Because Of Joy Or Sadness, Scientists Finally Discover Why We Cry ..

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Because Of Joy Or Sadness, Scientists Finally Discover Why We Cry And What Our Body Needs It For

Crying is defined as the process of producing tears in response to an emotion. This is different from tearing, which is the production of tears with the purpose of lubricating the eye or keeping out possible irritations or foreign substances.

Emotional crying is a response of the hypothalamus to strong emotions, where chemical substances called ‘neurotransmitters’ are produced. These travel to different parts of the body to induce a response. In the case of crying, the neurotransmitter produced is known as ‘acetylcholine’ and is what triggers the production of tears through the chemical stimulation of the tear ducts.


Crying tears of joy or sadness

We know when we cry tears of joy or sadness. However, our brain isn’t capable of differentiating between these emotions and responds in the same way. When confronted with intense emotions, the pituitary gland secretes ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, or the stress hormone. This is what prepares the body for a fight or flight response, increasing blood pressure, blood sugar level, and dilating the blood vessels. When we’re overcome with stress and there’s nothing we can do, ACTH builds up in the body, and the excess is excreted in the form of tears.


What is crying useful for?

Well, the evolutionary function of crying still hasn’t been confirmed, but there are multiple hypotheses. The most widely accepted in the scientific community is that crying in an animal or adult human, by interfering with vision, can impair aggressive or defensive behavior and act as a reliable signal of appeasement, need, or attachment. It shows vulnerability and submission in the face of an aggressor, while at the same time indicating sympathy and help.

Is it normal to cry a lot?

The average duration of crying is 2 minutes in the case of happiness or other positive emotions, and 7 minutes in the case of sadness or other negative emotions. One of the hormones secreted during this episode is prolactin, which is found in greater amounts among women. This explains why women cry approximately 5 times as much as men.

If crying is disproportionate or unrelenting, and with no reason, it may be a symptom of an imbalance that must be treated by a specialist.