Does Crying Make You Feel Better?

Crying does make me feel better emotionally, in the sense that I've gotten something out of my system, and I feel calmer (catharsis). Or I've felt something deeply, been "moved," which is a good feeling for me.

But, I do not like the physical after effects -- red blotchy face, puffy eyes -- especially if I cried for a long time. Oh well! I've learned to accept it because I cry a lot. :-)

Generally speaking, crying releases toxins from the body, so, in some ways, yes, it's good for you! lol. That said, I also HATE crying. I will do everything in my power to keep from doing it, and if I can't fight it, I IMMEDIATELY find somewhere to do it without anyone seeing me. Usually, I'm already at home, so that's not a problem. :)

I only cry when I am very! angry, which just makes me more angry because I can't control it and then everyone thinks I am upset but I am pissed and the concern is now making me more pissed.

So no, crying does not make me feel better! :)

Hmmm, crying makes me feel like pathetic. So it's absolutely necessary for me to cry, so that 10 minutes into it I can say to myself, "Ok ya big fucking baby, you had your cry now GET BUSY!"

:)

When I do cry it does make me feel better. I had a good cry about a week or so ago and after I was done I felt better. I didn't care if my eyes were all red and puffy. All I knew was I felt better.

Mentally? Yes.
Physically? Not so much. Same effects as you.

Always, it makes me feel better emotionally. If I've been very upset and cry for a long period of time, my eyes are uncomfortable and I feel congested. Over the years, I've learned to unconsciously monitor that and seem to stop crying before I reach that point.

Studies have shown that our body produces chemicals when we cry that help us feel better emotionally. And crying releases the built up tension in our bodies so that we can relax.

These days, I appreciate any way to relieve stress. Crying is one way.

As some have suggested, there's a whole spectrum of tears: the 'touched' tears brought on by some gorpy commercial, the tears of frustration... I do tear up easily. But a big cry is usually about working through/releasing blocked/pent-up emotions and grief or loss.... actually feeling it acutely and acknowledging it (or what had happened), and while those are rare, they do make me cry so hard it seems I can't stop. (Of course it stops... it lasts no more than a few minutes.) And then there's the 'there's a lot of junk sitting in here' cry and that's when I put on some tear-jerker movie and let that be the vehicle to help me get those feelings out without giving them overmuch attention.

I think crying is a bit like throwing up-- if you allow it to happen, if you don't fight it, the easier it is. I'd prefer to cry when I feel like it (and when I'm alone) than to stuff emotions down-- because that is actually what will make me physically ill.

No, it just wears me out.

yes yes n yes. To the point where my mom used to ask M. to cry it out , she knew that was the only way to stop M. from getting upset over little things, fighting over little stuff. Once I had a good cry , I would be back to my happy self.Now that I am older, I still feel it works for M.. And until today I thought everyone feels better after they cry.. lol.

PS: that doesn't mean i enjoy crying. No I don't.

I'm with you, R.. I hate crying. I hate how I feel when I cry, and I hate how I feel afterward.

Sometimes I'll have an awful experience that will just make me sob. I HATE sobbing for the same reason I hate being drunk...I despise that out-of-control feeling. And both sobbing and drinking give you a terrible hangover. Ugh.

The way I feel better is talking and writing and researching. I just need to find answers, get it all out verbally, and consider the problem from all angles. Crying seems so wasteful to me.

I agree with 'B'--it is cathartic. However, I usually get a wicked headache!

I'm not a huge crier, either. But once in a while, when my emotions are all tied up inside, tears can help. Some people punch bags for the same purpose (hopefully they don't punch other people).

That said, it's good to remember what C. S. Lewis wrote: "Crying is all right in its own way while it lasts. But you have to stop sooner or later, and then you still have to decide what to do."

I am half and half. Like you it makes me feel puffy, and my face gets red and splotchy. But, it also does make me feel better after I cry too. Things just build up, and build up with stress and what not, and something has to give so sometimes the water works break out and afterwards I feel better, like I can continue on and deal. Sometimes it's just needed.

Like everything else in life, everyone is different :)

I always feel better after a good cry. Especially in my 20s. Work and boys would get me down time after time. And sitting in my room for 20 minutes and crying about it got it all out of my system and made me ready to take on a challenge or move on.

For me it's a bit like throwing up . . . I fight it like crazy but usually feel better afterward (though wrung out).

I'm talking "ugly" cries . . . I can get teary very easily over emotional commercials, my kids pictures, etc. But that's not on a full-on cry.

Depends on what I'm crying about. If I'm crying due to being extremely pissed off, it does not help me I usually end up with a migraine and wishing I never cried.

If it's just a non mad cry...it helps me to release some of those emotions.

I tend to hold in my emotions, so when I cry, it is a cathartic release. Sometimes when I am stressed out I'll seek out a known tear jerker so I can get it all out. Yes, I do feel puffy and swollen afterward, but I can also feel my BP going down.

there are different types of crying, aren't there? i remember being very puzzled watching an episode of 'everybody loves raymond' where the wife made herself cry for no reason 'because it feels good.'
never done that.
crying from pain or sorrow doesn't make me feel better. it just happens, and makes my blotchy, lumpy and sore.
a romantic sniffle from a great movie or book? there is something sweetly cathartic about that.
unfortunately it still leaves me blotchy and unattractive.
i so envy women who can cry beautifully.
:) khairete
S.

hmmm i guess a little of both

I always hated crying growing up. an alcoholic jerk for a dad and a detached mom will do that. my mom didnt believe in saying i love you or hugging until i started when I was 18 and sawother families do it and was grown enough to let go of past issues. i was always ashamed to cry and would run upstairs or hide in the pillows if i needed to cry. If i did cry, I was given something to cry about. So to this day if I cry and someone is around then I autmatically put my arm over my eyes and hide somewhat. its an immediate reaction. i cant help it. my boyfriend will tell M. to look at him and not hide and it's J. hard to get over that feeling of being upset.
also the more someone pays M. attention when i cry, the more i cry. i'm used to being ingored from growing up, so the second someone touches M. I cry more.
it doesnt feel good to be upset and cry over a big issue

BUT
here is the odd thing. sometimes I get bummed for little things...i miss my daughter, or J. hav this crapp bummed feeling and I feel like I NEED to cry. this has only been in the last year.
It doesnt make M. feel better but i find it odd I hate crying so much yet sometimes my body feels like it needs a good sob into the pillows. ussually by the time i'm alone and could im over the feeling

Depends...

I HATE crying out of anger or for no reason except hormones, I almost never do and when I lose it I feel awful.

Crying from true grief is a huge release and makes me feel much better in the long run.

A cathartic release can bring a calm after the storm.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/wellbeing/the-h...

http://www.pharmapassport.com/blog/2009/12/5-health-benef...

No, I hate crying. Nose runs. Eyes are bleary and swollen. My face is red and puffy. It's awful. And splashing cold water and washing my face, blowing my nose, etc... doesn't make it go away. It takes HOURS. Sometimes until the next day, until I can't see the effects anymore.

BUT, it is very emotionally cleansing.

I don't cry often, or over little things. I really have only cried a few times in my adult life. A few big fights with my husband (I could count on one hand probably, after 16 years or marriage, 18 years together), when my grandmother (mom's side) passed, and when we went through a terrible week 2 years ago thinking our beloved dog was suffering and would have to be put down (she was having cluster seizures).

Crying is cathartic. But I wouldn't want to do it every day. Once every year or two seems to work ok for me. And I only want to cry at night, when I know I won't have to go anywhere or be seen by anybody.

I cry to release emotions. It's healthier for me then to react in another way. I'm used to the after effects. Puffy eyes, headaches. It's the red face that I hate the most! My son gets that from me too.

Usually, no. But last night I had a huge cry about something that's been upsetting me for two weeks and I barely thought about it today. I've been miserable - hurt, sad, angry - and thinking about it nonstop for two weeks. Today, not only did I barely think about it but, when I did, it didn't affect me as much. So I actually think the cry helped.

I don't know when the last time I cried was. I hate crying, I don't like how I feel afterward either. I am not one to be able to turn the tears on easily, it seems like I have to be very very angry and thank goodness that is very seldom.

Yes.
It works for me.
It's a temporary relief. Kind of like taking off a very tight ace bandage.

I used to cry more.

I rarely cry now.

Everybody is different. So while it works for some, it doesn't work for all.

You just to find YOUR outlet.

Exercise works for me.

ABSOLUTELY!! Works for me everytime!

A good cry does make me feel better emotionally and it makes for a really good nap!

I don't think anyone really enjoys crying.
But it is a release... of stuff. Pent up or not.
So it serves a purpose in that sense.

I takes a lot for me to cry. Cause I just have gone through so much stuff before.
But when I do, it usually does me good.
Cathartic.