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Why do I cry so much? Should I get help?

Why do I cry so much? Should I get help?

Explore emotional triggers, potential underlying causes, and when to seek professional support for your mental well-being.

Reviewed by:
Divya Khosla, MD
|
View bio
September 30, 2024
Original source:

Key takeaways

  • Frequent crying can stem from various emotional triggers and stressors, like sadness or overwhelming situations.
  • Understanding why you have strong emotions, whether it's hormonal changes, mental health conditions, or something else, is essential for addressing the issue.
  • Crying excessively for unknown reasons can be a symptom of depression, and consulting a mental health professional can provide valuable support.

In this article

So many parts of the human experience can elicit tears. Crying is a common emotional response, and it can vary in intensity and regularity from person to person. Some people have frequent, cathartic cries, while others rarely shed a tear, even when they’re in emotional pain. But, when frequent crying gets in the way of your daily life, or is accompanied by other issues, your tears may be trying to tell you something about your psychological well-being.  

In this article, we’ll talk about what causes emotional tears and and whether or not you need to get help for it.


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Why do people cry?

There’s no one reason why humans cry. There isn’t even one way that people cry. In addition to shedding tears, some people vocalize their emotional pain or find their facial muscles twist themselves into expressions of distress, happiness, or other emotional states.  

You probably have a good idea of what makes adults cry. Crying is a natural response to breakups, physical pain, or finding out that a loved one has passed. Work-related problems overwhelming experiences of art (sad movies in particular), interpersonal conflicts, rejection, victories (in sport or otherwise), and weddings, and other expressions of love can all elicit tears. Sometimes, when we feel a mix of emotions, it can make us cry more easily. One of the biggest reasons for this is feeling powerless or unable to change a situation.  

Not all tears are triggered by emotions. Some are reflexive. When a foreign substance gets in your eye or irritates its surface, your lacrimal glands may release tears in an effort to flush out the problem material. Meanwhile, another form of tears, called basal tears, work to keep your eyes properly moisturized and protected.  

Is crying every day bad?

Context is key when it comes to crying. If you tend to chop onions daily and crying while doing so is a natural response that probably does not have implications for your mental health.  

Even if you’re crying emotional tears every day (as opposed to reflexive tears), the crying itself can’t be properly termed “bad.” If anything, the causes of the tears may have a negative cast—you may be crying because of a recent death in the family, for example.  

Ultimately, there isn’t a “right” or “wrong” to crying, and factors like age, gender, and one’s environment can affect the likelihood that a person will cry more or less often. (For instance, according to some research, women cry 4-5 times per month on average, men 0-1 times.)

If you find yourself crying daily and you’re concerned that something might be amiss in your mental health, you might consider consulting a doctor, who will be able to help you determine whether your tears are symptoms of depression or another mental health issue. To get started, fill out Talkiatry’s quick online assessment.

What are the potential benefits of crying?

Crying is a normal response. For humans, it is the result of millennia of evolution and cultural influence and is thus a highly complex phenomenon. Broadly speaking, some research supports the view that crying can help bolster social connections and stoke sympathy for the crier. Babies, for example, may cry to attract the attention of their parents.  

For individual adults, crying may also provide, directly or indirectly, relief or catharsis—what we think of as a good cry—possibly through the release of certain neurochemicals like oxytocin and self-soothing practices.

At the same time not crying, or seldom crying, isn’t reason to worry. A seeming lack of emotional expression isn’t uncommon, especially among  men. Not crying isn’t harmful to your well-being. However in some cases, people who don’t cry may feel less empathy for others.

10 reasons you might be over-sensitive or cry more frequently

  • Grief: Losing a loved one ranks among the most difficult experiences a person can go through, and regular crying may occur for some time afterwards.  
  • Hormones and hormonal imbalances: Prolactin and testosterone levels may have an effect on crying frequency, with the former possibly lowering a person’s crying threshold and the latter likely raising it, though more research into this matter is needed. Menopause and PMS may also affect your hormone levels
  • Burnout: If you’re at the end of your rope because of requirements of work, life, and/or an imbalance between the two, you may give outward form to your frustrations by crying.
  • Lack of sleep: If you’re not getting enough sleep, you may have more difficulties moderating your emotions and thus may be given to frequent bouts of crying.  
  • Stress: Sustained stress may make you less resilient and more likely to have strong reactions (such as crying) to bad news or undesired occurrences.  
  • Loneliness: Humans are social creatures, so if you feel alone and despondent, you may find yourself crying at a higher rate than usual.  
  • Medication side effects: The interactions between an individual’s biochemistry and medications are complex. If you determine that you’ve started crying more after taking a medication, consider consulting the doctor who prescribed it to you.  
  • Life changes: The end of a romantic relationship, the loss of employment, and other major shifts in your life may cause you to feel destabilized and more prone to bursts of emotional crying.  
  • Mental health conditions: Major depressive disorder and other mental health conditions don’t always  cause people to cry frequently, but if you believe one such condition may be contributing to the regularity of your crying, consider getting professional help. A licensed mental health professional can help you figure out what you’re going through. You might also try Talkiatry. We’re a national psychiatry practice that treats a variety of conditions. Get started by filling out a quick online assessment.

FAQs  

Have more questions about emotional crying? Here's what else to know.

Why do I cry so much and so easily?  

There’s no one answer to this question, but in short, if you cry frequently and/or with minimal triggering, you may be an especially sensitive person, or going through a difficult life event, or under the effects of particular hormones, among other explanations. Crying is a complex phenomenon and humans are complex creatures, meaning that any explanation of your crying habits may be—you guessed it—complex.  

How do I stop crying?

Taking deep breaths and utilizing grounding techniques can help you stop crying, but remember, crying isn’t something that necessarily needs to be stopped. However, if you believe that you are crying too much, consider speaking with doctor who can help you assess whether there’s a medical reason behind it, whether its stress hormones or a mental health condition.

What are symptoms of depression?

Signs of clinical depression include feeling sad, worthless, and hopeless. It can also lead to a loss of interest and a loss of energy, all of which might lead to crying.

The information in this article is for education and informational purposes only and should never be substituted for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you or someone you know may be in danger, call 911 or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 right away.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Talkiatry take my insurance?

We're in-network with major insurers, including:

  • Aetna
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Even if your insurer isn't on the list, we might still accept it. Use the insurance eligibility checker in our online assessment to learn more.

Can I get an estimate of my visit cost?

The best way to get a detailed estimate of your cost is to contact your insurance company directly, since your cost will depend on the details of your insurance.  

For some, it’s just a co-pay. If you have an unmet deductible it could be more.  

Call the number on your insurance card and ask about your plan’s coverage for outpatient psychiatric services.

How does Talkiatry compare to face-to-face treatment?

For most patients, Talkiatry treatment is just as effective as in-person psychiatry (American Psychiatric Association, 2021), and much more convenient. That said, we don’t currently provide treatment for schizophrenia, primary eating disorder treatment, or Medication Assisted Treatment for substance use disorders.

What kind of treatment does Talkiatry provide?

At Talkiatry, we specialize in psychiatry, meaning the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions. Your psychiatrist will meet with you virtually on a schedule you set together, devise a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and preferences, and work with you to adjust your plan as you meet your goals.

If your treatment plan includes medication, your psychiatrist will prescribe and manage it. If needed, your psychiatrist can also refer you to a Talkiatry therapist.

What's the difference between a therapist and psychiatrist?

Psychiatrists are doctors who have specialized training in diagnosing and treating complex mental health conditions through medication management. If you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, or similar, a psychiatrist may be a good place to start.  

Other signs that you should see a psychiatrist include:  

  • Your primary care doctor or another doctor thinks you may benefit from the services of a psychiatrist and provides a referral    
  • You are interested in taking medication to treat a mental health condition  
  • Your symptoms are severe enough to regularly interfere with your everyday life

The term “therapist” can apply to a range of professionals including social workers, mental health counselors, psychologists, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychoanalysts. Working with a therapist generally involves regular talk therapy sessions where you discuss your feelings, problem-solving strategies, and coping mechanisms to help with your condition.

Who can prescribe medication?

All our psychiatrists (and all psychiatrists in general) are medical doctors with additional training in mental health. They can prescribe any medication they think can help their patients. In order to find out which medications might be appropriate, they need to conduct a full evaluation. At Talkiatry, first visits are generally scheduled for 60 minutes or more to give your psychiatrist time to learn about you, work on a treatment plan, and discuss any medications that might be included.

About
Divya Khosla, MD

Dr. Divya Khosla, MD, is a board certified Adult Psychiatrist and board eligible Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. She received her undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and her medical degree from Ross University, completing all of her clinicals in Maryland, D.C., and NYC. She completed her adult psychiatry residency at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Then she returned to the east coast, where she completed her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, New York.

Dr. Khosla has participated in a variety of innovative academic clinical research, and has presented research at annual national meetings of the American Psychiatric Association. Her robust clinical experience with varying demographics at different clinical sites around the country has allowed her to treat patients in an evidence-based way, tailoring treatment to an individual’s specific needs.

Although Dr. Khosla’s practice focuses on medication management, she also implements supportive therapy and motivational interviewing in sessions to allow for a more comprehensive approach to treatment. Her clinical interests include depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and ADHD.

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