Do you ever wonder?
Why do we cry?
Isn’t it a amazing quirk of our human design? In the midst of emotional chaos, our eyes turn into tiny saltwater faucets! Our bodies seem to playfully suggest,
“Why not toss in a touch of the ocean to this mood swing trip?”
Tears are not just about emotions; they’re like the body’s personal bartenders, mixing up a salty concoction with sodium and chloride for that extra zing. If you ever fancy a metallic or bitter twist, just cry the right kind of tears! Who knew your eyes had a taste palette?
People rarely snack on tears, but a drop won’t hurt ya!
Ok, Ok we get it, right. I could just write one sentence:
Electrolytes are responsible for the salty taste.
The act of “leaking water” from our eyes when we cry is a result of tear glands (lacrimal glands) producing and secreting tears onto the surface of the eye. These tears are drained through ducts into the nasal cavity, often causing a runny nose. This system maintains eye moisture and removes excess tears.
Basal tears, also known as reflex tears, are continuously produced to keep the eye moist and provide lubrication. They help maintain the health of the transparent front part of the eye (cornea) and also wash away irritants like dust, smoke, or foreign objects to protect the eye.
Crying is a natural human behavior that has many functions and meanings. According to some web sources, we cry for different reasons:
- To get help — Crying let others know you’re having a tough time and we need support. It can also evoke empathy and compassion from people when they see us cry.
- To relieve pain — You are more likely to cry if you are in severe pain for a long time. It can release endorphins and oxytocin, which are natural chemicals that help reduce emotional and physical distress.
- To form and strengthen social bonds — Tears expose our vulnerability and can generate sympathy. It can enhance our relationships and trust. They convey emotions wordlessly, encourage deeper connections.
- To process emotions — Crying can help us cope with various emotions, such as sadness, anger, joy, or grief. Crying can also provide a cathartic release and a sense of relief after expressing our feelings.
- To sympathize — Crying can show that we care about someone else’s situation or experience. It can also help us connect with others who are going through similar emotions or challenges.
- To get needs met — Crying can indicate that we have unmet needs or desires that we want to fulfill. It can also motivate us to make changes in our lives.
People cry differently, and that’s totally okay. There is no right or wrong amount of crying. Some people may cry more than others due to many factors, such as gender, personality, culture or life circumstances. Crying is a normal and it’s like your body’s way of dealing with all the happy and sad things that happen. As long as it doesn’t stop you from doing your daily stuff, you’re fine. So don’t worry! Let the tears flow when you need them. It could benefit you both physically and mentally.
Do some people not cry?
Sure.
Why?
- Medical Conditions — Neurological conditions or damage to the tear-producing glands or ducts can interfere with the ability to produce tears. Conditions like Sjögren’s syndrome or certain types of nerve damage can impact tear production. Some mental health conditions, such as depression or alexithymia (emotional blindness), can lead people to find it harder to show their feelings and they might not cry as much.
- Medications — Some, such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers, can have side effects that affect how you express your feelings and may reduce or even eliminate crying as a response to emotions.
- Some people just don’t cry as much because of who they are. Others learned to hold back their tears. They might do this because they were taught that crying isn’t okay, or because they had experiences that made them think crying is a bad thing. It can be because of the rules they’ve learned from their culture, what they believe, or things that happened to them.
Why do we sometimes cry more for animal than humans?
- We may feel a strong sense of empathy toward animals, particularly those they perceive as innocent or defenseless. Young animals, are often seen as pure and vulnerable.
- When animals are subjected to harm or suffering, they are often seen as helpless victims who cannot advocate for themselves.
- Animals do not judge or hold grudges in the same way that humans can. This lack of judgment can make people feel more comfortable expressing their emotions and vulnerabilities around animals.
- Animals are often seen as living beings with simple and pure motives. Their actions are typically driven by basic instincts and needs, which can be perceived as more honest and straightforward than human behavior.
- Photographs and videos, often highlight the suffering or mistreatment of animals. These visual depictions can be emotionally powerful and lead to strong reactions in viewers.
I knew many things that I wrote, and I learned some new things because of my research, but I still wonder why. Do you?
English is not my native language and I rely on grammar checkers or apps to help me with my writing. However, I still encounter mistakes at times. I don’t know why this happens, but it does.
