Have you ever been called a crybaby? Well, medical research shows that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It turns out that there are real benefits to shedding tears that help both our physical and emotional health.
If you’ve ever felt better after a good, long cry, you know that crying reduces stress. Stress is not only harmful emotionally, but has also been linked to a variety of health problems including heart disease, obesity and high blood pressure. Tears help remove chemicals that trigger cortisol, the stress hormone.
Tears also __help flush out toxic chemicals out of our bod__y. Depending on the type of tear–emotional, basal or eye watering–crying can protect our eyes from irritants and foreign substances, as well as rid the eye of potentially harmful bacteria.
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Most importantly, crying acts as a type of emotional catharsis. When you shed tears, you are expressing your emotions in a real way, which can help you deal with difficult situations. Crying also tends to bring people together since seeing tears tends to bring out an individual’s nurturing, caring side.
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I have to admit…I cry easily. Emotional TV shows, really bad days, or even just seeing someone else cry can make me tear up. You know that girl in the movie theaters who walks out with mascara running down her face? That's me. But honestly, I never feel bad about it. Not only does crying make me feel better nine times out of ten, but my reputation as a softie has made me the go-to girl for friends who need to talk it out with someone they trust.
That’s not to say you should cry all the time. In fact, too many tears can be signs of depression or stress disorders. But, every now and then, if you feel like shedding a tear, go for it. Be the crybaby. Trust me, it will probably help lift your mood.
Does crying make you feel better too?
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