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A Good Cry Maybe Just What the Doctor Ordered

Updated: Aug 19, 2020



Sometimes, what you might really need to make it through the day, is a good cry.


While it’s often thought by some to be a sign of weakness, weeping actually has many benefits for a person’s physical and mental wellbeing, according to Stephen Sideroff, assistant professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral science at the University of California.


Often throughout childhood, people are taught to hold in their emotions.


However, Professor Sideroff says, "These feelings have energy. You have to constrict in different ways to hold them in” He suggests by holding in our feelings, we create an imbalance that can create harmful effects, such as lashing out at friends and families or finding difficulty work within professional settings.


Sideroff adds, "Crying and honoring your own needs and sensitivities is a critical part of self-care and being loving with oneself, being aware of one's needs and honoring them to benefit the health of the body, mind and spirit."


According to experts at the University of Penn, sobbing can improve a person’s mood exponentially. When we cry, we release the toxins, hormones, and stress that build up in our bodies, which actually can lead to better sleep and boosts the immune system.


With a reduction in mental strain, mood is improved. These enhancements lead to better relationships with friends and families. With lower stress, a person is better able to enjoy time with their loved ones. The team at Penn also suggests crying in front of others can help our connection with them, by opening up to them more, and deepening the rapport as a result.

Weeping may have some positive influences on our bodies.


Shedding some tears can help improve vision and protect our eyes' microscopic debris. Like, the rest of our bodies, our eyes need to remain hydrated. When we cry, we replenish our eyes with much-needed fluids, which results in better sight.


Even your nose noses benefit from a good cry, as tear ducts are connected to the nose, so when they are activated, the nose responds by flushing out bacteria, in the same way, that our eyes do.


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