Why Crying is Good for You

Most people feel better after a good cry. (At least most women do.) After shedding tears, there is generally a feeling of relief and renewed strength to face difficult situations. But new evidence suggests that there may be more to crying than just expressing feelings. Scientific research has found that tears produced by emotional crying, may be one of the ways that the body disposes of toxic substances.

Dr. William Frey II, Ph.D., biochemist, and tear expert at the Ramsey Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota has discovered that reflex tears are 98% water, while emotional tears contain much more protein, which includes stress hormones. Dr. Frey and his research team spent many years studying the composition of tears. Their conclusion was that emotional tears released harmful chemicals that had built up in the body, due to stress.

Additional studies hypothesized that crying may stimulate the release of endorphins, substances that elevate our mood and are natural pain killers.

We probably don't need scientists (or tear experts) to tell us the value of tears. They help us heal, and are a valuable aid to restoring inner calmness and peace. All of us have experienced times when we felt our heart would break, if we could not release the pent up emotions of sorrow, pain, anger, fear or disappointment. I remember as a child, having a great aunt, who had a medical condition that prevented her from shedding tears. Even as a little girl, I realized how horrible that must be.

There are situations in life where the pain is so great, that it simply cannot be contained. My stepfather died recently, as a result of complications from a triple bypass. On the day he died, the nurses in the Critical Care Unit, asked the family if we would like to go in the room. It was the single saddest moment in my life thus far. I literally wailed with grief. I cried for the loss of all that he had been to me, since he married my mom on my seventh birthday. I cried for my mom, and her tremendous heartbreak and grief. And honestly, I think I cried for every loss that I ever suffered. The tears flowed freely, and I could not have survived without them. After a few sacred moments of crying, with my family gathered around his bed, I was able to compose myself, and do what needed to be done. Actually my body functioned, but it seemed my soul was somewhere else, far away, in a world where none of it was remotely real. I'm sure I was in shock, but I also feel that the time I was able to freely express my grief, surrounded by my immediate family, was helpful and necessary. My husband and I planned the funeral service. We delivered eulogies, sang, and greeted visitors, both at the visitation and the ceremony. Never again, was I able to express my grief as openly, as I did that day at the hospital. But that expression of sorrow carried me through the days that followed.

It seems as if it takes an awful lot to make me break down and cry these days. (Life does that to you, I guess.) I have been through so much. I am the primary caregiver for my ailing, widowed mom, and the mother of a teenaged girl, now a freshman in college. I have experienced many trials, struggles, health problems, disappointments and heartaches. (We all do.) But after reading this intriguing research, instead of always trying to be strong, and suppressing my feelings, I think I will be more inclined to cry, knowing that the shedding of emotional tears is beneficial to my psychological and physical health. Tears are truly a gift from God!

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Grace_Planas Article Title: Cry If You Must