Had a bad day? Cry it out!
Crying is a natural response to a range of emotions. Some people cry when they’re sad, and some cry when they’re happy…
Photo via WebMD
But did you know that crying is actually good for your health? Crying is an important safety valve, largely because keeping difficult feelings inside, what psychologists call repressive coping, can be bad for our health!
According to Harvard Health Publishing, studies have shown that repressive feelings are linked to a less resilient immune system, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, as well as mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
So if you feel like crying, then there’s no shame in that!
However, there are times when crying can be a sign of a problem… especially if it happens way too often or for no apparent reason, or when crying starts to affect your daily activities or becomes uncontrollable.
But, as challenging as it may be, the best way to handle difficult feelings including sadness and grief, is to embrace them!
Photo via Her View From Home
Allow yourself to cry, guys. Teaching young boys and men that it’s okay to cry may also reduce negative health behaviours and help them have fuller lives.
It’s okay to cry!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
