Cathartic Crying: The Science Behind It and Why You Need to Let It Out for Health, Stress Management, and Peak Performance
Let’s Get One Thing Straight: Crying Is Not Weakness
If you’re one of those high-achieving, never-stop, keep-it-together professionals who pride themselves on powering through stress, I have news for you: You’re human. And humans cry. Not as a malfunction, but as a biological necessity.
Somewhere along the way, you were probably taught to suppress emotions—especially if you’re a man. “Real men don’t cry.” “Leaders don’t show weakness.” “Tough it out.” And while emotional regulation is a skill, emotional repression? That’s a ticking time bomb.
Science backs this up. Suppressing emotions increases stress, weakens your immune system, and contributes to burnout. Meanwhile, cathartic crying—the kind that genuinely releases emotional tension—acts as a built-in, no-cost stress reliever.
What Is Cathartic Crying?
Cathartic crying isn’t just about shedding a tear during a sad movie. It’s a full-body reset. It’s the kind of crying that releases built-up emotional pressure, leaving you feeling lighter, clearer, and sometimes even euphoric afterward.
From a physiological perspective, crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation and helps the body return to homeostasis. Emotional tears (yes, different from the ones you shed when chopping onions) contain stress hormones and endorphins—meaning your body is literally purging stress when you cry.
Think of it like an emotional detox. You wouldn’t let garbage pile up in your home, so why let emotional waste clog up your system?
The Hidden Costs of Repressing Emotions
Ignoring your emotions doesn’t make you stronger—it makes you stressed, exhausted, and less effective. Research shows that chronic emotional suppression leads to:
Increased cortisol levels (hello, stress weight gain and high blood pressure)
Weakened immune function (more sick days, lower productivity)
Higher risk of anxiety and depression (because bottling things up never ends well)
Impaired decision-making (emotions exist for a reason—they help you process the world and make better choices)
In short, refusing to cry doesn’t make you a high performer. It makes you a liability—to yourself, your work, and your well-being.
How Cathartic Crying Supports Deep Health
Deep health isn’t just about physical fitness or eating well—it’s about thriving in all dimensions of wellness: physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, and existential.
Emotional Health – Crying is an emotional release valve. It helps prevent emotional overload, reduces stress, and fosters resilience.
Mental Health – Suppressing emotions can lead to cognitive fatigue and burnout. Cathartic crying enhances clarity, focus, and decision-making by offloading excess emotional weight.
Physical Health – Stress hormones weaken the immune system and contribute to inflammation. Crying helps purge these stressors, promoting overall physiological balance.
Social Health – Sharing vulnerable moments, like crying, strengthens relationships and builds deeper connections with others. It fosters trust and emotional authenticity in personal and professional life.
Existential Health – Emotional expression, including crying, is tied to our sense of meaning and purpose. Processing emotions through cathartic crying can lead to greater self-awareness and acceptance.
Crying isn’t just about stress relief—it’s an essential tool for maintaining whole-body wellness and long-term success.
How Often Should You Cry?
A healthy emotional release schedule varies from person to person, but research suggests that most people cry anywhere from once a week to a few times a month under normal conditions.
During periods of high stress or grief, crying more frequently—daily or several times a week—is completely normal. Your body is processing and adapting. The key difference between healthy emotional release and unhealthy patterns is whether crying helps you move forward or leaves you feeling stuck.
When Is It Time to Seek Help?
While crying is healthy, excessive or uncontrollable crying can indicate something deeper, such as depression, unresolved trauma, or burnout. If you find yourself:
Crying daily without relief
Feeling emotionally numb between crying episodes
Experiencing sleep disturbances, appetite changes, or chronic fatigue
Struggling to function at work or in personal relationships
…it may be time to speak with a therapist, coach, or mental health professional. Cathartic crying is a tool, not a permanent solution for deep emotional distress.
How to Make Cathartic Crying Work for You
Want to unlock the benefits of a good cry without spiraling into emotional overload? Try these:
Schedule Emotional Release Time – If you’ve been suppressing emotions for years, they won’t conveniently show up when you have free time. Set aside moments for journaling, reflective thinking, or listening to music that moves you.
Create a Safe Space for Expression – Whether it’s your car, your shower, or your bedroom with noise-canceling headphones, find a private place where you can let go without judgment.
Pair Crying with Physical Release – Follow up a crying session with a walk, stretch, or deep breathing exercise to help regulate your nervous system.
Normalize It in Conversations – Let’s retire the stigma. Talk about emotional health the way you would discuss any other wellness habit. Leaders who model healthy emotional expression set the tone for healthier, more resilient teams.
Seek Support When Needed – There’s a difference between productive emotional release and drowning in unresolved issues. If you feel stuck, reach out for help. The strongest people know when to seek support.
Final Thoughts
Peak performance isn’t about emotional suppression—it’s about emotional intelligence. Your body is wired to release stress through crying, just like it’s wired to sweat during intense workouts. Fighting that natural process doesn’t make you stronger; it makes you less resilient.
So, the next time you feel the pressure building, don’t numb it with another 16-hour workday or a bottle of wine. Give yourself permission to release, reset, and come back sharper. Because the real power move? Knowing that emotional expression is not weakness—it’s a strategy for long-term success.
Need Help? You’ve mastered the art of pushing through.
But what if you didn’t have to push so hard?
If your default mode is overthinking, overworking, or never resting—it’s time to recalibrate.
Let’s trade survival-mode for something more sustainable.
🎯 Book your free 20-minute strategy session.
Article References
The sources cited in the article:
Verywell Mind (VM). “6 Ways Crying Can Improve Your Mental Health.” VM - Crying Can Improve Your Mental Health
Berkeley Greater Good (GG). “Why It’s Good for You to Cry.” GG - Why' It’s Good for You to Cry
healthline. “9 Ways Crying May Benefit Your Health.” healthline - 9 Ways Crying May Benefit Your Health
BetterHelp. "Benefits of Crying Therapy: Releasing Stress and Emotional Pain.” BetterHelp - Benefits of Crying Therapy
Psychology Today (PT). "The Healing Power of Emotional Tears.” PT - The Healing Power of Emotional Tears
