7 Reasons Crying Can Be Healthy

7 Healthy Reasons to Cry Your Eyes Out

New York Times reporter Benedict Carey referred to tears in a recent piece as "emotional perspiration." Given that I sweat a lot and hate deodorant, I suppose it makes sense that I weep often. But I’m not going to apologize for that, because after a good cry, I always feel cleansed, like my heart and mind just rubbed each other’s backs in a warm bath.

In his intriguing article, "The Miracle of Tears" (answersingenesis.com), in which I found some of the research for this gallery, author Jerry Bergman writes: "Tears are just one of many miracles which work so well that we taken them for granted every day."

Here, then, are seven ways tears and the phenomenon we call "crying" heal us physiologically, psychologically, and spiritually.

Therese J. Borchard writes the Beyond Blue blog on Beliefnet.

Tears Build Community

In her "Science Digest" article, writer Ashley Montagu argued that crying not only contributes to good health, but it also builds community. I know what you’re thinking: "Well, yeah, but not the right kind of community. I mean, I might ask the woman bawling her eyes out behind me in church what’s wrong or if I can help her, but I’m certainly not going to invite her to dinner."

I beg to differ. As a prolific crier, I always come away astounded by the resounding support of people I know, and the level of intimacy exchanged among them. Read for yourselves some of the comments on both my self-esteem file video my death and dying video and you’ll appreciate my point. Tears help communication and foster community.