Science says: this is where tears of joy come from

Crying: we all do it. Some more than others, that's for sure. For example, I can tear up several times a day from minimal triggers like a Merci commercial, a sad video on the internet, or seeing an old man eating alone (I really can't handle that last one), while my boyfriend can't even remember the last time he cried. Must be nice. Tears of joy are a completely foreign phenomenon for him, while I always need tissues for any form of good news that comes my way. But where do those ‘happy tears’ actually come from? According to research, it could be due to one of the following reasons.

You have suppressed feelings
One of the earliest studies on tears of joy indicates that crying during happy moments may be linked to underlying feelings of sadness or anger that you haven't acknowledged. Although some researchers have contradicted this over the years, it was indeed the first step in understanding where these tears come from.

Crying regulates your body
Joy, just like sadness, is an emotion that temporarily throws your body out of balance. A spike in happiness chemicals or stress hormones occurs that your body reacts to, so it tries to regulate itself again by shedding a few tears. Thanks to those tears, stress hormones are released, making you feel calm again. In a way, those tears simply indicate that your body is functioning well.

Crying fosters connection
People are actually quite simple, aren't they? The only thing we want in social situations is a form of connection with each other. Researchers say that by showing your vulnerability through a crying session, you encourage others to feel empathy, which ultimately leads to a social connection. It's also a way to make friends.

Crying helps keep intense emotions in check
I don't know about you, but I'm a frustration crier. Car trouble and being in a hurry? Crying. Phone broken? Crying. Does a glass fall on the floor while I'm already having a bad day? Tears. According to research, this happens because your body is trying to process intense emotions. When you cry, you literally let your emotions out, making them feel less overwhelming. Whether these are emotions of sadness, frustration, or joy doesn't matter in this case.

So you see: those tears of joy are not as dramatic as one might think. And besides the fact that they are completely justified, they also have health benefits. It has been proven that crying can be a mood booster, that it helps you sleep, and that occasionally having a good cry keeps your eyes clean. So the next time you tear up from a puppy video on Instagram, you're actually just being very healthy. Put that in your pocket.

Source: VeryWell Mind