What is crying?
A rogue particle of sand is all it takes to make someone tear up, but we all know those tears feel different than the ones shed after an incredibly frustrating day. They come from the same place, and feel like they are doing the same thing, but why do they feel distinctly different? Furthermore, where do tears even come from?
Surprisingly, it’s a pretty complicated answer. Crying and tears are still something scientists are investigating. There are many theories about why we cry and some of them are pretty out there. In the 1960s, a group of scientists hypothesized we evolved from aquatic apes, and that crying was a vestigial hand-me-down to avoid getting seawater in our eyes.
Today though, there seems to be building evidence that crying is actually a way to help us bond with one another. While we may not fully understand why we cry, we do understand how we cry.
Learn how to order contact lenses online at 1-800 Contacts
How you make tears
All tears start in the same place: the lacrimal gland. It’s here tears are produced with a combination of protein, water, oil, and mucus. They are then dispersed via the secretory ducts to your eye. Once they are in your eye, they can either drain from your eye by blinking or through your nasal cavity.
Tears can be triggered by different things which will change their chemical makeup. The tears you cry when getting sand in your eye are very different from the teardrops trailing down your cheeks after a breakup.
Types of tears
There are three types of tears: basal tears, reflex tears, and emotional tears. Basal tears are the most abundant with the average person making between 5 to 10 ounces of them a day. These tears almost never stop flowing and are what keep your eyes wet. Fortunately, these tears drain through our nasal cavity, so we aren’t constantly trailing mascara everywhere we go.
The second type of tear, reflex tears, are what help keep your eyes free of debris. They are deployed by the brain when your eye senses an irritant. They follow the same path as basal tears but can also drain through your eye if the particle is persistent.
Finally, emotional tears are something else entirely. When you’re experiencing something painful, your body reacts by engaging your endocrine system and deploying these tears. They are unique in that they don’t serve a specific physical purpose in your own body. Instead, they may exist to tell others that you’re hurting and might need help. These tears can also be produced while you’re sleeping and dreaming of something painful. Your body can’t tell the difference.
Benefits of crying
Crying is inherently a sad thing. It’s not without benefits though. There are studies showing that crying can actually help self-soothe while dealing with something painful. Tears not only release oxytocin and endogenous opioids that dull pain responses, they also engage your nervous system signaling a time for rest. It’s why we can feel so tired and comfortable after a bout of crying.
How to stop crying
Crying for some can be seen as a moment of weakness or something we shouldn’t be doing. The reality is that everyone cries and it’s biologically hardwired into us. But we aren’t always in a situation that allows for it. The urge to cry will pass faster if you just let it out, but if you need to prevent the tears from coming, here are some tips:
- Tilt your head back towards the ceiling for a few seconds.
- Pinch the area between your finger and thumb.
- Slow, controlled breathing.
- Tensing your muscles in arms, legs, and abdomen.
- Try to keep your face neutral and stoic.
- Remove yourself from others or a stressful situation.
In the end, try not to worry too much about crying. It can be caused by any number of things. Even your contacts can make you cry, especially when you need them and forgot to setup an order. We’re here to help you shed fewer tears and to make ordering your contacts a breeze.
See how to get free shipping on affordable lenses, as well as the time it takes to get them and how to save time and money on the entire process. How much are contact lenses? Compare the prices of daily, weekly, biweekly, and monthly contact lenses and find the best option for you. See where to order contacts online, according to price and shipping times. Compare top online retailers to find the best deal for you. Everything you need to know about contact lenses
Free shipping for contact lenses
How much do contacts cost?
Where to order contacts online