A biochemist at the University of Minnesota, proposed that people feel better after crying due to the elimination of adrenocorticotropic hormones associated with stress.
In medieval times, tears were associated with bodily humors and so crying was seen as a way of releasing excess humors from the brain. At one time, it was thought that emotions were only reflexes to rational thought.
In a Wikipedia.org article, according to the German Society of Ophthalmology, women cry about 30 to 64 times a year and men cry on average of 6 to 17 times per year. Men tend to cry between two and four minutes while women cry for about six minutes.
Tears do have a biological benefit because tension is released when we cry. It does provide a cleansing that allows the body to discharge toxins. Crying bathes and cleanses your inner self as you gets you emotionally clean. It can also refresh your heart.
So the next time you feel the need to listen to your upbringing and suppress those emotions by holding back the tears, think twice! Holding back may be necessary in a single moment but at some point, allow your body to release the stress of the moment and have a good cry. It may just be what the body needs and you may find that you’ll be refreshed, renewed and invigorated!
Further Reading:
1) Men And Women Cry Differently
2) When Is Crying Okay?
3) Newborns And Crying Babies
4) Biology Of Crying
Sources Of Information:
1) Read It And Weep, Crybabies - Wall Street Journal, May 4, 2011
2) Is Crying Good For You - EmotionalProcessing.org.uk
3) Crying - Wikipedia.com
4) Don't Apologize For Crying - AssociatedContent.com
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