7 Reasons Why Crying Is Good for You

By Therese Borchar, DivineCaroline

New York Times reporter Benedict Carey referred to tears in a recent piece as “emotional perspiration.” Given that I sweat a lot and hate deodorant, I suppose it makes sense that I weep often. But I’m not going to apologize for that, because after a good cry, I always feel cleansed, like my heart and mind just rubbed each other’s backs in a warm bath.

In his intriguing article, “The Miracle of Tears,” in which I found some of the research for this post, author Jerry Bergman writes: “Tears are just one of many miracles which work so well that we take them for granted every day.”

Here, then, are seven ways tears and the phenomenon we call “crying” heal us physiologically, psychologically, and spiritually.

1. Tears Help Us See
The most basic function of tears is that they enable us to see. Literally. Tears not only lubricate our eyeballs and eyelids, they also prevent dehydration of our various mucous membranes. No lubrication, no eyesight. Writes Jerry Bergman: “Without tears, life would be drastically different for humans–in the short run enormously uncomfortable, and in the long run eyesight would be blocked out altogether.”

2. Tears Kill Bacteria
No need for Clorox wipes. We’ve got tears! Our own antibacterial and antiviral agent working for us, fighting off all the germs we pick up on community computers, shopping carts, public sinks, and all those places the nasty little guys make their homes and procreate.

Tears contain lysozyme, a fluid that the germ-a-phobe dreams about in her sleep, because it can kill 90 to 95 percent of all bacteria in just five to ten minutes! This translates, I’m guessing, to three months’ worth of colds and stomach viruses.

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Read more: General Health, Guidance, Health, Love, Mental Wellness, Sex, crying, tears

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Jane W.

7:24PM PDT on Oct 2, 2011

thnx for this

send a green star

Hope K.

9:23AM PDT on Oct 2, 2011

Thank God! I cry a lot! Good to know these things, I tend to put myself down for being a crier and try to stop the tears from coming, or hide them. Maybe I should just accept them and let them out instead. Will show this article to anyone who dares chant 'Crybaby!'

Madison S.

8:15PM PDT on Oct 11, 2010

Same here Amanda, I cry alot more often than I used to because I've been sooo overwhelmed lately, and it really does help me to just break down and drop everything for a few minutes.

Kaitlyn K.

1:06PM PDT on Mar 25, 2010

So I'm not crazy ? I'm healthy and normal ? Topsy-turvy day it is .

Elizabeth S.

10:21AM PST on Feb 14, 2010

Excuse me Susan SuniIbarra: I do believe you're confusing MY comments with that of Norman the 'psychiatrist'who said that crying was like a dam bursting 'out of control'...I DO NOT HAVE PATIENTS, I AM NOT A DOCTOR (Nor do I claim to be one here)...I'm merely a human being who DOES believe very much in crying as a great release. I thought I'd made that point perfectly clear in my REBUTTAL of Norman's points. Please reread. If you're going to attack someone, it'd be so nice if you understood just who said what, n'est-ce-pas?

Susan Suni I.

12:38PM PST on Jan 17, 2010

It seems to me, Elizabeth S., that people disagree with your assessment of a lot of crying. Maybe you should listen more closely to your patients, instead of your own mind at this point!!!!
Sorry, but that is the way we FEEL.

12:34PM PST on Jan 17, 2010

I think it all depends upon each individual, and I do not believe there is such a thing as too much crying. I was raised by a woman who was housed, schooled, fed, and disciplined by parents who would not allow them to cry, frown, speak up for themselves, talk, or have ANYTHING TO DO WITH BOYS IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM. My poor 88 year old mom is so screwed up emotionally, and I am the only one of her four kids that did not listen to her demand not to cry in life! I am the only one who has not carried on the family dysfunction and damage. I taught my kids to cry, but my daughter does not, and her disorders LIVE ON!!!!!!!! BE CAREFUL,PEOPLE, WHO YOU TELL THAT THERE IS SUCH A THING AS TOO MUCH CRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12:28PM PST on Jan 17, 2010

Elizabeth S.---------- But in the end, after the person stops crying out of shear fatigue, even though they are a mess, does it not clear a lot of the crap out of their systems anyway? Is not THAT relief? Does it not, eventually, stop happening that way? Prolonged crying CAN be very physically taxing on the body, yes, but that eventually, at the end of a session, out of exhaustion they sleep. And do they not need to get rid of it somehow? I was taught by therapists that this and talking are the two best ways to get rid of the hurts and crap. I was also taught that this kind of crying is a form of mourning for things, and that we need to mourn if we want to resolve it all. I cannot think until I have cried, when something moves or bothers me to that extent. There are too many people in this country who do not cry - - - my daughter is one, because she was the victim of severe assaults in, and all the way through k thru 12 school - - - her brother too. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO MY KIDS BECAUSE THEY DIDN;'T CRY OR TALK?????!!!!!!!!!??????? MY DAUGHTER WENT FROM 7 TO 3 EMOTIONAL DISORDERS AS SHE GREW, AND HER BROTHER WAS AN ALCOHOLIC BY AGE 13!!!!! HE IS JUST COMP;ETING A SIX MONTH REHAB PROGRAM!! This is what happens to people who don't cry, and I DO NOT BELIEVE IN YUR PHILOSOPHY OF TOO MUCH CRYING!!!!!!

12:12PM PST on Jan 17, 2010

This one is darned important!!!!!!! There are too many people who think crying is a sissy thing to do, and they wouldn't be caught crying if their lives depended on it! Well - - - - YOU LIFE DOES DEPEND ON IT!!!! THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND USUALLY IMMEDIATE REMEDIES TO FEELING BETTER! PAY ATTENTION AND GIVE YOURSELVES THIS GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robin P.

6:23PM PST on Jan 10, 2010

Nice to know how healthy I am because of all the crying I do!