Evidence suggests that other animals do experience emotionsand many can produce tears.
But those tears dont appear to be triggered by emotions.
They are simply part of a physiological process for lubricating the eyes.
Steve Peixotto Photography/The Image Bank/Getty
So if emotionally crying is uniquely human, why do we do it?
Is it just an accident of evolution or are there real benefits of crying for mental health?
Here are some of the benefits of crying science has found so far.
Altogether, the combined processes can help decrease your overall feeling of stress.
Oxytocin produces a sense of well-being and calm while also making us feel more connected to others.
Similarly, endorphins improve your sense of well-being while also boosting self-esteem and alleviating stress and anxiety.
Signal the Need for Empathy and Comfort from Others
Crying serves an important social function, too.
Humans are a social species, so the feeling that were not alone is essential to our mental well-being.
Meanwhile, cryingespecially intense sobbingstimulates blood flow to the brain and causes you to breathe harder.
Improve Sleep
Another benefit of crying for mental health is the way it can aid sleep.
When you cry, the parasympatheticnervous systemactivates.
The PNS is responsible for returning your body tohomeostasisafter a stressful event.
In some cases, you might feel tired enough to fall asleep quickly.
The many stress-relieving and calming effects that crying has may also help you fall asleep more easily.
Getting enough restful sleep is essential for your mental health.
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