Comments on: Why does crying when you have PMS make you feel better?

Question: Why does crying when you have PMS make you feel better?

stoneegg21 — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 11:50:29 -0800

Why does crying when you have PMS make you feel better?

Half an hour after I cry, I feel great. I'd imagine that crying releases neurotransmitters of some kind, but how do they counteract the hormones in your blood from PMS?

By: ThePinkSuperhero

ThePinkSuperhero — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 11:51:54 -0800

I don't know if it has anything to do with PMS- it seems that crying always makes you feel better when you feel bad, whether you have PMS or not.

By: ArsncHeart

ArsncHeart — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 11:55:28 -0800

Crying releases endorphins, and endorphins make you feel better.

"Another chemical theory is that crying helps to release endorphins into the bloodstream. Endorphins are chemicals that act as mood-elevators and pain relievers. Both this and the above theory give chemical credence to the assertion that most people feel physically better after having a good sob."

By: ArsncHeart

ArsncHeart — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 12:12:27 -0800

By: mfbridges

mfbridges — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 14:30:15 -0800

Why does crying release endorphins? Endorphins may provide the mechanism for changing brain chemisty, but why does the body need the act of crying to do that?

By: Specklet

Specklet — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 15:47:29 -0800

...but why does the body need the act of crying to do that?

It doesn't. There are many other things your body does to stimulate the release of endorphins.

As stated above, endorphins are mood-elevators and pain relievers. When we are sad, scared, or in pain, it makes sense that evolutionarily speaking, it would be beneficial to create endorphins at that time.

By: reflecked

reflecked — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 16:55:08 -0800

The other thing to consider is that tears have been measured for other substances and can contain up to 1000 times the concentration of "stress chemicals" ie lactic acid than that found in our bloodstream.

The phrase "a good, cleansing cry" has basis in fact. I use this information a lot when talking with people who are highly stressed and embarassed about weeping. Tears are one way we stay upright and functional when stressed.

By: Sticherbeast

Sticherbeast — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 21:24:54 -0800

Not a hundred percent PMS-related, but aside from the regular benefits of crying when you don't feel right, there are perhaps some hormonal issues at play.

Also, doing a google for "prolactin crying" brought up this perhaps interesting book.

By: playtragic

playtragic — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 21:34:05 -0800

small amounts of stress chemicals are released in tears.