Is crying good for you? It might happen in some of your worst moments, but crying may be providing benefits that you need in those times. Crying may help you release emotions like sadness, anger, grief, shame or fear. You may express powerful, positive feelings like joy, relief or awe. Just like you might cry when you’re overwhelmingly sad, you might cry when beautiful music, a religious event or nature inspires awe.

Find out how crying may be healthy for you

Crying is one part of the full range of emotional experience and expression, and should be accepted as part of that. At Lightfully, we have seen that it can provide:

• Relief from emotional pain

Crying doesn’t just happen when you reach a painful state. It may help you find relief from that state of mind. When you cry, your brain might use endorphins or oxytocin to help you feel better.

• Release of stress hormones

Emotional tears can contain trace amounts of stress hormones like cortisol. While crying may promote a subjective sense of relief, research has also shown that it may lower cortisol levels in the body.

• Navigation of difficult emotions

At extreme emotional lows, processing your feelings might feel impossible. You may have trouble fully expressing grief, anger or loss in words, but the physical experience of crying may give you an outlet.

• Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system

Crying may occur when your parasympathetic nervous system becomes more active, or it may follow the activation. This can slow your heartbeat and regulate your breathing to help you calm down. Your parasympathetic nervous system may fulfill its role of helping you rest and recover.

What if crying is difficult?

Maybe you’re not comfortable crying; maybe it makes you anxious or it makes you feel vulnerable. Perhaps it feels like you need to cry, but tears don’t come to your eyes. You may have trouble crying if:

• You were punished for crying as a child — If crying preceded negative reactions or abuse, you may have learned not to cry to protect yourself.
• You have been taught to suppress your emotions. — Feeling your emotions fully and allowing yourself to express them may not come naturally at first.
• You are uncomfortable being vulnerable or seeming “weak” — Having to maintain a strong or stoic appearance may prevent you from expressing yourself.
• You feel emotionally disconnected or apathetic — Your emotions may be dampened by a mental health condition like depression.
• You don’t identify or express your emotions easily — You may have alexithymia, which is a trait that makes noticing, naming and expressing feelings difficult.
• You have an eye condition — You might have dry eyes, so you are less likely to produce tears regardless of your feelings.

Find compassionate mental health support Lightfully

The answer to “Is crying good for you?” might be yes sometimes, but that may not make what you’re going through feel easier to you. If you’re brought to tears by your thoughts, emotions or relationships, it’s time to find ways to feel better.

If you need support that goes beyond traditional outpatient therapy, Lightfully can help. With us, you can do the following through our Intensive Outpatient Program, Partial Hospitalization Program or Residential Treatment:

• Explore several levels of care to meet your needs. 

We offer care in person and online. With virtual treatment, you can participate in your own home and reduce barriers to treatment.

• Connect with a licensed clinical therapist. 

They can provide care tailored to you and what you’re going through. At Lightfully, our Precision Care Model reflects our whole-person approach to treatment, seeing you as more than a diagnosis.

• Work with an experienced psychiatrist. 

If you are considering taking psychiatric medication or already taking medication, we can provide medication management services. You can discuss any issues or concerns with us.

• Meet others in group sessions. 

Clinicians lead these sessions for people going through similar things. You can connect, share experiences and discuss healthy coping with people who get it.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.