Crying Actually Helps Reduce Stress, So Schedule A Sobbing Sesh!

Do you often find yourself fighting back tears when you’re stressed, only to bottle them up deep inside so you don’t ruin your makeup or admit things are getting a little too much for you?

Well, it’s time to unleash the water works and give yourself a break, because a study has confirmed that crying actually helps reduce stress! 

A recent study published in the journal Emotion documented the many benefits of crying and how it is great for your health. 

They conducted a study where participants were assigned to watch either sad videos that prompted tears or neutral videos for 17 minutes before then undergoing a stress test. 

They found that those who watched the sad videos maintained more stable breathing rates during the test, as well as their heart rates decelerating before crying and not rising above normal levels during the test. 

Crying was found to facilitate coping and recovering skills during times of stress, meaning you’ll be on the emotional and physical mend a lot quicker!

However, the non criers experienced increased respiration and heart rates during stress test, meaning their recovery time and health in the long run was not as good. 

The study revealed, "These results suggest that crying may assist in generally maintaining biological homeostasis, perhaps consciously through self-soothing via purposeful breathing and unconsciously through regulation of heart rate.”

Not only this, but according to the University of Pennsylvania Penn School of Medicine, crying helps the body get rid of unwanted toxins and hormones that lead to increased stress!

As we all know, we cry for different reasons and there’s actually different kinds of tears:

• Reflex
• Continuous
• Emotional

Wondering what the difference is between them all?

Dr. Judith Orloff, author of The Empath’s Survival Guide, explains that:

• Reflex tears clear irritants from your eyes
• Continuous tears keep your eyes lubricated
• Emotional tears help your body rid itself of stress hormones and promote healing. 

She explained the importance of crying, writing, “The new enlightened paradigm of what constitutes a powerful man and woman is someone who has the strength and self awareness to cry.

"Try to let go of outmoded, untrue, conceptions about crying. It is good to cry. It is healthy to cry. This helps to emotionally clear sadness and stress."

Do you feel better after having a good cry? This is why!

So steer away from crying being a taboo and let it all out!

You can read more about the study HERE. 

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