In many situations where we are experiencing emotions such as stress, anger, sadness, or pain – we find ourselves holding back tears. This is likely due to our desire to appear as strong, rather than weak or overly sensitive. However, the idea that crying is a sign of weakness is completely false.

In many ways, crying is actually a sign of strength. Being able to cry around other people displays the ability to show emotion without the fear of being viewed negatively by others – and it shows that you are comfortable with expressing yourself freely. The fact that crying is so highly stigmatized just means that people who cry are able to rise above society’s idea of an emotionally strong person.

Crying not only has benefits in terms of social health, but physical health as well. According to multiple sources, crying often results in the reduction of stress. This is due to the fact that when crying as a result of stress, your tears contain a number of stress hormones. So, theoretically, when tears are released from the body, so are feelings of stress.

Some even argue that crying is more effective than any antidepressant. According to a study from the University of Minnesota, crying that is triggered by emotions improves the mood of 88% of people and can help with healing, boosting immunity and reducing levels of anger and stress.

When you avoid crying, the feelings that you are refusing to acknowledge do not go away 一 despite what some may think. Instead, when you hold back your tears, the emotions that you are resisting build up and often come out as bitterness and anger. So, in the end, refusing to cry will just make you feel worse as time goes on.

Overall, the act of crying is something to take pride in rather than be ashamed of, as it is the most effective and beneficial way to process and acknowledge your emotions. I would encourage people to cry whenever necessary 一 as it is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.