Julie Zhuo · 12 min read · Productivity
The Lost Art of Crying
Read the original on lg.substack.com →
The piece blends personal memory with science to argue that crying is not weakness but a physiological form of repair. It explains the chemistry of emotional tears, the brain pathways that trigger them, and the calming aftermath, showing why allowing ourselves to cry can restore balance.
Key Takeaways
- Emotional tears contain stress hormones like cortisol and ACTH and natural painkillers called endorphins, making them chemically distinct from other tears.
- Crying is regulated by the limbic system; the amygdala signals tears, the hypothalamus channels the response, and tear ducts release them.
- After crying, the body often enters a parasympathetic rest-and-digest state, with many people feeling calmer within about 20 minutes.
- Despite scientific evidence, tears are still culturally labeled as weakness; recognizing their healing potential requires shifting social narratives around crying.
Excerpt
i. You may not believe this, but if you pull me apart and unpeel me layer by layer, you will discover that I am an ice queen. Yes, you read that right. My eyes glitter keenly; my tongue is sharp and cutting; my heart is smooth and cold as a mirror’s surface. Vast dominions of my mind glitter in the sunlight, pure and beautiful and white, like songs in a Christmas jingle. Here, where I reign, everything is cool and collected. My streets are straight and orderly. My castle is a crystal marvel. It’s not perfect, not by any stretch.…