The Benefits of Crying for Mental Health

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So if emotionally crying is uniquely human, why do we do it? Is it just an accident of evolution or are there real benefits of crying for mental health?

While plenty of research confirms the physical health benefits of tears like keeping our eyes lubricated and killing harmful bacteria,the emerging body of research on human emotional crying is starting to show that it’s just as important for our mental health. Here are some of the benefits of crying science has found so far.

Shed Stress Hormones

Altogether, the combined processes can help decrease your overall feeling of stress.

Release Mood-Boosting Hormones

Oxytocin produces a sense of well-being and calm while also making us feel more connected to others. Similarly, endorphins improve your sense of well-being while also boosting self-esteem and alleviating stress and anxiety.

Happy Crying: Why Does It Happen?

Relieve Emotional and Physical Pain

Some research suggests that emotional crying, especially more intense crying, can trigger the release of opioids in the body. While opioids are most well known for their ability to soothe physical pain, they also serve as emotional regulators, easing emotional pain.

Signal the Need for Empathy and Comfort from Others

Crying serves an important social function, too. While you might not have the words to ask for help or comfort, seeing the tears on your face is often enough for someone to understand that you need help.If you’ve ever witnessed someone crying and felt that instinctive urge to hug them or come to their aid, you know the power that crying can have.

That social function is essential for your mental health, too, as receiving empathy and help from others can make you feel less isolated and like you don’t have to carry this emotional burden alone.

Humans are a social species, so the feeling that we’re not alone is essential to our mental well-being.

Cool Your Brain Down

Like the rest of your body, your brain can get overheated and studies show that even small increases in brain temperature can have a negative impact on your mood. Meanwhile, crying—especially intense sobbing—stimulates blood flow to the brain and causes you to breathe harder.

That blood flow and increased air flow from breathing help lower your brain temperature, which in turn, can improve mood and create a sense of relief.

Improve Sleep

Another benefit of crying for mental health is the way it can aid sleep. When you cry, the parasympatheticnervous systemactivates. The PNS is responsible for returning your body tohomeostasisafter a stressful event. That process of switching from a state of stress to a state of homeostasis makes you feel relieved, calm, and ready to rest—all of which can make it easier to go to sleep.

Moreover, intense crying uses up a lot of energy so that you feel tired at the end of a long crying session. In some cases, you might feel tired enough to fall asleep quickly. The many stress-relieving and calming effects that crying has may also help you fall asleep more easily.

Getting enough restful sleep is essential for your mental health. Not only does sleep deprivation cause heightened levels of stress and psychosis but improving your sleep can improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and overall psychological wellbeing.

Crying May Not Help With Depression

For all the positive effects that crying can have on a person’s mood, some research suggests that depression might come with an impaired response to crying. Specifically, while patients with depression do seem to cry more often overall, they also tend to report less mood improvement afterward than people without depression.

Moreover, for patients withanhedonic depression—the inability to experience pleasure—it may be difficult to cry at all, meaning this important self-soothing behavior is unavailable to them.

Alternative Self-Soothing Strategies to Try

If you struggle with depression and find it difficult to cry or to feel relief after you cry, you still have other options. These are some other evidence-based strategies you can try to get those mood-boosting, stress-relieving benefits that come with crying:

16 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bekoff M.Animal emotions: exploring passionate natures. BioScience. 2000;50(10):861. Doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050[0861:AEEPN]2.0.CO;2Magazine S, Diamond A.Do other animals cry and more questions from our readers. Smithsonian Magazine.Sung K, Khan SA, Nawaz MS, et al.Lysozyme as a barrier to growth of Bacillus anthracis strain Sterne in liquid egg white, milk and beef. Food Microbiology. 2011;28(6):1231-1234. Doi:10.1016/j.fm.2011.03.002Barabino S, Benitez-del-Castillo JM, Fuchsluger T, et al.Dry eye disease treatment: the role of tear substitutes, their future, and an updated classification. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2020;24(17):8642-8652. Doi:10.26355/eurrev_202009_22801Vingerhoets AJJM, Kirschbaum C.Crying, mood, and cortisol. Psychosomatic Medicine. 1997;(59):92-93.Vingerhoets A.Why Only Humans Weep: Unravelling the Mysteries of Tears. Oxford University Press; 2013. Doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198570240.001.0001Kirtley OJ, O’Carroll RE, O’Connor RC.The role of endogenous opioids in non-suicidal self-injurious behavior: Methodological challenges. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2015;48:186-189. Doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.11.007Balsters MJH, Krahmer EJ, Swerts MGJ, Vingerhoets AJJM.Emotional tears facilitate the recognition of sadness and the perceived need for social support. Evol Psychol. 2013;11(1):148-158.Gračanin A, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJJM.Is crying a self-soothing behavior?Front Psychol. 2014;5. Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502Gračanin A, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJJM.Is crying a self-soothing behavior?Front Psychol. 2014;5. Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502Freeman D, Sheaves B, Goodwin GM, et al.The effects of improving sleep on mental health (Oasis): a randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(10):749-758. Doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30328-0Rottenberg J, Cevaal A, Vingerhoets AJJM.Do mood disorders alter crying? a pilot investigation. Depress Anxiety. 2008;25(5):E9-E15. Doi:10.1002/da.20331Steer R.Self-reported inability to cry as a symptom of anhedonic depression in outpatients with a major depressive disorder. Psychol Rep. 2011;108(3):874-882. Doi:10.2466/02.09.13.15.PR0.108.3.874-882Astuti NF, Rekawati E, Wati DNK.Decreased blood pressure among community dwelling older adults following progressive muscle relaxation and music therapy (Resik). BMC Nurs. 2019;18(S1):36. Doi:10.1186/s12912-019-0357-8Mateu M, Alda O, Inda MDM, et al.Randomized, controlled, crossover study of self-administered jacobson relaxation in chronic, nonspecific, low-back pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 2018;24(6):22-30.Harorani M, Davodabady F, Masmouei B, Barati N.The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and sleep quality in burn patients: A randomized clinical trial. Burns. 2020;46(5):1107-1113. Doi:10.1016/j.burns.2019.11.021

16 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bekoff M.Animal emotions: exploring passionate natures. BioScience. 2000;50(10):861. Doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050[0861:AEEPN]2.0.CO;2Magazine S, Diamond A.Do other animals cry and more questions from our readers. Smithsonian Magazine.Sung K, Khan SA, Nawaz MS, et al.Lysozyme as a barrier to growth of Bacillus anthracis strain Sterne in liquid egg white, milk and beef. Food Microbiology. 2011;28(6):1231-1234. Doi:10.1016/j.fm.2011.03.002Barabino S, Benitez-del-Castillo JM, Fuchsluger T, et al.Dry eye disease treatment: the role of tear substitutes, their future, and an updated classification. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2020;24(17):8642-8652. Doi:10.26355/eurrev_202009_22801Vingerhoets AJJM, Kirschbaum C.Crying, mood, and cortisol. Psychosomatic Medicine. 1997;(59):92-93.Vingerhoets A.Why Only Humans Weep: Unravelling the Mysteries of Tears. Oxford University Press; 2013. Doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198570240.001.0001Kirtley OJ, O’Carroll RE, O’Connor RC.The role of endogenous opioids in non-suicidal self-injurious behavior: Methodological challenges. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2015;48:186-189. Doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.11.007Balsters MJH, Krahmer EJ, Swerts MGJ, Vingerhoets AJJM.Emotional tears facilitate the recognition of sadness and the perceived need for social support. Evol Psychol. 2013;11(1):148-158.Gračanin A, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJJM.Is crying a self-soothing behavior?Front Psychol. 2014;5. Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502Gračanin A, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJJM.Is crying a self-soothing behavior?Front Psychol. 2014;5. Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502Freeman D, Sheaves B, Goodwin GM, et al.The effects of improving sleep on mental health (Oasis): a randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(10):749-758. Doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30328-0Rottenberg J, Cevaal A, Vingerhoets AJJM.Do mood disorders alter crying? a pilot investigation. Depress Anxiety. 2008;25(5):E9-E15. Doi:10.1002/da.20331Steer R.Self-reported inability to cry as a symptom of anhedonic depression in outpatients with a major depressive disorder. Psychol Rep. 2011;108(3):874-882. Doi:10.2466/02.09.13.15.PR0.108.3.874-882Astuti NF, Rekawati E, Wati DNK.Decreased blood pressure among community dwelling older adults following progressive muscle relaxation and music therapy (Resik). BMC Nurs. 2019;18(S1):36. Doi:10.1186/s12912-019-0357-8Mateu M, Alda O, Inda MDM, et al.Randomized, controlled, crossover study of self-administered jacobson relaxation in chronic, nonspecific, low-back pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 2018;24(6):22-30.Harorani M, Davodabady F, Masmouei B, Barati N.The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and sleep quality in burn patients: A randomized clinical trial. Burns. 2020;46(5):1107-1113. Doi:10.1016/j.burns.2019.11.021

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bekoff M.Animal emotions: exploring passionate natures. BioScience. 2000;50(10):861. Doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050[0861:AEEPN]2.0.CO;2Magazine S, Diamond A.Do other animals cry and more questions from our readers. Smithsonian Magazine.Sung K, Khan SA, Nawaz MS, et al.Lysozyme as a barrier to growth of Bacillus anthracis strain Sterne in liquid egg white, milk and beef. Food Microbiology. 2011;28(6):1231-1234. Doi:10.1016/j.fm.2011.03.002Barabino S, Benitez-del-Castillo JM, Fuchsluger T, et al.Dry eye disease treatment: the role of tear substitutes, their future, and an updated classification. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2020;24(17):8642-8652. Doi:10.26355/eurrev_202009_22801Vingerhoets AJJM, Kirschbaum C.Crying, mood, and cortisol. Psychosomatic Medicine. 1997;(59):92-93.Vingerhoets A.Why Only Humans Weep: Unravelling the Mysteries of Tears. Oxford University Press; 2013. Doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198570240.001.0001Kirtley OJ, O’Carroll RE, O’Connor RC.The role of endogenous opioids in non-suicidal self-injurious behavior: Methodological challenges. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2015;48:186-189. Doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.11.007Balsters MJH, Krahmer EJ, Swerts MGJ, Vingerhoets AJJM.Emotional tears facilitate the recognition of sadness and the perceived need for social support. Evol Psychol. 2013;11(1):148-158.Gračanin A, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJJM.Is crying a self-soothing behavior?Front Psychol. 2014;5. Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502Gračanin A, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJJM.Is crying a self-soothing behavior?Front Psychol. 2014;5. Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502Freeman D, Sheaves B, Goodwin GM, et al.The effects of improving sleep on mental health (Oasis): a randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(10):749-758. Doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30328-0Rottenberg J, Cevaal A, Vingerhoets AJJM.Do mood disorders alter crying? a pilot investigation. Depress Anxiety. 2008;25(5):E9-E15. Doi:10.1002/da.20331Steer R.Self-reported inability to cry as a symptom of anhedonic depression in outpatients with a major depressive disorder. Psychol Rep. 2011;108(3):874-882. Doi:10.2466/02.09.13.15.PR0.108.3.874-882Astuti NF, Rekawati E, Wati DNK.Decreased blood pressure among community dwelling older adults following progressive muscle relaxation and music therapy (Resik). BMC Nurs. 2019;18(S1):36. Doi:10.1186/s12912-019-0357-8Mateu M, Alda O, Inda MDM, et al.Randomized, controlled, crossover study of self-administered jacobson relaxation in chronic, nonspecific, low-back pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 2018;24(6):22-30.Harorani M, Davodabady F, Masmouei B, Barati N.The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and sleep quality in burn patients: A randomized clinical trial. Burns. 2020;46(5):1107-1113. Doi:10.1016/j.burns.2019.11.021

Bekoff M.Animal emotions: exploring passionate natures. BioScience. 2000;50(10):861. Doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2000)050[0861:AEEPN]2.0.CO;2

Magazine S, Diamond A.Do other animals cry and more questions from our readers. Smithsonian Magazine.

Sung K, Khan SA, Nawaz MS, et al.Lysozyme as a barrier to growth of Bacillus anthracis strain Sterne in liquid egg white, milk and beef. Food Microbiology. 2011;28(6):1231-1234. Doi:10.1016/j.fm.2011.03.002

Barabino S, Benitez-del-Castillo JM, Fuchsluger T, et al.Dry eye disease treatment: the role of tear substitutes, their future, and an updated classification. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences. 2020;24(17):8642-8652. Doi:10.26355/eurrev_202009_22801

Vingerhoets AJJM, Kirschbaum C.Crying, mood, and cortisol. Psychosomatic Medicine. 1997;(59):92-93.

Vingerhoets A.Why Only Humans Weep: Unravelling the Mysteries of Tears. Oxford University Press; 2013. Doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198570240.001.0001

Kirtley OJ, O’Carroll RE, O’Connor RC.The role of endogenous opioids in non-suicidal self-injurious behavior: Methodological challenges. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2015;48:186-189. Doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.11.007

Balsters MJH, Krahmer EJ, Swerts MGJ, Vingerhoets AJJM.Emotional tears facilitate the recognition of sadness and the perceived need for social support. Evol Psychol. 2013;11(1):148-158.

Gračanin A, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJJM.Is crying a self-soothing behavior?Front Psychol. 2014;5. Doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502

Freeman D, Sheaves B, Goodwin GM, et al.The effects of improving sleep on mental health (Oasis): a randomised controlled trial with mediation analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry. 2017;4(10):749-758. Doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(17)30328-0

Rottenberg J, Cevaal A, Vingerhoets AJJM.Do mood disorders alter crying? a pilot investigation. Depress Anxiety. 2008;25(5):E9-E15. Doi:10.1002/da.20331

Steer R.Self-reported inability to cry as a symptom of anhedonic depression in outpatients with a major depressive disorder. Psychol Rep. 2011;108(3):874-882. Doi:10.2466/02.09.13.15.PR0.108.3.874-882

Astuti NF, Rekawati E, Wati DNK.Decreased blood pressure among community dwelling older adults following progressive muscle relaxation and music therapy (Resik). BMC Nurs. 2019;18(S1):36. Doi:10.1186/s12912-019-0357-8

Mateu M, Alda O, Inda MDM, et al.Randomized, controlled, crossover study of self-administered jacobson relaxation in chronic, nonspecific, low-back pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 2018;24(6):22-30.

Harorani M, Davodabady F, Masmouei B, Barati N.The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on anxiety and sleep quality in burn patients: A randomized clinical trial. Burns. 2020;46(5):1107-1113. Doi:10.1016/j.burns.2019.11.021

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