Crying May Offer Surprising Health Benefits, Experts Say

Across Nigeria and much of West Africa, it’s not uncommon for people—especially men—to hear phrases like, “Stop crying, be strong,” whenever emotions run high. Yet, science and mental health experts underline that crying is far from a sign of weakness. Instead, it’s a natural and vital response to powerful emotions, known to provide multiple benefits for both physical and emotional health. If you’ve ever tried to hold back tears during stressful times or personal setbacks, you’re not alone. But medical professionals encourage us to rethink the narrative: shedding tears can actually boost general wellbeing, release stress, and support emotional regulation.

So, why should we see tears as healthy rather than something to hide? Here are six locally and globally relevant reasons why crying can be deeply beneficial to individuals and communities alike.

1. Letting Go: Emotional Release and Easing Stress

One of the most immediate advantages of crying is its power to release built-up emotions. Whether it’s heartbreak, frustration over the economy, career disappointments, or even the bittersweet joy of a family reunion, tears help to “open the tap,” so to speak. This kind of emotional expression, according to Nigerian clinical psychologist Chika Okafor, acts as a release valve for pent-up feelings. “If you bottle emotions too long, they can erupt in other unhealthy ways, or affect your sleep and concentration,” Dr. Okafor explains. Unchecked emotions can escalate, leading to burnout, irritability, or physical symptoms like headaches.

Allowing yourself to cry provides mental space to process and move past overwhelming feelings, instead of letting them weigh you down.

The ability to “cry it out” becomes especially crucial when faced with life’s pressures—like preparing for key WAEC exams or coping with family losses. According to the World Health Organization, mental health stressors in urban African centres are on the rise due to economic hardship and rapid urbanisation, making tools like emotional release ever more important. Afterwards, many people share that they feel lighter and better prepared to handle ongoing challenges.

Crying also activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which signals your body to calm down after stress. It’s the body’s natural way to restore internal balance—a vital “reset” that benefits your mind and body alike.

2. Lifting Your Mood: The Science of Feel-Good Hormones

According to psychologists in Lagos and Accra, emotional tears can actually lift your spirits. This is because the act of crying triggers the release of endorphins and oxytocin—chemicals in the body associated with comfort and pleasure. Think of these as your body’s “internal relaxers”—they help soothe pain and restore calmness.

Endorphins are nature’s pain relief, while oxytocin is known as the “love hormone” for its role in promoting social bonding and trust. These hormonal changes bring a sense of relief after a crying session, helping to ease not only mental but also physical discomfort.

Mood Improvement and the Release of Feel-Good Hormones

For West Africans, where community and extended families play central roles, these feel-good effects of crying can nurture a stronger sense of belonging and kinship. After the tears dry, many people report feeling emotionally lighter, refreshed, and capable of confronting problems with renewed hope.

By experiencing an emotional “reset,” you gain the clarity needed to address future challenges with focus and confidence—a much-needed skill in today’s uncertain economic and social environment.

3. Navigating Grief: Tears as a Pathway to Healing

Loss and grief are universal experiences, whether you’re in Lagos, Abuja, Accra, or beyond. Crying is a crucial and healthy step in the mourning process. From the loss of a loved one to missing out on cherished opportunities—like a missed university admission—tears honour our pain and allow us to acknowledge what we’ve lost.

Although grief can feel overwhelming, allowing yourself to cry gives you permission to start healing. According to Dr. Ngozi Eze, a grief counsellor based in Abuja, “Suppressing tears often delays healing. By acknowledging pain through tears, you start the journey towards acceptance.”

Suppressed emotions can remain unresolved, resurfacing weeks or even years later. But when we allow ourselves to express those feelings, there’s often a gradual sense of closure and peace.

There’s a physiological role to crying during grief too: emotional tears contain stress hormones such as cortisol. By releasing these via tears, your body actively works to lower stress and begin the process of inner healing. These mechanisms are not just universal but have been observed worldwide, highlighting the global connection between tears and trauma recovery.

4. Loosening Physical Tension: How Crying Relaxes the Body

From Ajegunle to Achimota, many people experience emotional pain manifesting physically. Stressful moments—whether brought by Lagos traffic or family battles—can result in headaches, muscle stiffness, or stomach upsets. In such situations, emotional tension often translates into physical discomfort.

Crying helps break this pattern. During and after a bout of tears, your heart rate decreases, muscles loosen, and you may feel physically lighter. Experts say this process acts as a natural tension reliever, reducing both mental and bodily stress.

Relieving Physical Tension and Improving Relaxation

Interestingly, emotional tears differ from those caused by irritants (like onions): they contain more of the hormones associated with stress. By letting these go, you offer your body a physical “reset”—crucial for health and wellness in cultures where daily struggles can pile up quickly.

5. Building Emotional Resilience and Coping Abilities

In the fast-changing societies of Nigeria and Ghana, being able to adapt emotionally is a vital survival skill. Crying can be a part of developing emotional resilience—the internal strength to bounce back from setbacks, manage tension, and handle adversity. According to mental health NGO Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, “Emotional expression, including crying, improves emotional intelligence and helps build adaptive coping strategies.”

Instead of ignoring or suppressing emotions, healthy crying teaches us to recognise and manage difficult feelings. Over time, this ability expands our coping toolkit, making us more equipped to deal with future hardships, whether it’s job loss, academic pressure, or family conflict.

Long-term, regular acceptance and expression of feelings—including through tears—improves your emotional awareness and emotional intelligence (EQ). This enables you not only to manage your own emotions but also to be more attuned to the feelings of others, an asset in both personal and professional life.

Psychologists note that people able to cry openly and process their emotions constructively are generally more balanced—both mentally and socially—because they have cultivated this strength.

6. Strengthening Social Bonds and Cultivating Empathy

Despite being deeply personal, crying often brings people closer together. In many Nigerian and Ghanaian households, community support is everything during times of crisis. When someone sheds tears in a trusted circle—be it among friends, religious groups, or therapists—it sends a message of trust and vulnerability that invites empathy.

In families and friendships, crying out loud can promote emotional closeness, as loved ones instinctively offer comfort and support. According to social psychologist Dr. Yaw Adu in Accra, “Seeing tears in others makes us pause, listen, and respond with kindness. It builds deeper human connections.”

This kind of openness can strengthen trust, spark meaningful conversations, and encourage others to express their own emotions. In cultures that traditionally value stoicism, sharing tears can be an important act of solidarity, reminding everyone that vulnerability is neither rare nor shameful.

Showing emotion in front of trusted people not only invites support but also reduces the isolation often felt in stressful or depressive periods. It is a visible reminder that seeking help, opening up, and asking for care is a sign of strength, not weakness—and is entirely normal in Nigerian and African society.

Crying for Health: Why Tears Are a Vital Component of Wellbeing

Culturally, some communities may view crying as a symbol of weakness, especially for men or in public places. But mental health professionals and international research repeatedly highlight that crying is natural, healthy, and in fact necessary for mental and physical wellness. From processing grief and relieving daily stress, to building relationships and bouncing back emotionally, the simple act of crying remains one of the body’s most effective self-care mechanisms.

As we continue to navigate the everyday demands of life in West Africa and beyond, let’s remind ourselves and others that tears play a positive role—helping us heal, nurture connections, and emerge stronger in the face of challenges. Whether you shed your tears in the privacy of your home or the company of friends, remember: crying is part of living well.

What does crying mean to you in the context of Nigerian or African culture? Have you felt its healing power, or do you still see it as something to hide? Share your experiences below, and let’s keep the conversation going on emotional wellbeing in our community!