“There is sacredness in tears. Tears are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief, and unspeakable love.” -Washington Irving
Tears are the body’s release of stress, sadness, grief, anxiety, and frustration. Crying purges the body of pent up emotion, pain, and fatigue. Doctors often encourage clients to cry in order to release stress and allow them to stay healthy. Dr. William Frey at the Ramsey Center in Minneapolis discovered that emotional tears contain stress hormones that are excreted from the body. This also assists the body in producing endorphins (feel good hormones) naturally acting as its own pain killer.
Other Healing Properties of Tears
Tears help us see (literally). Lubricate our eyeballs and inhibit dehydration of various mucous membranes. No lubrication means no eyesight.
Tears kill bacteria. They fight off germs that we pick up at community events, from grocery store carts, and public bathrooms (yuck).
Tears increase mood by lowering overexposure to manganese, which causes anxiety, nervousness, irritability, fatigue, aggression, and emotional disturbances.
Holding in tears causes bodily disruption.
Suppressing tears can create higher stress levels and diseases aggravated by stress such as high blood pressure, heart problems, and peptic ulcers.
Tears build community empathy and support. They help others understand that they are not alone when it comes to struggles and sadness. This is fundamental in the pursuit of functional communication and kindness.
Lastly, crying is cathartic (emotion releasing). It assists the body with letting out the conflict that often afflicts the limbic and central nervous systems. Tears allow the body to “feel” all of the sensations that need to be experienced. No holding back!
For more information on crying, emotional healing, anxiety, stress, or any other mental health issue, we are here for you! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at 832.421.8714. We are all in this together!
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