Why You Feel Better After Crying (It’s a Cortisol Thing)

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Crying isn’t just emotional, it’s physical. Your body is literally trying to help you calm down, mostly by dealing with cortisol, the stress hormone.

In this post, I’m breaking down what actually happens when you cry, why it helps, and how it’s connected to your stress levels.

Because let’s be real: sometimes you hold it together all week, and then suddenly you’re crying over a dropped spoon or a sad commercial. It feels random, but it’s not. Your body’s been keeping score, and crying is one way it tries to reset.

This isn’t about being dramatic, it’s literally your nervous system doing damage control.

So, let’s talk about how it works (and why it’s not actually a bad thing).

What Actually Happens in Your Body When You Cry

Not all tears are the same. Your eyes tear up all day: when you yawn, when it’s windy, when you’re chopping onions. But those aren’t the kind of tears we’re talking about here.

Emotional tears are a different thing entirely. They’re triggered by stress, frustration, sadness, relief… basically any intense emotion. And when they show up, your body gets involved in a big way.

Your heart rate slows. Your breathing shifts. Your body starts switching out of “fight or flight” mode and into “ok, let’s calm down” mode. This is your parasympathetic nervous system kicking in (a.k.a., the part of your body that’s responsible for rest and recovery.)

Crying isn’t just about feelings. It’s a physical signal that your body’s trying to process something heavy and bring things back to baseline.

The Cortisol Connection

Cortisol is your body’s built-in alarm system. It spikes when you’re stressed, keeps you alert, and helps you push through tough situations. But when it stays high for too long, you start feeling frazzled, anxious, wired-but-exhausted.

Here’s where crying comes in: studies suggest that emotional tears may actually help lower cortisol levels. It’s like your body is trying to offload some of that stress, not just emotionally, but chemically.

It doesn’t mean one cry fixes everything (unfortunately), but it does give your nervous system a break. It signals to your brain, “Hey, we’re not in crisis anymore.” Your heart rate slows, your muscles unclench a little, and your body starts shifting out of survival mode.

So if you’ve ever felt that weird sense of relief after a cry (even if nothing’s really changed), it’s probably because your body finally got a second to stop running on cortisol fumes.

Why Crying Often Brings Clarity or Relief

You know that slightly dazed, calm-ish feeling after a really good cry? That’s not in your head. It’s your body coming down from a cortisol spike.

Once your nervous system realizes it’s safe to relax, everything starts to slow down. Your breathing evens out, your heart rate drops, and your brain gets a chance to actually process instead of just react. That’s why people say they feel “clearer” or “lighter” after crying, even if the problem didn’t magically go away.

There’s also less mental clutter. When you’re constantly stressed, your brain’s juggling a million tabs. Crying can close a few. It helps your body shift gears so you can think a little more clearly, or at least stop feeling like you’re about to snap over the dishwasher being loaded “wrong” again.

Why You Might Be Crying More (Or Not at All)

Everyone handles stress differently. Some people cry over everything when they’re overwhelmed. Others feel totally numb and can’t cry at all, even when they want to. Both are valid.

If you’ve been crying more than usual, it could be your body’s way of trying to offload stress that’s been building up for too long. Chronic cortisol spikes from burnout, sleep deprivation, or even too much screen time can make you more emotionally reactive, like crying over stuff that normally wouldn’t bother you.

On the flip side, if you’re feeling stuck or numb, that’s also a sign your nervous system might be in freeze mode. It’s like your body’s slammed the brakes so hard it can’t even process emotions properly.

Either way, your body is trying to tell you something. Tuning into that (instead of brushing it off) is the first step to feeling better.

How to Support Healthy Emotional Release (Even If You’re Not Crying)

You don’t have to wait for a breakdown to reset your stress levels. Crying is one way your body lets go of built-up tension, but it’s not the only one. If you’re feeling stuck, overstimulated, or just emotionally blocked, here are a few ways to help your nervous system chill out:

• Journal it out: Even five messy sentences can help clear mental buildup. Try prompts that get you under the surface (not just “how was my day?”).
• Move your body: A walk. A stretch. Dancing around your kitchen for three minutes. It helps shake off that cortisol overload.
• Add calming inputs: A weighted blanket, magnesium, or an adaptogen like ashwagandha… these can legit help lower cortisol.
• Reduce stimulation: Phone off, lights dimmed, no pressure to be productive.
• Let yourself feel stuff: Even if it’s uncomfortable. Bottling it up just adds to the pressure. You don’t need to force a cry, but you do need to make space for whatever wants to come up.

FAQs About What’s Actually Going On When You Cry