Did you know that crying is really good for you? According to Dr. William H. Frey II, a neuroscience researcher, tears, "are not just a human response to grief and frustration, they are proof of good health." Crying is a natural way to reduce the emotional stress that, left unchecked, has negative physical effects on the body, including increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and other stress-related disorders.
Research shows that 85% of women and 73% of men feel less angry and less sad after crying. Many people think that crying is a sign of weakness that prevents them from coping with their worries and emotions, when in fact crying means the opposite. Charles Dickens, a great novelist of the Victorian era confirms it by saying: "we should never be ashamed of our tears".
Here are 5 reasons that crying often is related to mental strength:
You are not afraid of your emotions
When you release the negative emotions that can affect your mental health, it means that you do not run away from your feelings and you face your emotions. In addition, you also learn how to manage them and benefit from them. This means that you are able to cope with the problems of everyday life, because you do not try to escape it.
You do not care what others think of you
Who says crying says vulnerability; it takes a lot of courage to show this aspect of oneself to others without worrying about what they might think of us. We live in a much too structured world, where we are almost discouraged from manifesting our emotions, for fear of disrupting our workday, being less productive, being judged by others, or for some other such absurd reason.
When you agree to cry, you reject these social "norms" and confirm that manifesting your emotions makes you a human being, balanced and in good emotional health.
You know that crying helps you evacuate repressed feelings
Recent psychological studies have shown that crying stimulates the release of endorphins secreted by our brain, and "well-being" hormones that also act as natural analgesics. Crying also reduces levels of manganese, a chemical element that, in excess, can exasperate the brain and body.
There is no doubt that crying allows a general release of bad emotions, even temporarily. This allows us to think more clearly about the problems and not let ourselves be overwhelmed by them.
Crying has healing properties
The healing properties of tears are not limited to sad tears, but also tears of joy. In both cases, you are dealing with extreme emotion. And allowing her to stay in our body can be very dangerous both physically and mentally.
In addition to regulating the stress response, crying, especially tears, has a scientifically proven advantage. According to a 2008 study by the University of South Florida, tears release toxins, help improve vision and can kill 90 to 95% of all bacteria in just 5 to 10 minutes.
Crying helps others feel more comfortable
Tears are a positive representation of who we are. They prove that we care about ourselves and others.
On the other hand, crying in front of people exposes some vulnerability. It allows others to feel closer to us, to understand us, to help us, and to feel empathy ...
Crying does not solve your problems, change the situation or bring people back into your life. But it gives you an emotional outlet that triggers the healing process, relieves stress, and makes you mentally stronger.
