Sometimes, people have the urge to cry when they don’t want to and while it is important to note that there is nothing wrong with crying, there are some ways to control and prevent it from happening.
Uncontrollable crying can be upsetting, uncomfortable, and exhausting. It is important to remember that crying could be a sign of a deeper problem, and if anyone suspects this is the case, they should visit their doctor.
Types of crying
There are three kinds of tears that humans can produce, each of them has a different purpose.
Basal tears
Basal tears make sure the eyes do not dry out and are always present in the eyes. Humans produce around 5 to 10 ounces of basal tears each day.
Reflex tears
Reflex tears are produced to help protect the eye. If smoke or dust gets into the eye, or it is irritated, the nerves in the cornea send a message to the brain and reflex tears occur.
Emotional tears
Emotional tears. When a person is feeling emotional, the cerebrum (the front part of the brain) registers that emotion and a hormone is triggered causing emotional type tears to form.
What are tears made of?
Tears are made up of protein, water, mucus, and oil. However, their content will vary depending on what kind of tears they are. Basal tears, for example, are 98 percent water, where emotional tears contain several different chemicals, proteins, and hormones.
How much crying is too much?
There is no rule about how much crying is too much, and whether it is a problem depends on how an individual feels personally, and whether bouts of crying affect daily activities, relationships, and other aspects of everyday life.
Crying is normal, as are many of the reasons for crying. https://www.calm.com/blog/how-to-stop-cryingSome common reasons why a person might cry are:
frustration
fear
receiving bad news
missing someone
empathy
sad memories
anger
shock
feeling overwhelmed
a relationship breakdown
happiness
Tips for controlling crying
Mental approaches
1. Walk away
Walking away from a situation, it can be a helpful way to stop getting worked up and bursting into tears. Getting too angry, upset, or frustrated can cause crying so removing themselves and returning when calmer can help a person regain control.
2. Use words
Failure to communicate properly can lead to anger and frustration, which can trigger the urge to cry. Learning how to express feelings clearly, staying calm, and using words can help to keep tears at bay.
3. Have props and use distractions
Having something to scribble on, a stress ball, or something to look at visually may be of use when heading into a situation that could trigger crying. Distraction is another popular technique. Focusing on an activity or task, listening to uplifting music or starting a conversation can also be helpful.
4. Think about something positive or funny instead
Try to replace negative thoughts with positive ones or think about something funny or silly instead. https://www.healthline.com/health/i-cant-stop-cryingSeeing the lighter, funnier side to a stressful situation can make things easier and stop someone from crying so easily.
How to avoid triggers
Avoiding triggers is about knowing the things that make a person cry and being able to identify them. This makes it easier for them to manage their emotions, as they can spot and prevent familiar thought-patterns long before reaching the point of crying.
Some strategies include:
Acknowledging feelings
Sometimes crying can be a reflex because people struggle to acknowledge how they are feeling.
Trying to understand the cause of distress and coming up with practical solutions will be more helpful than masking the problem by crying.
Modifying behavior
Behavioral modification is where a person is asked to try and focus on their thoughts and actions and identify the triggers that cause them to cry. Doing so enables them to come up with coping mechanisms to help. The more a person repeats these, the more control a person will have over their emotions.
Talking to someone
Talking to someone, whether they are a trusted friend, a family member, or a trained professional such as a therapist, can help a person work out problems, relieve stress and feel freer.
Writing it down
Some people find keeping a journal or writing their emotions down is a beneficial way to explore their feelings, find patterns, and see if there is a root cause for their problems that needs addressing.
Crying and mental health
Although crying is a normal part of life, excessive crying can be a sign of several mood or personality disorders that usually need professional help to control. Some common mood disorders are:
anxiety disorder
Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) – intense feelings of anger or sudden, unexplained laughter or crying
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