How To Stop Crying: 9 Tips For Instant Control - Medical News Today

Maybe your like

Medical News TodaySubscribeTips to control crying

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — Written by Bethany Cadman — Updated on December 15, 2023

Types
How much crying is too much?
Tips
How to avoid triggers
Crying and mental health
Takeaway

Tips to help someone stop crying include walking away from stressful situations or relaxing the face muscles. Humor and distraction may also help with uncontrollable crying.

Sometimes, people have the urge to cry when they don’t want to and while it is important to note that there is nothing wrong with crying, there are some ways to control and prevent it from happening.

Uncontrollable crying can be upsetting, uncomfortable, and exhausting. It is important to remember that crying could be a sign of a deeper problem, and if anyone suspects this is the case, they should visit their doctor.

Fast facts on crying:

Some people hardly cry at all, even in very sad situations, while others find even small things can set them off.
There is no specific cure for crying.
Crying is a normal response to a wide range of emotionally charged stimuli.
Treatments can help, especially if the person has a mood disorder.
Other management techniques and tricks can help control crying.

Types of crying

eye crying two tears — Basal tears are 98 percent water and emotional tears contain proteins and hormones.

There are three kinds of tears that humans can produce, each of them has a different purpose.

Basal tears

Basal tears make sure the eyes do not dry out and are always present in the eyes. Humans produce around 5 to 10 ounces of basal tears each day.

Reflex tears

Reflex tears are produced to help protect the eye. If smoke or dust gets into the eye, or it is irritated, the nerves in the cornea send a message to the brain and reflex tears occur.

Emotional tears

Emotional tears. When a person is feeling emotional, the cerebrum (the front part of the brain) registers that emotion and a hormone is triggered causing emotional type tears to form.

What are tears made of?

Tears are made up of protein, water, mucus, and oil. However, their content will vary depending on what kind of tears they are. Basal tears, for example, are 98 percent water, where emotional tears contain several different chemicals, proteins, and hormones.

How much crying is too much?

Share on Pinterest

There are no rules on crying too much, but any crying that affects everyday life should be referred to a healthcare professional.

There is no rule about how much crying is too much, and whether it is a problem depends on how an individual feels personally, and whether bouts of crying affect daily activities, relationships, and other aspects of everyday life.

Crying is normal, as are many of the reasons for crying. Some common reasons why a person might cry are:

frustration
fear
receiving bad news
missing someone
empathy
sad memories
anger
shock
feeling overwhelmed
a relationship breakdown
happiness

Tips for controlling crying

Mental approaches

1. Walk away

Walking away from a situation, it can be a helpful way to stop getting worked up and bursting into tears. Getting too angry, upset, or frustrated can cause crying so removing themselves and returning when calmer can help a person regain control.

2. Use words

Failure to communicate properly can lead to anger and frustration, which can trigger the urge to cry. Learning how to express feelings clearly, staying calm, and using words can help to keep tears at bay.

3. Have props and use distractions

Having something to scribble on, a stress ball, or something to look at visually may be of use when heading into a situation that could trigger crying. Distraction is another popular technique. Focusing on an activity or task, listening to uplifting music or starting a conversation can also be helpful.

4. Think about something positive or funny instead

Try to replace negative thoughts with positive ones or think about something funny or silly instead. Seeing the lighter, funnier side to a stressful situation can make things easier and stop someone from crying so easily.

Physical approaches

5. Concentrate on breathing

Taking a deep breath and focusing on breathing slowly and calmly can help regain control.

6. Blink and move the eyes

Moving the eyes around and blinking back the tears can prevent them from spilling out.

7. Relaxing facial muscles

When a person cries their face tends to tense up. Focusing on the muscles in the face and relaxing them can help prevent crying.

8. Get rid of that throat lump

Emotional crying also affects the nervous system. One way it reacts is by opening up the muscle at the back of the throat (called the glottis). This feels as though a lump is forming in the throat. Sipping water, swallowing, and yawning can help make the lump go away.

9. Do some exercise

Exercise releases feel-good endorphins and is a great distraction from what is causing the upset too.

How to avoid triggers

Share on Pinterest

Talking to someone may be a recommended strategy to avoid triggers.

Avoiding triggers is about knowing the things that make a person cry and being able to identify them. This makes it easier for them to manage their emotions, as they can spot and prevent familiar thought-patterns long before reaching the point of crying.

Some strategies include:

Acknowledging feelings

Sometimes crying can be a reflex because people struggle to acknowledge how they are feeling.

Trying to understand the cause of distress and coming up with practical solutions will be more helpful than masking the problem by crying.

Modifying behavior

Behavioral modification is where a person is asked to try and focus on their thoughts and actions and identify the triggers that cause them to cry. Doing so enables them to come up with coping mechanisms to help. The more a person repeats these, the more control a person will have over their emotions.

Talking to someone

Talking to someone, whether they are a trusted friend, a family member, or a trained professional such as a therapist, can help a person work out problems, relieve stress and feel freer.

Writing it down

Some people find keeping a journal or writing their emotions down is a beneficial way to explore their feelings, find patterns, and see if there is a root cause for their problems that needs addressing.

Crying and mental health

Although crying is a normal part of life, excessive crying can be a sign of several mood or personality disorders that usually need professional help to control. Some common mood disorders are:

depression
anxiety disorder
Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) – intense feelings of anger or sudden, unexplained laughter or crying

Takeaway

While it is perfectly normal and acceptable to cry, if a person suspects they cry more than normal or crying is getting in the way of their daily life, they should seek help and advice from a medical professional.

If they are considering harming themselves or others then seeking immediate help by calling 911, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255, or confiding in a trusted adult is the best course of action.

Crying in itself can sometimes be helpful and make a person feel much better so people should not try to hide tears, bury emotions, or suffer alone.

Eye Health / Blindness

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Bylsma, L. M., Gračanin, A., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., (2017, March 16). Why humans weephttps://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=7C0lDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=Rottenberg,+J.+Personality+and+Individual+Differences,+October+2008,+vol+45:+pp+367-372.&ots=ZJF9bMzbCI&sig=t3MtQ6_7QCJlpSDkSvVuQpCfekY#v=onepage&q&f=false
Generalised anxiety disorder in adults. (2016, February 1)http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anxiety/Pages/Introduction.aspx
Gračanin, A., Bylsma, L. M., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., (2014, May). Is crying a self-soothing behavior? Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 502https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262664292_Gracanin_A_Bylsma_L_M_Vingerhoets_A_J_J_M_2014_Is_crying_a_self-soothing_behavior_Frontiers_in_Psychology_5_502_doi_103389fpsyg201400502
Kehinde, A. J., Ogugu, S. E, James, B. I., Paul, D. K., Racheal, A. M., & Adeyinka, A. E., (2012, November 20). Tears production: Implication for health enhancementhttps://www.omicsonline.org/scientific-reports/srep476.php
Rottenberg, J. (2008, October). Personality and individual differences. Science Direc(45)(5), 337-338http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0191886908002523
Symptoms of clinical depression. (2016, October 05)http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Depression/Pages/Symptoms.aspx
The study of tears. (n.d.)http://thestudyoftears.projectvolume.org/students/science/
van Hemert, D. A., van de Vijver, F. J. R., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. (2011, April 28). Culture and crying: Prevalences and gender differences [Abstract]. Cross-Cultural Research, 45(4), 399-431http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1069397111404519
What is PseudoBulbar affect (PBA)? (n.d.)https://www.pbainfo.org/about-pba

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — Written by Bethany Cadman — Updated on December 15, 2023

Latest news

Dancing, reading, and video games could help delay brain aging
Supplements that support gut health may also benefit skin health
Longevity: Here's how coffee may benefit healthy aging
5 healthy habits may help keep the brain younger, even with chronic pain
A 1-week social media break could boost your mental health

Related Coverage

Why might a person cry for no reason?
Crying for no apparent reason may be due to underlying mental or physical issues or social factors. Learn the potential causes and how to get help.
READ MORE
What are the signs of a nervous breakdown?
Anxiety, other mental health issues, or stress can trigger what people used to call a "nervous breakdown." Here, learn about the signs and when to…
READ MORE
6 causes of crying after sexMedically reviewed by Janet Brito, Ph.D., LCSW, CST-S
Crying after sex is something that many people experience. Read this article to learn more about why it happens and what to do if it does.
READ MORE
What you need to know about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a mental health condition that can happen after a traumatic event. Find out how to recognize the symptoms, what to expect, and how to get help.
READ MORE
Positive triggers: How to identify and use them
Positive triggers are any stimuli that bring about positive emotions. Learn more about these triggers and how they can affect people here.
READ MORE

Tag » Why Do I Cry When I Get Mad

How To Stop Crying: 9 Tips For Instant Control - Medical News Today

Health Conditions

Health Products

News

Original Series

Podcasts

General Health

Health Tools

Quizzes

About Medical News Today

Find Community

Follow Us

Fast facts on crying:

Types of crying

What are tears made of?

How much crying is too much?

Tips for controlling crying

Mental approaches

Physical approaches

How to avoid triggers

Crying and mental health

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

Latest news

Related Coverage

Crying When Angry: Causes, Physical Effects, How To Stop, More

Why Do I Cry When I'm Mad? - Verywell Mind

Why Do I Cry When I Get Mad? - BetterHelp

The Science Behind Why You Cry When You're Angry - Refinery29

Why Do I Cry When I Get Mad? - ReGain

Why Do People Cry Sometimes In Anger? - Quora

Why Do I Cry When I Get Angry? - E

Why Do I Cry When I Get Mad? And What Can I Do To Stop?

Is This Normal? “I Tear Up Every Time I Get Angry” | The Swaddle

How To Stop Yourself From Crying At Work | Better Humans

How To Stop Crying When Angry: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

ELI5: Why Do I Start Crying When I'm Angry? - Reddit

Angry Tears | Psychology Today

Contact