Crying is a universal human experience, one that can be prompted by anything from profound sadness and grief to overwhelming happiness and joy.
To what extent, though, does crying help when one has suffered a loss?
To put it simply, it helps greatly.
Not only is crying after a loss a part of therapy for grief, but it also has several benefits that will contribute to your journey of healing and well-being.
One way crying after a loss is beneficial is how crying allows you to express the various emotions of grief.
Crying can help you cope with the overwhelming range of emotions that accompany a loss, including isolation, fear, and others.
One of the great ways to relieve stress and calm yourself is through a good cry.
When someone close to you dies, there are many details to attend to and arrange.
When you cry, the hormones in your body that cause feelings of stress and anxiety are released.
Also, crying after a loss offers a means to cry out for help.
The tears you shed may signal to those around you that you need their comfort as you work through your sorrow.
Read on to learn more details about the benefits of crying after a loss.
The effects of suppressed feelings can be devastating.
It's risky business to try to bottle up your emotions like grief.
Repressing emotions- what psychologists call repressive coping, can be detrimental to one's health, which is why crying serves as an important safety valve.
Mental health conditions like anxiety or health issues like cardiovascular disease and hypertension have been linked to repressive coping strategies.
Tears are a powerful form of communication, especially when words fail to convey how you really feel.
Crying can be a good way to deal with the pain of loss and the emotions that come with it.
When crying is used to let out pent-up feelings and make room for the discovery of healthy ways to cope, you are gradually healing from the pain of loss.
One effective method of self-soothing may be crying.
Researchers have found that crying turns on the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).
The benefits won't be seen right away, though.
It might take a few minutes of crying before you feel the soothing effects.
This may also be why many people, whether they've lost someone or not, feel better after a good cry.
Also, when people cry because they are upset or sad, their tears contain a number of chemicals and stress hormones.
Researchers think that crying could lower the amount of these chemicals in the body, which could make the person feel less stressed.
Crying helps you calm down when you're feeling very upset and keeps that energy from turning into mental health problems.
Our bodies produce several powerful painkilling chemicals when we experience intense emotional distress, such as the death of a loved one.
Crying after a loss, in a way, dulls the pain.
Bouts of crying have been shown to produce endorphins and the feel-good hormone oxytocin.
The release of these endorphins has been shown to reduce both physical and psychological distress.
When endorphins are released, the body may experience a period of numbness.
Oxytocin can induce feelings of calm and well-being.
This is another instance in which crying is a self-soothing behavior.
One of the ways these chemicals are distributed throughout the body is through tears.
The tears transport the chemicals to the surface of our eyeballs, where they are absorbed and may serve to alleviate emotional pain.
Do you know how good it feels after a good cry?
That's because of this one thing.
Crying is an expression of strong emotion, and releasing pent-up feelings through tears rather than internalization can be therapeutic.
Crying, and especially sobbing, after a loss can be therapeutic for many reasons.
When crying, you take in a several rapid breaths of cool air.
Inhaling cooler air can help regulate and even decrease brain temperature.
When compared to when it is warm, the sensation of having a cool brain is more pleasant to the body and the mind.
This may explain why some people find that crying helps lift their spirits.
Crying is a way to communicate to others that you need support when you are grieving.
This is referred to as an interpersonal benefit.
Crying has been an attachment behavior since you were an infant.
In numerous ways, its purpose is to receive comfort and care from others.
In other words, when times are difficult, it is beneficial to have a strong social support system.
As a display of emotional feelings, it brings you closer to those around you.
Especially in cases of shared grief or any other dreadful event, in the majority of cases, crying in the presence of another person will strengthen your bond.
They are aware that you are feeling sad and make every effort to cheer you up or help you through your grieving.
Sadness and grief are normal human experiences, and a good way to deal with them is to accept and embrace them.
Some ways crying after a loss can benefit you includes: providing a way to express yourself, helping you self-soothe and release stress hormones, tears are like painkillers, improving your mood, and rallying grief support.
https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/let-the-tears-flow-crying-is-the-ultimate-healer/
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-crying
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a38150358/benefits-of-crying/
https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/is-crying-good-for-you
https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/the-benefits-of-crying-and-why-its-good-for-your-health/
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, and owner of Overcomers Counseling. I'm dedicated to helping individuals find strength and healing through life’s challenges. With a deep understanding of mental health and years of professional experience, I specialize in fostering hope and resilience while equipping her clients with tools to thrive. Passionate about empowering others, she creates a safe, supportive space where everyone feels seen, valued, and capable of overcoming obstacles on their path to well-being.
Ignoring grief can exacerbate symptoms and make it more challenging to manage over time. This can result in a negative impact on your personal, professional, and social life, leading to feelings of isolation, chronic sadness, and even physical health complications.
It's important to remember that you are allowed to grieve however you need to, and that doesn't mean you have to ruin the holidays for everyone else. If you need to take a break from holiday festivities, do so. Go for a walk, take a nap, watch a movie—whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. You can also try talking to your family about your grief ahead of time and asking for their understanding and support.
If you find yourself having difficulty managing daily activities due to lingering feelings associated with grief such as sadness, anger, guilt or numbness; then it might be beneficial for you to seek professional help through our Colorado Springs Grief Counseling services. Our therapists are trained in helping clients identify their needs and goals related to grieving.
It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is grieving, but sometimes simply being there for them and offering your support can be helpful. You might try saying something like, "I'm here for you if you need to talk" or "I'm sorry for your loss." You could also offer to help with practical tasks such as running errands or cooking meals.
There is no set timeline for overcoming a breakup. Everyone deals with grief in their own way and on their own time. While some may be able to move forward quickly, others may take longer. Remember that it's normal to experience a range of emotions as you heal and don't rush the process.
Complicated grief, also known as prolonged grief disorder, is when intense grief symptoms continue for an extended period, often longer than six months. This type of grief can result in difficulty resuming normal life activities and can lead to sleep problems.
