Is crying biologically necessary?

It’s a sign that you are alive.

In the current political climate?

Yes.

Perhaps not necessary, but helpful in ways. Emotional tears contain high levels of hormones associated with stress, so a good cry brings some release as those are purged from the body. But crying is primarily an adaptation that makes us better social partners. When we see someone crying, our impulse is to come to their aid and offer comfort. It has even been found that smelling a woman’s emotional tears (as opposed to cleansing tears), makes testosterone levels drop in men. All of this contributes to social cohesion, which has been been a big factor in the survival of our species.

Tears have three components besides water: salty, mucus, oil. The salt component mostly helps match the salinity of the fluids within the eyeball so the shape of the eyeball is not distorted by tears. The mucus and oily components lubricate the eye within its socket and the eyelid against the eyeball.

There certainly seems to be a tremendous relief following crying, indicating some built-up stresses are let go. If there were no stresses then maybe we would not need to cry. However , ...such is life.

I believe male tear ducts are surgically attached to our testicles…......just has to be.

@ucme. Lmao. Thanks for the informative answers every one..@crashsequence2012 I do see your point but possibly you lack perspective. All the golden years weren’t always so great in reality. Or maybe I am wrong. And I lack perspective. I like history and am relatively young so maybe it’s merely ignorance on my part. Nothing more intriguing then a good conspiracy though!

In my experience, it sure is. Crying relieves stress and other powerful emotions, which definitely affect my biology and physical health.

For an example, I was feeling very upset and overwhelmed today, and physically/situationally unable to cry. When I came home from work, my blood sugar was over 300 (about three times as high as it should be), all because of those unrelieved emotions.

Thank you for sharing @bookish1 I find if the situation is one where I am situationally unable to immediately. It’s great that you can.