Why am I crying for no reason?
THE MENTAL HEALTH EXPLANATION BEHIND THE TEARS (AND HOW TO ADDRESS IT).
Estimated read time: 3 minutes
By Jackie Menjivar
(Francisco Gonzalez / Unsplash)
Let’s get this out of the way first: crying is normal. It’s a basic human function that helps us process and communicate our emotions. So when you find yourself crying for seemingly no reason, it’s important to approach it with curiosity and compassion — not shame or frustration.
And it turns out, there usually is a reason for those tears, whether you’re conscious of it or not. Here are a few possible explanations, along with tips and info for understanding and managing those unexpected crying spells.
Why am I crying for no reason?
HORMONES
Experts think the hormones estrogen and progesterone can impact a person’s ability to regulate their mood and emotions. This is especially true if you’re going through hormonal changes — like during menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause.
It’s super common to cry more before or during the first few days of your period. More severe crying spells around your period could be a possible symptom of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION
Unexplained crying can be a symptom of several different mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and complex PTSD.
Of course, a few one-off crying spells don’t necessarily mean you have one of these conditions. But if you’ve got other symptoms too, it may be time to reach out to a mental health professional.
EXHAUSTION
When you don’t get enough sleep or rest, you become more emotionally reactive. Things might set you off more easily, or you might have a harder time getting back to a neutral state. Your amygdala (the part of your brain responsible for the “fight or flight” response) may even be sensitive to threats that aren’t actually there — which can lead to unexpected crying.
ONGOING STRESS
This may feel like an obvious answer, but sometimes stress can really sneak up on you. You may not burst into tears immediately after getting assigned a difficult project, but if you go through weeks of late nights and non-stop work, those emotions are gonna boil over.
It may feel like you’re crying for no reason, but it may be your stress or burnout finally catching up to you in a totally unrelated moment. Try to look for any underlying pressures that might be overwhelming you.
UNRESOLVED GRIEF OR TRAUMA
The process of healing from trauma or grief isn’t a straightforward one. You can experience delayed feelings of sadness, shock, or guilt way after the event actually happened. Crying can be a way for your body to process those unresolved feelings.
Your mind may have tried to protect you from these negative emotions by repressing them in the moment. You aren’t always emotionally, physically, or psychologically ready to understand or respond to a trauma or major loss right after it happens. So when you’re in more stable circumstances, those memories and feelings can come back up to the surface in unexpected ways. You aren’t crying about something happening to you in the present; your body finally feels safe enough to respond to what happened to you in the past.
NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION
This is the most unlikely explanation, but it’s worth knowing about. Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neurological symptom that makes you cry uncontrollably (among other things). It’s caused by damage to the nervous system, and it’s associated with conditions like Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and dementia. It’s rare, and you’d probably have a lot of other neurological symptoms if this was the case.
Is it okay to cry for no reason?
In most cases, yes! It’s healthy to cry, and it can be super restorative. As we’ve learned, crying usually happens for a reason, even if you don’t realize it in the moment. If you start crying unexpectedly, that’s a good opportunity to take a step back and look for a culprit.
“Sometimes you just gotta cry. Crying is a natural response to lots of emotions — sadness, anger, feeling overwhelmed. Holding it in is often harder,” says Theresa Nguyen, licensed clinical social worker and VP of Policy and Programs at Mental Health America. “But if you’re crying all the time and feel like it’s not a normal amount, you might be struggling with depression. If you’re not sure, take a mental health screen and see if something else is going on.”
Consider talking with your doctor or a mental health professional if:
Your crying spells are getting in the way of your daily functioning
You cry frequently, uncontrollably, and for long periods of time
You’re experiencing other physical or psychological symptoms in addition to crying
What should I do when I cry for no reason?
Find the source. Take this as a big flashing “check engine” sign from your mind and body. Some things to ask yourself:
Are my physical needs met? Am I tired, sick, or hungry? Have I slept enough? Am I starting my period or going through another hormone-influenced event?
Have I been under a lot of stress lately? Is there something overwhelming me? Is there something distressing that I’ve been neglecting?
Have any major changes, losses, or unexpected events happened to me? Have I fully processed and healed from those events? Is anything in my present life reminding me of those events?
Has this been happening frequently, or is this the first time in a while? Have I been struggling to regulate my emotions in general? Are there any other symptoms I’ve been experiencing lately?
(Of course, all this introspection can wait until after the crying has passed, when you feel settled and have a little more clarity.)
Let yourself cry it out. Resisting and denying yourself the ability to cry isn’t going to help you get those feelings out. Let the crying spell run its course. It’ll pass faster, and you’ll feel so much better for it. Find a comfortable place, grab some tissues, remember to keep breathing, and cry without guilt or shame.
Treat yourself with kindness. Talk to yourself the same way you’d speak to a friend who just suddenly broke out into tears. Don’t tell yourself to “get over it” or remark on how you’re “such a mess.” Keep your inner voice soothing, patient, and compassionate.
“I’m not sure what’s wrong right now, but that’s alright. It’s okay to cry. I can let it out. I am safe. I can cry for as long as I need to.”
Calm down when you’re ready. People usually cry for about 5 minutes, but take as long as you need. When you’re ready to start winding down, try focusing on taking slow, steady breaths. Relax your muscles (including the ones in your face), and stretch out a bit. Once the sobs have stopped, do something lowkey that comforts you — like making a warm cup of tea, petting your cat, or calling a friend.
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Crying isn’t inherently bad. It’s a function of the human body like any other, and it serves a purpose. Sometimes we get so freaked out by the act of crying that we forget to listen to what our bodies are trying to tell us.
So the next time your tears start flowing out of the blue, stop and listen. And if nothing else, let yourself cry it out and feel what you need to. You don’t have to psychoanalyze yourself or totally understand it to benefit from a good cry.