/2021

Tears are one of the ways to express emotions: they cry not only from grief, pain and resentment, but also from fatigue, anger and disappointment. Tears often well up when watching a touching film. Or when you're just sad. It would seem that mood swings, sadness is a common thing for a teenager (after all, hormones are naughty), but it happens that there is too much negativity, and you want to cry all the time.

This condition is more common in girls, so in this article we are referring mainly to them. nine0003

So, even trifling moments can upset you: classmates didn’t invite you to look at the pictures at recess, a new pimple appeared, a friend didn’t answer the message, the teacher didn’t call you to the blackboard when you were thoroughly prepared, the trip that you really looked forward to was canceled. The list is endless.

Teenage girls have a lot of reasons to be upset and sad, and at some point the accumulated tension pours into streams of tears, which gradually becomes a habit. The reasons are not clear, and you get even more angry and upset. nine0003

Let's find out why this is happening and what to do

1. 1. Fatigue may be the cause of this condition. In addition to causeless tears, irritability, inattention, and outbursts of anger are observed. You need to monitor your mental health and observe the daily routine. Be sure to rest! Surfing social networks is not a vacation - the brain cannot work without a break. There is an opinion that youth can withstand any load, but it is wrong. nine0084
  2. Vitamin deficiency. Your peers often go on diets or eat a lot of junk food. With malnutrition, the body develops a lack of vitamins, in particular, B vitamins. They are responsible for the functioning of the nervous system, a failure in which causes tearfulness. Diets are not an option, a growing body needs good nutrition.
  3. Hormonal changes occur during adolescence, which can seriously affect mood swings and tearfulness. Ask your mother to arrange a medical examination: get tested for hormones - this knowledge will help you take the situation more calmly, and the doctor will determine support measures for your body. nine0084
  4. The next reason for excessive emotionality is temperament. It affects the reaction of a person in various life situations. Melancholic and choleric people are distinguished by sudden emotional outbursts - it is especially important for them to learn to control themselves. How to deal with irritation - see here
  5. Adolescence is a stressful time - first love, teenage abuse, looks and exams. One of the consequences is tears for no reason. Experts recommend sports as one of the most effective ways to deal with stress. To help - express techniques for relieving muscle tension
  6. To rule out depression, you should contact a psychologist and share your observations with him. To do this, keep a diary and record everything that happens to you: how often tears well up in your eyes, at what moments you manage to hold them back, and vice versa. These observations will help you better understand what is happening to you.

How else can you help yourself?

Take care of your "inner world": analyze your feelings to learn how to regulate them. nine0003

Track triggers (moments and situations that provoke tears) and try to understand what is happening to you.

What am I crying about now?

- What do I want now? What don't I want right now?

- What will help me deal with this?

- Whom can I turn to for support? Who's ready to just listen to me?

— If you stop crying, how will the situation change? What would I spend more time on? nine0003

By answering the questions, you will understand how to calm down when tears come.

Pay attention to the body and thoughts. As soon as you feel that a “cloud of sadness” is covering you and the corners of your lips go down, your lips begin to tremble, your eyebrows form a house and you are about to cry - tell yourself “STOP”. Go to the mirror and try to smile. At first, it will seem to you that this is meaningless: “I can’t force myself to smile“ like a fool! ” Believe me, our body is a reflection of our emotions. If you want to start rejoicing, start with a smile, it will gradually become natural and will help you tune in to a resourceful state. nine0003

Paradoxically, ordinary water helps to stop tears. Focus on the process: take your time, drink slowly and in small sips.

Breathing. Try to relax your facial muscles and take a deep breath. Imagine that sunlight passes through you from head to toe, and each ray fills you with peace and joy. You feel warmth in the top of your head, on your face, shoulders, chest, arms, stomach, thighs, knees, calves, feet. You are filled with light, and with each breath you become lighter, and with the exhalation you release all sorrows. nine0003

Spend enough time on your favorite activities , creativity and hobbies that bring you a positive charge.

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