10 answers to questions about tears and crying

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The life hacker talks about whether it is worth holding back tears, and explains why we cry not only from grief, but also from joy.

What are tears?

Tears are the liquid secreted by the lacrimal gland. They are almost completely (up to 99%) composed of water. The rest is inorganic substances: sodium chloride (this is the basis of table salt - hence the salty taste of tears), sulphate and phosphate calcium, sodium and magnesium carbonate.

Also in tears there is lysozyme - an enzyme due to which they have antibacterial properties, and oleamide, which is the basis of an oily layer that does not allow moisture to evaporate.

Why do we need tears at all?

They serve several important functions. Tears supply the cornea of the eye, on which there are no blood vessels, with all the necessary nutrients, cleanse the surface of the eyeball from foreign particles and maintain the normal functioning of the organ of vision.

Tears secreted to moisturize and protect the eyes are called reflex or physiological tears. And those that are associated with any experience are considered emotional. Scientists have long established a neural connection between the lacrimal glands and the region of the brain responsible for emotions.

So crying is part of what makes us human.

Do animals cry?

In animals, physiological tears are definitely released. It is believed that our smaller brothers cannot experience emotions close to human ones. This means that they do not cry from experiences. But the further scientists investigate this topic, the more they become convinced that not everything is so simple.

For example, University of Colorado professor emeritus Marc Bekoff mentioned scientific research that confirms that elephants and other animals can cry in response to emotional distress. In his opinion, this issue requires a deeper study.

But what about crocodile tears?

Crocodiles do cry when they eat. But not because they supposedly feel sorry for the victim. Tears are secreted due to the excess salt in the body of alligators. And the process of absorption of food, their release mechanically activates.

Turtles, iguanas, sea snakes cry in the same way.

Is it true that tears are different?

American biochemist William Frey found that emotional tears are chemically different from physiological ones caused by irritation from pungent onion fumes. It turned out that the former have more proteins. Frey suggested that in this way the body gets rid of the chemicals, the release of which provoked stress.

That is why emotional tears are more viscous, they are more noticeable on the skin. They can also contain stress hormones and other substances in excess in the body, such as manganese.

That is, it is good to cry?

Research shows that people with stomach ulcers and colitis (a common illness caused by stress) tend to cry less often than people without such disorders.

Ad Vingerhoets, a professor at the University of Tilburg, after a long study of the issue, concluded that immediately after crying, many people feel worse. But after an hour and a half, their emotional state has stabilized. And then it gets better than it was before they started crying.

Lauren M. Bylsma of the University of Pittsburgh found that people were more likely to feel better after crying, which was triggered by positive emotions, or if crying helped to understand and realize something.

If the tears are caused by suffering or a person is ashamed that he is crying, he will feel worse.

Also, the condition will depend on the witnesses of crying. Those who shed tears alone or in the presence of one person (especially if it was a close person ready to support) felt better than those who cried in front of two or more people.

Why do we cry not only from grief, but also from joy?

Crying is the body’s defense response to stress. And it can be caused by both negative and positive emotions. It doesn't matter what feelings the crying caused. Tears help the body recover from stress faster.

And what is the reason for the fact that women cry more often than men?

Mostly with a common stereotype that crying is a sign of weakness. Therefore, men just try not to show tears in public. Polls show they actually cry more often than they think. Just without witnesses.

The lack of restrictions associated with tears in the weaker sex may be one of the reasons that women, on average, live longer than men. More crying means less stress.

Scientists suggest that hormones affect the frequency of crying. Testosterone can suppress crying, and the female hormone prolactin is more likely to provoke it.

And one more important nuance. Dianne Van Hemert, Ph. D., senior researcher at the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, found that people in wealthier countries can cry more often because it is not condemned by society.

Are there people who don't cry?

The lacrimal glands of a healthy person usually produce from 0.5 to 1 milliliter of tears per day (this is an average of half a glass per year). Stress increases their number, and some diseases decrease.

For example, dry eye is characteristic of Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease. Scientists have found that such patients suffer not only from discomfort associated with the eyes. It is often more difficult for them to understand and express their feelings and emotions, resolve conflicts, and establish communication with others. This proves once again the importance of crying and crying.

What if you can't cry, but you really want to?

• Try to control your breathing. Take several deep breaths through your nose and slowly exhales through your mouth.
• To hold back tears, you can blink quickly.
• Try to force a smile while looking at yourself in the mirror.
• Take a few sips of cold water, wash, apply ice to your temples or forehead.
• Try to switch your attention to something neutral, start looking at an object, remember the multiplication table or the alphabet.
• Pinch yourself, bite your lip, but without fanaticism, so as not to cry in pain.
• Do a little exercise: wave your hands, roll your head, sit down or push up several times, stand for a couple of minutes in the bar.
• If tears are choking, try screaming. Emotional tension usually subsides quickly after this.

If possible, it is better not to hold back tears. Do not rub your eyes, do not cry with your face into the pillow, apply a cold compress for the eyelids. All this will help you quickly put yourself in order.