Why Do People Cry?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 08, 2020

Crying is an emotional response to many different feelings, including sadness, anger, happiness and pain. People cry for an emotional release and also as a survival mechanism to signal to themselves that they need to address a certain situation in their lives that is causing them stress.

Crying is a natural response and affects each person differently. Some people are natural criers, while others never cry. For people who cry often, crying can be an emotional release that allows them to release a build-up of feelings. Crying may serve a biochemical purpose in some people, while in others it may release stress hormones and toxins from the body, making the person healthier and more calm.