Crisis of crying: what are the causes and how they can be solved
Crying can be caused by a variety of emotions. You can cry for physical pain, for bad news received, for stress, for mental illness, but also for joy, happiness and emotion. Sometimes, however, it happens that we feel we are on the verge of tears for no apparent reason. We then speak of crying fits, which have no "cathartic" function, but which make us feel as if we have a "burden" on our shoulders and we could not take it off.
What are crying fits?
Not everyone experiences crying in the same way. The conception around it owes a lot to the relationship that has been had with this action since childhood. In fact, we can still recognize today families where crying is considered with a certain "embarrassment" and as an emotional demonstration not to be shared with children. others. In other situations, however, the act of crying is welcome because it represents an outlet for one's emotions and / or concerns. Especially in these realities, the message passes more and more often that crying does not make us weak, rather it strengthens us.
However, there are cases in which you notice that you cry too frequently and without immediately understanding why. Thus, it can happen that you are alone or surrounded by other people and suddenly feel that you can no longer hold back the tears. What releases is an uncontrolled cry that only leads to temporary relief when it finally ends. crying fits tend to recur over time at a fairly close distance.
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The causes
We must not forget that crying fits are not a "disorder", but symptoms. In fact, even if you may not recognize them at the moment, behind every crisis there is a very specific cause. This depends on several factors, first of all on the emotional state of the person experiencing it. Thus, it has been noted how a particularly turbulent period can lead to mood swings and an urgent need to cry repeatedly for some time. We have summarized the main reasons for crying spells.
1. Stress and anxiety
As already mentioned, one of the main causes of crying spells is a high build-up of tension, anxiety and stress. All this is confirmed in the studies of the University of Pittsburgh, where it is highlighted that conflict situations tend to be one of the key factors in the unleashing of tears. At times, crying can become the means by which a rapprochement is found after the conflict, especially in interpersonal relationships.
However, US researchers have also shown how very often crying crises due to anxiety, experienced in an "autonomous" way, do not bring any feeling of relief, on the contrary, they would increase the sense of discomfort. crying over a tense and stressful situation would lead the body to discern additional stress hormones.
2. Fatigue
This motivation is found above all with children.Who hasn't happened to see a 4 or 5 year old child at dinner, perhaps at the seaside, complain without a plausible explanation and start crying? This type of crying crisis is linked, in fact, to fatigue. In the case under consideration, it may have happened that the child did not rest adequately in the afternoon and / or that he became excessively tired throughout the day. Arriving in the evening, he feels he has no strength left and this sensation causes tears to break loose.
All this, however, does not only apply to children. Even adults, when they are sleepy, can fall prey to unexpected and unwanted crying. Studies have shown that when you don't get enough sleep during the night, you are easily subject to mood swings, sadness, irritability and, indeed, the outburst of tears. In the long run, not getting enough sleep can have consequences. also on health.
3. Depression
Compared to the other two causes, the latter is to be treated with even more delicacy. In general, one cannot simply speak of depression because there are different depressive disorders, each of which has a different origin and symptoms. For example, it can range from postpartum depression and anxiety-related depressive disorder with frequent panic attacks to agitated depression. Without going into the various types of this mental health malaise, it is good to know that many of them have crying fits, more or less frequent.
When crying spells are linked to depression
When you suffer from one of the depressive disorders, you can notice it because crying spells are not the only sign of this malaise. Normally, those who are depressed live in a constant state of sadness or perceive as a sense of emptiness, a something you don't know how to "fill." In general, mood swings are replaced by a lack and an emotional drowsiness. Additionally, there can be problems with food, self-care, and even sleep.
What can be done in the event of a crying fit?
The remedies for crying fits depend on what triggered them. For example, in the case of those due to fatigue, our advice is to try to get enough sleep every night. The number of hours of sleep needed varies from person to person, but usually 7 to 9 hours are recommended for adults and at least 10 for children, with changes based on the years.
As for those related to anxiety and stress, you should look for a real relief valve because, as we have seen, crying only risks making the situation worse. Try some sports to release tension, such as boxing or running, or some meditation disciplines such as yoga to externalize the negative energies and introject the positive ones. Likewise, find or indulge in a hobby of yours that makes you “mind off”, such as painting or playing an instrument. On the other hand, if these strategies alone do not work, then it is better to consult a psychologist, in order to avoid that you get to an extreme anxiety load that could lead to panic attacks or nervous breakdowns.
Finally, for crying crises related to depression, whether postpartum or otherwise, the only remedy is to undertake a path with a psychologist or psychotherapist who is able to offer you all the help you need.
