7 Ways In Which Crying Is Actually Good For You

Crying is a big taboo in this country.

“Boys don’t cry.”
“Big girls don’t cry.”
“Don’t be a wuss. Stop crying!”

These are some of the many common reactions to tears. Most people take crying as a sign of weakness while the reality is quite contrary to this common assumption. Several studies done on human psychology have revealed that people who are able to cry have a strong personality. They have the confidence and capability to face their emotions, deal with them and move on.

Still not convinced?
Here are a few reasons why crying can actually be good for you:

 

1. Helps you see things better

According to the National Eye Institute, tears can drastically improve your vision. Tears clear the eyeballs and the eyelids from dust and hydrate the membranes. If your vision is blurry, maybe you should try watching a really sad movie once in a while.

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2. Reduces stress

You know what happens to people when they take a lot of stress? A lot of really dangerous things like headache, blood pressure, and even heart attack! And you know what happens when you cry? The hormones that build up the tension and stress are released from crying and as a result you feel lighter. Even though the situation might remain the same, you can think of a solution when you have a clear head.

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3. Gives your eyes an anti-bacterial rinse

You know what’s common among tears, mucus, semen, milk and saliva? All of them contain lysozyme – an anti-bacterial fluid that has the capacity to kill 90% to 95% bacteria in the span of 5 to 10 minutes only. So unless you want to have eye flu or conjunctivitis, let go of your tears every once in a while. (Btw, I know you are still stuck at semen)

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4. Strengthens the bond of a relationship

You don’t need studies to believe in this. If you have ever experienced something like this, you would know it’s true. After a long fight, when two people cry it out and hug each other, the relationship reaches a whole new level. People reach a comfort level with each other where they can shed tears without feeling the pressure of being judged for it. A good cry or two can naturally heal us both physiologically and psychologically.

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5. Expressing emotions can increase your creativity

Every artist knows that their best pieces are the ones that are written from their personal experience. The things that are closer to their heart can be expressed the best through any medium they choose. And when you cry it out, you are more aware of the sentiments that the situation made you go through. You are open about it, you have faced it and hence you can express it better than anybody else. So if you are feeling stuck, then think of what’s troubling you, cry it out, and open the door to many new avenues for yourself.

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6. It can induce the ‘feel good’ factor

Studies done at the University of Florida show that crying is a lot more effective than most anti-depressants available in the market. Plus it has no side-effects. When you start feeling depressed and think real hard about that overwhelming feeling. Let it reach its peak, and when you can’t hold it in anymore, let go. When you are done crying, you are going to feel much better.

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7. Tears clear out the toxins

A biochemist named William Frey (not the Game of Thrones guy, he was Walder Frey) did an intensive research on tears and his results showed that emotional tears clear out a lot of toxins that are mostly generated as a by-product of stress. Compared to irritation tears (caused by peeling onions and other similar effects), emotional tears are more efficient in clearing these toxins. These toxins if stored inside for a long time, show many adverse effects on the eyes. So crying is like a spa or a massage therapy for your eye glands, and it’s free of cost!

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There is no shame in crying. You are not proving anything to anyone by holding your feelings in. If you cannot cry at all then that means there is actually something wrong with you (remember, the Chandler effect?). No, you are not dead inside, but you are probably one of those few people who suffer from melancholic depression or other such mental disorder which needs to be treated.

For the rest of us out there, let it go!

Ps: If you can’t stop crying or cry way too frequently, then that’s a problem too and you need to see a psychiatrist. In cases like these, too much crying doesn’t help the situation but rather worsens it.