Why do we feel better after crying?
In this week’s parsha, Yaakov Avinu and his sons reunite with their long-lost brother Yosef, leading to many tearful embraces. Humans actually produce three types of tears: basal tears, which keep the eyes lubricated; reflex tears in response to irritants like onions or smoke; and emotional tears, which are the ones that are shed in response to feelings like sadness, joy, or frustration. Emotional tears contain higher levels of stress hormones, as well as natural painkillers. This might explain why crying can sometimes make you feel better. Crying helps remove toxins from the body, reduce stress, and improve one’s mood. On average, a person produces about 15 to 30 gallons of tears each year. That’s a lot of crying!
