It's Okay to Cry

Did you know that human beings are the only mammals that cry out of emotion? Crying is one of Mother Nature’s wonders and a unique experience shared by human beings all over the world. Coming at moments of profound sadness to complete and utter joy, crying is something we’ve all experienced and have mixed feelings about.

Human tears are actually categorized under three different types: “basal tears,” which are those that are continuously in our eyes for lubrication, “reflex tears,” which are the ones shed to protect our eyes while cutting onions and the like, and finally “emotional tears” which are brought on psychologically.

Studies actually show that these “emotional” tears are chemically different from the other two, containing more protein-based hormones that are linked to stress emotions. There’s clear evidence that emotional crying is one of the body’s ways of responding to psychological stress. No wonder we feel such a release after a really good cry.

Ultimately, whether or not you’re prone to crying on a whim, emotional crying often leaves us with renewed strength to face difficult situations. It takes a lot of willpower and focus to maintain a weight-loss program—especially at first it can be an emotional experience. Bottling up and concealing emotion is counterproductive when our bodies are simply trying to help us heal. So go ahead and “cry if you want to”—your body will thank you.