There is a well-known phrase that says that “emotions are on the surface.” Although this may seem exaggerated from a biological perspective, the truth is that there are reasons to think that there really is a link between emotional factors and the body. Sometimes, we find ourselves in situations that awaken intense reactions in us to unexpected events: Who has not been moved when remembering the first time they were able to get a job? How many times have we seen someone we know with tears in their eyes because they graduated? These examples are illuminating to see that joy is not only expressed with laughter and laughter, but also through crying.
In this Psychology-Online article we explain why do we cry with happiness.
Stress relief
Cry of happiness It is usually associated with a significant emotional discharge. When this phenomenon occurs, knowing the reasons that caused it will be illuminating to understand how it was carried out. Sometimes, certain previous situations can produce intense and/or anxiety that accumulates in the body.
In these cases, the human mind sees the need to discharge those accumulated emotions in some way, and one of the most frequent ways to do so is crying for happiness. For this reason, crying can also be linked to joy.
emotional expression
Each person expresses their emotions in different ways. For example, it is possible that someone who has achieved some momentous goal in his life expresses it through effusive celebration or shouting. However, sometimes happiness can also be seen through tears.
It should be noted that there is a social convention based on the fact that visual communication can be interpreted from the gestures, words and emotions that occur at a given moment.
Sample of unconscious aspects
Another quality of crying for happiness corresponds to the display of unconscious aspects. In other words, this means that a person can remember situations from the past that have produced various emotions because they are directly related to an event in the present. When this event occurs, crying may be associated with expression of an important feeling for the person at that moment.
For example, a person graduates from a university degree and, when remembering the effort and sacrifice made during so many years of study, cries with happiness. Another example could be that of someone who has suffered family abuse during his childhood and who, after achieving respect at work, shows his happiness through tears.
Even though these are fictitious situations, Past events have a determining influence which can prevent you from carrying out activities of daily living and cause conflicts with other people. For this reason, in these cases it is advisable to go to a mental health professional so that they can provide the person with the necessary tools to improve their quality of life. Today there are therapies that address these problems in a detailed and careful way, such as psychoanalysis.
Is it good to cry with happiness?
To begin with, it is necessary to clarify that the meaning of crying is conditioned by different people, which is why it is complex to make a generalization about the benefits of crying with happiness. However, it is possible to reach some conclusions on this topic.
Firstly, the intensity, duration, past experiences and current relationships maintain a close link with crying happiness. Therefore, the more intense and lasting a person’s reasons for crying out of joy and/or happiness have been, the more intense this emotional discharge will be. Considering this point, cry with happiness could be a positive action for the person with these characteristics.
On the other hand, if there are situations that permanently overwhelm the energy levels of a happy person, crying with happiness could be thought of as an exacerbated response if it occurs in the majority of the moments experienced. However, it is necessary to take into account each situation individually. In this way, it can be inferred that the expression of emotions in various forms constitutes a healthy act for human beings.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Jarrín Hernández, E. (2010). “Dacryopsychology”: Study on the origin and classification of emotional crying. Department of Surgery. University of Alcalá.
- Mancuso, H. (2016). The mystery of tears. Acta Psychiatric and Psychological Magazine of Latin America, 62 (4), 217-221.