Hello Tender Heart,

Crying is often misunderstood, especially if you’ve been taught to “stay strong” or hide your emotions.

But there’s no shame in tears—they are a natural and powerful way to process your feelings. If you’ve been holding back, afraid to let yourself cry, I want you to know that it’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a brave step toward healing.

Let me share some gentle truths about why crying is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself today...

1. Emotional Regulation

• Release of pent-up emotions: Crying helps express emotions that might otherwise remain bottled up, reducing feelings of overwhelm.

• Stress reduction: Emotional tears release stress hormones like cortisol, which can help lower stress levels.

2. Physiological Benefits

• Detoxification: Emotional tears contain stress-related chemicals, like adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which are eliminated from the body through crying.

• Pain relief: Crying releases endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, providing temporary relief from physical or emotional pain.

• Improved breathing: Crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps calm and regulate breathing and heart rate.

3. Improved Mood

• Mood enhancement: Post-crying, people often experience a feeling of relief or lightness due to the release of oxytocin and endorphins.

• Emotional clarity: Crying can help clarify feelings and improve decision-making when emotions cloud judgment.

4. Mental Health Benefits

• Self-awareness: Crying often accompanies moments of deep introspection, helping you connect with underlying emotions.

• Healing from trauma: It can be a cathartic process, aiding in the release of traumatic experiences and emotional pain.

• Reduced anxiety and depression: Crying, in a safe environment, can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety or depressive episodes.

Crying is a natural, healthy way to process and release emotions. While occasional crying is beneficial, frequent, uncontrollable crying might indicate a need for help from another. In such cases, remember that you're not alone. There are numerous support options available to you, and it's never one size fits all. Click here to see a few of our community options, but if you are hurting and don't know what you need, always know you can reach the crisis hotline by dialing 9-8-8.

"Sometimes, crying is the only way your eyes speak when your mouth can’t explain how broken your heart is."

— Unknown