The Healing Power of Tears

During the past few weeks, the tears have flowed regularly and voluminously.

Grief comes to me in waves. In the middle of the grocery store, hearing a certain song on the radio, or just a sweet memory as it passes by, all have caused me to break down and cry.

I’m not talking about the basic tears, sobs, a hiccup and we’re OK. No, this is deep, soul retching, gut tightening anguish.

If I allow myself to experience the wave, fully and completely, eventually it subsides, leaving me with a wonderful sense of peace, tranquility and healing.

Why? What is it about a good cry that cleans and cleanses?

According to an article written by Paula Becker entitled The Healing Power of Tears, 85% of women and 73% of men reported feeling less sad or angry after crying.

Psychologists have understood this phenomenon for some time. Now scientists are doing research to find a mechanical explanation for the healing benefit of tears.

Some of this research has been conducted by William Frey and in his book, The Mystery of Tears; Frey compared tears induced from sadness with tears caused by cutting a raw onion. He found that the tears caused by emotional stimuli contained more total protein than those that resulted from irritation.

Frey proposes that the emotionally based tears contained high levels of cortisol, which is the primary hormone released during stressful situations. This suggests that the act of crying may allow various toxins to be released from our body.

From a metaphysical point of view, when you cry, your loss moves through the various layers of your aura and exits your system. This is the “release” we feel at the end of a good cry.

What was literally attached to your physical body has been removed, leaving you calm, peaceful and renewed.

I have found this to be true for me. As grief enfolds me, I allow myself to cry. I experience the sadness and the tears for what they are – a natural healing process.