Why Do We Cry When We Are Happy?

Victoria Isiguzo
2 min readApr 17, 2023
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For the longest time, I never understood why people cried when they were happy.

The first time I understood this concept was in college when I cried “tears of joy” for the first time.

Crying is commonly associated with sadness, grief, and pain. But what about those moments when we find ourselves shedding tears of joy?

Firstly, let us consider what it means to be happy. Philosophers have long debated the nature of happiness, with some defining it as a subjective state of pleasure or satisfaction.

Others view it as a more objective condition derived from living a good life.
Regardless of the specific definition, it is clear that happiness involves a positive emotional experience.

What happens when we cry?

Tears are a physical manifestation of emotion, often serving to communicate our inner state to others.

We cry to express something difficult to explain in words. It’s a way of showing vulnerability, of admitting that something has moved us deeply.

Why do we cry when happy?

One possibility is that crying when we are happy is a way of processing the intensity of our emotions.
Happiness can be overwhelming, especially, if it results from a long-awaited or hard-fought victory. It allows us to release some pent-up energy and emotion, providing a sense of catharsis and relief.

It’s worth considering the possibility that crying when we are happy is simply a way of celebrating life.

Crying tears of joy can be seen as a personal celebration — a way to honour the significance of the event or achievement that has brought us to this state of happiness.

The phenomena of “tears of joy” is complicated and multifaceted.
It reveals the depth and complexity of our emotional lives and how our physical bodies are impacted by our inner emotions.

Whether we are shedding tears of joy or sorrow, we are engaging in a powerful act of self-expression and vulnerability, one that speaks to the fundamental human need to make sense of our experiences.

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Victoria Isiguzo

Each word is a window into my soul, inviting readers on a journey of reflection