{"id":20728,"date":"2020-08-31T18:53:23","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T18:53:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/?p=20728"},"modified":"2020-08-31T18:53:23","modified_gmt":"2020-08-31T18:53:23","slug":"benefits-of-crying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humnutrition.com\/blog\/benefits-of-crying\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s Why We Cry\u2014And 7 Benefits of Doing So"},"content":{"rendered":"Here’s a closer look at how and why we shed tears. Plus: seven health benefits of crying for your mood and more.<\/em>\r\n\r\nThink back to the last time you cried.\r\n\r\nHow did you feel afterwards? Better, worse, about the same?\r\n\r\nIn many cases throughout the literature, crying reduces stress and improves mood<\/a>. It\u2019s a soothing behavior. This, of course, isn’t a modern revelation.\r\n\r\nAfter all, as the Ancient Roman poet Ovid put it: \u201cIt is some relief to weep. Grief is satisfied and carried off by tears.\u201d\r\n\r\nIn this article, we\u2019ll explore the benefits of crying, mostly as they relate to mood. We\u2019ll ask why, exactly, we might feel better after shedding tears.\r\n\r\nBut first, let\u2019s explore the basic facts of crying.\r\n

What Is Crying?<\/h2>\r\nCrying is defined as the shedding of tears from the lacrimal apparatus\u2014a series of structures and glands surrounding the eye. This tear shedding may be accompanied by changes in facial expression, sounds, and the convulsive inhaling and exhaling known as sobbing.\r\n\r\nHumans are the only animals that cry. Other animals call out in distress\u2014like when baby birds are separated from their mothers\u2014but we\u2019re the only species that breaks down in tears.\r\n\r\nCrying is an expression of emotion. It\u2019s a uniquely human response to a wide range of situations and stimuli, from watching a sad film to grieving the loss of a loved one.\r\n\r\nCharles Darwin, the father of modern biology, didn’t believe<\/a> that crying had any real purpose for adults. He thought it was merely a relic from childhood, when distressed babies would squeeze out tears through clenched eyelids.\r\n\r\nToday, however, that view has shifted.\r\n\r\n\"Father\r\n

Why Do We Cry?<\/h2>\r\nCrying doesn\u2019t just affect our own mood and stress levels. It also affects the feelings, behaviors, and responses of those around us.\r\n\r\nIn other words, crying likely has two main functions:\r\n
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  1. Self-soothing<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Social signaling<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nThe self-soothing effect is often described as catharsis. After crying, many people report feeling happier, less stressed, and more relaxed. We\u2019ll cover these crying benefits more in the next section.\r\n\r\nThe other function of crying is social. This prosocial effect of crying can take many forms, including crying to:\r\n