Crying is an externally observable natural response of human beings to various emotions such as grief, sadness, joy, irritation, frustration, or anxiety. Having mentioned that it is a natural response, it is not something usual. People of all genders give in to crying more than usual. However, it is estimated that women, in general, tend to be slightly more emotional as compared to men and hence tend to cry more as well. On interesting fact about crying is that human beings are the only animals (social) that can cry.
Statistics, reports, surveys, and data from few international societies reflect that women cry between 30 to 64 times in a year and men on an average cry between 6 to 17 times in a year. The duration for which women generally cry is also more. Women cry for about six minutes on an average, while men cry for over 2-4 minutes. 65% of cases in women are such where crying turns into sobbing. Opposed to this only 6% of cases in men are characterized by the same. It has also been observed that the gap between the ratio of men and women who cry often is more in developed, democratic, wealthier, and feminine countries.
What Causes Crying?
The human body has 3 types of tears that it produces by default, but we are not aware of them. They are:
1. Basal Tears
To keep the eyes moist while blinking, basal tears are produced. They are characterized by antibacterial liquids that are good for keeping the eyes clean and dust-free.
2. Reflex Tears
These are the result of external stimulants entering the eyes and causing irritation. The main sources being, wind, dust particles, onions, or smoke. They are released to protect the eye and flushing the irritants out.
3. Emotional Tears
These are the tears we refer to most of the time when we speak about someone crying. These are caused by varied emotions and contain high levels of stress hormone compared to others. These tears express the emotions a person is going through. Stress exits our body mostly in the form of emotional tears.
Benefits of Crying – Why is it Good?
⦁ Self-Soothing
When you cry, you let out the turmoil of emotions that you are going through in the form of tears. It produces a sense of relief and self-soothing. It helps you stay calm and deal with stress in a better way.
⦁ Reduction in Pain
Researches have shown that crying helps people in reducing their pain. This happens because of the release of endorphins and oxytocin. These hormones make people feel good and help them ease their emotional and physical pain. Hence it promotes a sense of self-being indirectly. 40% of people weep alone and 88.8% of people feel better after crying.
⦁ Uplifts your Mood
When you cry, various chemicals and hormones are released. This causes stress relief and calms the body, which indirectly helps you in lifting your mood and feeling better.
⦁ Enhances Sleep
Researches claim that crying can help babies sleep better. Coming to adults, it is yet to be known if their sleep is also enhanced by crying. However, since crying causes mood-enhancement, relieves stress, and helps in self-soothing it should help in going to bed with enhanced sleep cycles.
⦁ Improves Vision & Helps Fight Bacteria
Tears act as a protective film and help us fight bacteria by killing them. This is caused by the liquid Lysozyme present in tears. This liquid has antimicrobial properties and hence helps fight different types of bacteria. The tears produced also help keep the eyes moist when blinking and hence help in better vision.
When is it Time to See a Doctor?
Crying occasionally as a result of anger, frustration, sadness, anxiety or joy is okay, but when the frequency increases, it may be a warning sign of depression. Crying becomes a sign of depression when:
- The crying frequency rises more than normal
- It starts affecting your day-to-day routine
- It is not under your control anymore
- You are unable to figure the reason behind it
A Few Other Signs of Depression:
- Troubled concentration and focus on things
- Troubled sleeping cycle patterns
- Anxiety existing over a long period of time
- The tendency to harm yourself accompanies by suicidal thoughts
- Lack of motivation, energy, and zeal
- Feeling anxious, irritable and anxious
We are Here for you- Reach Out
If you know someone who is experiencing signs of depression, please reach out to a doctor or therapist. Medical consultation is available round the corner today. If it is an extreme situation call the emergency service line numbers or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Make an appointment with your doctor or mental health professional. We, at Advanced Telemed Services, provide telepsychiatry services with the help of remotely operational technologies. For more information, on how we can serve you or your business, big or small, contact us at info@advancedtelemedservices.com or call us at 855-933-3600.