We have all tried to resist the fall of a tear. Whether out of pride, embarrassment, not meeting at an appropriate time, or simply to keep from smudging, we’ve all been in a situation where we try as hard as we can to hold back tears, but unfortunately we just can’t. prevent a droplet from rising to the surface. Crying is involuntary. But why do we do it?
There are various reasons why we can cry: because of sadness, because of joy, because of fear, because of cutting onions, because an eyelash enters our eye… There are infinite reasons. But whatever the cause, we always experience the same symptom: tears.
Tears are produced by small glands located within the orbit of the eye.
They are mainly made up of water with a little salt (hence its salty taste), oil, mucosa and enzymes. The water keeps the eye moist; oil prevents tears from evaporating and the eye does not dry out; the mucosa helps to spread the tears evenly throughout the eye and makes them stick to it and not spill; the enzymes and antibodies are there to kill germs and prevent infection.
Our bodies produce tears every day and constantly. When we cry, it is simply because we produce more tears than fit in our eyes.
What accounts for this change in tear production?
To understand it, we must distinguish between the three types of tears that exist.
Basal tears are the most common. They are present in the eye all day, and serve to lubricate and nourish the eye, and protect the cornea. In other words, they are a protective barrier. In fact, the shortage of these tears and poor lubrication leaves the eye unprotected against external agents, making it more prone to diseases and infections, such as conjunctivitis.
Reflex tears occur when the eye needs to get rid of some unwanted substance that it comes into contact with and that causes irritation. Examples of these substances are smoke, ashes, dust, eyelashes or other foreign objects that fall on our cornea. These are also the tears that are produced when we cut onions, because when cut, the onion releases a gas that contains sulfur, which, in contact with the water in our eyes, decomposes into an acid. Our eyes then produce more water, in the form of tears, to dilute this acid and protect themselves.
Emotional tears , as the name suggests, are the ones we produce when we find ourselves in moments of deep emotion, such as sadness, fear, joy, anger, or even pain.
Reflex and emotional tears are produced in greater quantity than basal ones, since they are not preventive but defensive. Hence the sudden and intense crying that we can experience in the face of various stimuli. This is also why only these two types of tears are considered crying.
How do emotional tears defend us?
Making us feel better. First, if the crying person receives social support while crying, he or she feels better because of an interpersonal benefit. Second, the chemical composition of tears acts as a calming agent that makes us feel better in a direct way. All types of tears have the same chemical composition, but emotional tears contain a higher hormonal load. Its production releases oxytocin and endorphins, hormones that make people feel good and help relieve both physical and emotional pain. These hormones are produced by our brain and are very similar in structure to opiates such as morphine and opium, but lack their side effects. They are natural chemicals that act as pain relievers and stimulate our pleasure centers. We release them in moments of satisfaction, such as when enjoying a hobby or playing sports, but also in response to pain and stress, to help eliminate discomfort.
In the face of a stimulus, whether physical or psychological, the sensory nerves inform the brain, which activates the increased production of these tears, which release chemicals that literally act as pain relievers. The hormones released are also responsible for improving our mood after crying, leaving us with a sense of relief and contentment.
Surely you have noticed that after crying, it is normal to find it easier to fall asleep or fall asleep. Some studies indicate that this is what makes babies sleep better after crying.
So the next time you feel like crying, don’t resist. Your nervous system is trying to help you. What’s more, I’m sure you’ll feel better after doing it!
References:
- Mori K, Iwanaga M. Two types of peak emotional responses to music: The psychophysiology of chills and tears. Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 7;7:46063. doi: 10.1038/srep46063. PMID: 28387335; PMCID: PMC5384201.
- Bylsma LM, Gračanin A, Vingerhoets AJJM. The neurobiology of human crying. Clin Auton Res. 2019 Feb;29(1):63-73. doi: 10.1007/s10286-018-0526-y. Epub 2018 Apr 23. PMID: 29687400; PMCID: PMC6201288.
- Gračanin A, Bylsma LM, Vingerhoets AJ. Is crying a self-soothing behavior?. Front Psychol. 2014;5:502. Published 2014 May 28. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00502
- Michael Gradisar, Kate Jackson, et al.; Behavioral Interventions for Infant Sleep Problems: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatrics June 2016; 137 (6): e20151486. 10.1542/peds.2015-1486
