The Therapy Of Tears

I have been exploring information on a therapy that I have been using for many, many years: the therapy of tears.

I began to realize that there was more to tears than just streaking the dust-covered face of a child, or getting a response from others.

And of course, there are a myriad of reasons that humans cry. What I am speaking of here is not endless sobbing or crying over something and clinging to the story that feeds the tears.

What I am speaking of here is a deliberate intention to cause tears to flow so that the body can release stress one may be feeling. What I have found is that simply shedding a couple of tears are all I need to reset my mood or adjust any mental discomfort I may be experiencing.

There are some of us that may be at effect more than others when experiencing life challenges and circumstances. There is one therapy always available immediately—tears.

When I start feeling out of sorts, that’s my signal to shed a few tears. When I’m speaking of tear therapy here, I am speaking of realizing you are actually having a therapy session with every emotional tear you shed. For my own tear therapy, I usually find a quiet place to be, make myself comfortable, and then I close my eyes. Of course, closing your eyes depends on what you choose to trigger your tear therapy. You can choose sad music, memories, photos, even a sad movie. For me it is usually the image of holding my mother’s hand. It has never failed.

When stress begins to affect our feelings and responses to life and tension has set in, when those signals arise in us, there is a way to relieve some of this discomfort—and it only takes one or two tears.
Tears are a step toward healing. Letting the tears flow can improve our mood. It may take about 20 minutes to notice the relief, so just relax into the feeling.

What has happened when we release our therapy tears? Emotional tears release a stress hormone, cortisol. Cortisol is a very important hormone in the body that, at normal levels, supports overall health. When we are overly stressed, when we lack sleep, or when we don’t get adequate exercise, or partake of unhealthy eating habits, we are opening the door to an overabundance of cortisol, and that can affect our entire being—physical, mental, and emotional.

I want to note here that not all tears release hormones. Tears in our eyes from cutting up onions, wind and cold, and the like… these are not emotionally charged tears associated with sadness or joy for example, and therefore carry no hormones.

So, not only does shedding a few tears help us feel better, they also release oxytocin, which is known as the love hormone. This hormone will help reduce stress. Then we see that endorphins are also released—the feel-good chemicals that help ease physical and emotional pain.