THE EFFECT BEHIND YOUR TEAS
November 27, 2021
British physician Sir Henry Maudsley said: "Sorrows which find no vent in tears, may soon make other organs weep".
We all feel sad sometimes and we might cry. Shedding emotional tears is a way to relieve physical and emotional pain which can help us to bear and overcome a painful situation. Also, by shedding tears we can receive more social support and help(1).
It’s positively healthy to cry just as it’s normal to be sad sometimes. Emotions are a very important part of being human and tears can be considered as overflowing emotions which have reached a critical level and needs attention (2).
Culture can have a big effect on crying in individuals. In more masculine cultures where crying is associated with being weak and is accompanied by shame and guilt, individuals report less mood improvement after crying compared to cultures with feminine values where crying is more accepted (2).
But is it possible to become dependent on crying?
After crying, endorphin hormones which are natural opioids are released (3), and if you are in an emotionally difficult situation, it is probable that you cry more to remove the pain, and as a result, you might enter a depressive mood which can lead to crying even more frequently. This is a cycle we want to avoid because it can affect our daily performance and decision-making. Research has shown that overt crying can suppress immunity (2).
Habitual crying in facing life’s difficulties is an ineffective and unhealthy way of dealing with problems.
But how can we replace sadness with joy?
1. Add small positive habits to your daily routine and stick to them.
Start as small as making your bed every day or do 5 minutes of meditation. Everything needs repetition to become a part of your behavior. Positive habits will bring you more energy, motivation, and focus.
2. Action. Do something about the problem, search for solutions and consult with others about it. For every problem there are at least two solutions and talking with others can open your perspective toward other possibilities.
3. Learning from our difficulties: Most things happen for a reason, and every difficulty in life provides an opportunity to grow and learn. If we can just think and reflect objectively, then write down what we learned from a situation - that is progress.
4. Please share your answers to these points with me. I’d love to learn more about you and your unique perspectives towards life.
For more information about this very interesting topic which we just took a very short look into, consider reading these articles or watching the videos:
Vídeos:
Articles:
1.Zickfeld, J., & Grüning, D. J. (2021). A Meta-Analysis on the Autonomic Nervous System Correlates of Human Emotional Crying.
2.Stougie, S., Vingerhoets, A., & Cornelius, R. R. (2004). Crying, catharsis, and health. In Emotional expression and health (pp. 291-304). Routledge.
3.Byun, H. S., Hwang, H., & Kim, G. D. (2020). Crying therapy intervention for breast cancer survivors: development and effects. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(13), 4911.