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Read this in HINDI.
When you cry, it feels like the end of the world. But there is more to crying than just the miserable feeling. When something triggers an emotional response, the endocrine system releases hormones to the ocular area which fills your eyes with tears. Here are more things that happen to your body when you cry
Crying sends you in fight mode
During an emotional breakdown, the brain produces the stress hormone cortisol which makes you hyper. This sends you into fight mode [1]. So the next time you break down just wait to calm down before you talk out and take up a fight. Find out which of these symptoms of stress do you have?
Your voice gets heavy
Ever wondered why it feels like there is a mass in your throat when you cry. Your voice is heavy. The stress hormone cortisol also creates tension in your throat and slows down your breathing. It is termed as the globus sensation when your throat gets inflamed, and you get a feeling that there is a mass inside your throat [2].
Crying uplifts your mood
This is not news that crying is an excellent way to get rid of the excess emotional baggage. The emotional tears release leucine-enkephalin, an endorphin that boosts your mood and reduces your pain. This helps you calm down and feel less stressed immediately[3]. So your mother was right when she told you that cry, and you will feel much better. And crying also helps remove toxins from your body. The tears produced contributes to getting rid of chemicals from your body just like sweating and urinating. Here are ways to detox your mind.
Crying kills bacteria
Tears contain the fluid lysozyme also found in semen, mucous, saliva and human milk that can help kill 90 percent bacteria just in 10 minutes [4]. So the next time you feel like breaking down just go for it. Remember there are perks.
Sends signals to others
Crying alters your facial expressions so that people understand you are hurt or in pain. This is why when you are distressed your peers react sympathetically towards you says Delhi-based psychologist Dr. Siya Nangia.
References
1. Steimer, T. (2002). The biology of fear- and anxiety-related behaviors.Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 4(3), 231 249.
2. Boudarene M, Legros JJ, Timsit-Berthier M. [Study of the stress response: role of anxiety, cortisol and DHEAs]. Encephale. 2002 Mar-Apr;28(2):139-46. French
3. Sakuragi S, Sugiyama Y, Takeuchi K. Effects of laughing and weeping on mood and heart rate variability. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci. 2002 May;21(3):159-65. PubMed PMID: 12148458. PubMed PMID: 11972140.
4. Qu XD, Lehrer RI. Secretory phospholipase A2 is the principal bactericide for staphylococci and other gram-positive bacteria in human tears. Infect Immun. 1998 Jun;66(6):2791-7. PubMed PMID: 9596749; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC108271.
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