It Doesn't Mean Weak, Crying Is Beneficial To Relieve Mental Pressure

Illustration of crying. (Pexels)

JAKARTA - In the past, when we were babies, we cried to sign basic needs, ranging from hunger, uncomfortable, and dangerous. However, as we got older and went through various important rounds of life, crying turned slower or even avoided because it was often considered a weakness.

In fact, crying occasionally is very important for the body, especially for mental health. Crying can release feelings of pressure such as sadness and even happiness.

"The answer is actually a natural human response, and that's not a sign of weakness," said the psychotherapy and counseling clinical director, Dr. Alla Demutska, quoted by CNA Lifestyle, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

"Like a presto pot, crying can serve as a pressure valve to release feelings of pressure such as sadness, frustration, or even happiness," continued a psychotherapist and founder of the ICCT.sg confining center, Serene Lee.

Physically, crying requires the body to release stress hormones such as cortisol and prolactin through tears. Thus the body will be calmer and feel more peaceful.

"After crying, the body becomes relaxed, the heartbeat slows down and the breath goes deeper, and that's why we often feel lighter and more peaceful," Lee said.

"The emotional path in the brain can overlap for sadness and happiness, so crying becomes a strong emotional outlet," he added.

Therefore, if you feel that the pressure is too heavy, then there is nothing wrong with crying for a moment. By crying it will give the body time to feel balanced and humane, signaling self-acceptance and emotional honesty.

Allowing yourself to cry occasionally helps you feel balanced and human. After a week of pressure, a person may cry while watching a film that touches the heart and after that feels "fresh" to be ready to face the next day, Lee concluded.