Often, when our hearts are filled with sadness, anxiety, or stress, tears begin to flow. Let's find out from an expert whether this is good for mental health and what impact it has on our mind and body.

'Why are you crying over such a small thing?' or 'Tears are a sign of weakness...' We are often told these things since childhood and for some reason we start feeling that shedding tears shows weakness or perhaps it is right to suppress emotions to appear strong, but it is not so. In fact, keeping sadness, stress and emotions suppressed within can have a bad effect on our mental health. On the other hand, crying openly when the heart is full lightens the mind and is beneficial for mental health. Let us know how good is it for mental health to cry heartily when the heart is heavy? Dr. Naveen Kumar Dhagudu, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hitec City is giving information about this.

Is crying when you're full of heart good for your mental health?

Dr. Naveen says that if you're upset about something, unable to contain your emotions, or feeling bad about something that makes you cry, then doing so is certainly good for your mental health. Holding back emotions for long periods of time can harm both our physical and mental health. This can also have many benefits for mental health.

Stress is reduced

• Crying is a natural way to release emotions, which helps restore mental balance and reduces stress levels.
• When you cry, your body releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins and oxytocin, which reduce physical and emotional pain and create a sense of calm.

The brain is detoxed

• It's a biological detoxification process that makes you feel lighter. Crying also helps flush out stress hormones like cortisol from the body.
• Additionally, crying activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body transition from a 'fight or flight' state to a 'rest and digest' state.

Suppressing emotions can lead to depression

Suppressing emotions can lead to anxiety, depression, and even physical health problems. It's important to understand that if crying is excessive, uncontrollable, or interferes with daily activities, it could be a sign of a mental health problem that requires professional help.