Why You Feel Like Crying for No Reason, According to a Doctor

Even though most of us associate crying with sadness or as a reaction to a negative situation, many times it is not so. You may have yourself felt overwhelmed in a happy situation and found your eyes welling up with tears. 

According to clinical psychotherapist Dr Radhika S. Bapat, crying can mean a number of things...especially if you find yourself doing that often. "Although social norms on masculinity tout crying as a sign of weakness, the production of human tears are uniquely present only in Homo Sapiens, and there is a neurobiological and evolutionary reason behind it. Most often tears are distress vocalizations although people also cry when they are happy," she says.

However, given the current scenario, it is natural to find yourself moved and tearing up when you read or see a particularly heartbreaking situation. A good crying session can help you feel better and lighter but there are certain things you must consider especially if you are having frequent crying spells.

"Even though research strongly suggests the mood benefits of crying, there are two caveats that one must note. The first is the frequency of this behaviour. If you find yourself crying more often and over little things, this is a red flag. You need to approach a doctor and get help. If this is not the case however, how people around you respond to your crying is important. Family and friends need to shed their socially constructed reality that once-in-awhile crying symbolizes emotional instability or incompetence. It most certainly does not," says Dr Bapat. 

So, speak up and have a candid conversation with family and friends about the same. As Dr Bapat pointed out, if the number of crying sessions seems to be increasing and affecting your daily life, it is best to seek the assistance of a professional or confide in a friend or family, at the very least. After all, your mental health is as important as your physical health.