Despite all our efforts to be optimistic, mindful and motivated, to overcome setbacks and embrace all that is positive in the world, some days just do not go to plan. To be human means to have bad days, more challenging days, and days you just want to scrub from our memory.
Life can be complicated, messy, uncertain and unpredictable. Sometimes we don’t want to read about positivity, and seeking meaning and purpose in life. We just want to curl up under a duvet and cry it out. And that’s perfectly OK. In fact, crying has more benefits than we realise, I’ve discovered.
A natural, human response
Crying is a natural, human response that serves as a powerful tool for maintaining emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. While it is often associated with vulnerability, shedding tears is actually a healthy way to process emotions, relieve stress, and build social connections.
Our understanding of crying has evolved significantly over time, with cultural, scientific, and psychological perspectives shedding new light on its importance.
Here’s why crying is good for you, and how our knowledge of this deeply human behaviour has changed over the years, particular in relation to men’s mental health.
The Physical and Emotional Benefits of Crying
One of the main reasons crying is beneficial is its role in emotional release. Emotions like sadness, frustration, or even joy can become overwhelming when they are bottled up inside.
Crying provides a healthy outlet for these feelings, allowing the body and mind to process and release the stress they carry. After a good cry, many people experience a sense of relief, as though a weight has been lifted.
This release can help individuals gain clarity about their emotions, reducing the burden of holding in painful or difficult feelings.
Physiological benefits
Crying also has direct physiological benefits. When a person cries, their body releases endorphins, natural chemicals that act as mood boosters and pain relievers.
Additionally, crying reduces levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, helping to regulate the body’s stress levels. This makes crying an effective form of stress management, contributing to better physical and mental health.
Tears of happiness
Crying isn’t only a response to negative emotions. Tears of happiness can occur when people are moved by a significant event, such as reuniting with a loved one or achieving a long-sought goal.
These tears demonstrate the depth of human emotion and the complex ways in which we experience life.
Social Connection and Empathy
Crying also has social benefits, fostering empathy and connection. When people cry in front of others, it can deepen bonds and create a sense of understanding between individuals.
Seeing someone cry often elicits compassion and support, encouraging acts of kindness. This social aspect of crying can lead to a sense of community, as people share in each other’s struggles and joys.
It serves as a reminder that we are not alone in our experiences, and that seeking comfort from others is a natural part of being human.
How Our Understanding of Crying Has Changed
Our understanding of crying has evolved over time, reflecting broader changes in cultural attitudes and scientific knowledge. In ancient times, crying was often seen as a physical reaction with little emphasis on its emotional dimensions.
Ancient Greek physicians like Hippocrates viewed tears as a way for the body to purge excess fluids, helping maintain balance.
Similarly, during the medieval period, crying was sometimes interpreted as a sign of religious devotion, particularly in Christian contexts. Tears were seen as expressions of piety and humility, but their emotional significance was not yet fully explored.
With the rise of Enlightenment thinking and modern psychology in the 19th century, the understanding of crying shifted towards a focus on emotions.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin, in his work The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872), argued that crying was a universal human behaviour with evolutionary roots, serving as a form of communication—especially in infancy—to signal distress and the need for care.
This marked the beginning of a more nuanced view, where crying was seen not just as a bodily function but as a window into the inner emotional world.
Sigmund Freud
Psychologists like Sigmund Freud explored the role of crying in releasing inner tension and unresolved feelings. This period of study laid the groundwork for understanding crying as an essential part of emotional health, a perspective that has continued to expand with more recent research.
Modern Perspectives on Crying and Mental Health
Today, research in psychology and neuroscience has revealed the many ways crying benefits mental health. We now know that crying stimulates the release of endorphins, offering physiological relief, and reduces stress levels by lowering cortisol.
Crying is also recognised for its social functions, helping to communicate vulnerability and draw support from others.
Boys cry too
The modern view of crying has also become more inclusive regarding gender norms and emotional expression. In the past, crying was often seen as more acceptable for women, while men were expected to suppress their tears as a sign of toughness. This can have negative consequences, such as increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of isolation.
However, recent cultural shifts towards mental health awareness have begun to challenge these norms. There have been huge benefits in high profile figures such as Ryan Reynolds, Prince Harry, Harry Styles and Ed Sheeran all speaking openly about mental health struggles.
Dr Alex George and mental health
Dr Alex George is known for his advocacy for mental health awareness and wellbeing. A former contestant on Love Island, he later became a trusted voice on mental health, particularly among young people. He has utilised his platform to shed light on mental health challenges and support initiatives aimed at improving the mental health landscape.
There is now a growing understanding that expressing emotions, including through crying, is important for everyone, regardless of gender.
Embracing Crying as a Path to Well-Being
Crying, therefore, should not be seen as a sign of weakness but as a natural and healthy way to process emotions, manage stress, and connect with others.
Whether in response to sadness, joy, or a profound experience, crying allows us to be in tune with our emotions.
As our understanding of crying has grown, we’ve learned to appreciate its complexity and its crucial role in emotional balance.
Crying helps release pent-up emotions, provides physiological relief, and strengthens social bonds, reminding us that it is okay to be vulnerable.
In a world that often emphasises toughness, the power of a good cry should not be underestimated—it is, after all, one of the most human things we can do.
