10 Reasons You Might Cry More Than Usual

It’s completely natural to cry. Crying is how we work through emotions, release a build-up of tension, and sometimes just reset emotionally. But if you find yourself crying more than usual or for reasons you can’t figure out, you might be wondering if something more is going on.

Frequent crying on its own isn’t necessarily a red flag, but it might be your body’s way of signaling that something needs attention. Maybe you’re crying because of depression or anxiety, hormonal shifts, trauma, or even the side effects of certain medications. In this blog I’ll discuss ten common reasons people find themselves crying more than usual, and what you can do about it.

1.     Major Depression

Depression doesn’t always present as pervasive sadness. Some people just experience crying out of frustration due to a lack of emotional “bandwith.” When you’re depressed, your brain struggles to regulate feelings the way it normally would.  (1)

Here’s why: depression reduces activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of your brain that’s responsible for keeping your emotions in check. At the same time, the brain’s emotional alarm system starts over activating. Throw in low serotonin and you’ve got a recipe for tearfulness that comes out of the blue.

Truth in numbers: About 21 million adults in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in 2021. That’s more than 8% of the adult population (2). Many of those surveyed described uncontrollable or unexplainable crying spells. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Talking to a professional about it is a good next step.

2. Anxiety 

There are more than 6 million adults in the U.S who have Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD (3). They often experience a racing heart, tense muscles, and uncontrolled thoughts. Crying becomes their way of releasing the tension. 

People with GAD are usually more sad when they are in a pressured or emotional situation. They may not be able to calm themselves, and worrying makes it harder to control (4). Sometimes they may cry without knowing it. When cortisol spikes, the brain will usually be stuck in a fight-or-flight situation. 

3. Hormonal Changes

Sometimes, crying can also mean changes in hormones, for example, imbalances in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol. 

In women, their emotions are more fragile when their period is near, during pregnancy, and during menopause because of estrogen’s effect on serotonin production (5). 

• During their PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome), most of them (90%) are emotional or have emotional symptoms. And crying and mood swings become common (6). Postpartum shift, like estrogen and progesterone, drops quickly after the mother gives birth. Many new moms will experience “baby blues” —  a mix of emotions that is just temporary. One in seven mothers will have perinatal depression (7). Tears will become common and troubling.
• Men aren’t exempt. Hypogonadism (low in testosterone) can make them sad, numb, and on edge. Testosterone therapy can lift mood and help you feel better emotionally (8). Hypothyroidism also acts as depression and can go undiagnosed (9). 

If tears are flowing uncontrollably and leaving you with a big question mark, it’s best to visit your doctor to determine the cause. They can do hormone testing to give you clarity.

4. Grief Doesn’t Follow a Timeline

We all experience grief. But we do it differently. Some cry daily after a loss. Others grieve weeks or months later. It is hard not to cry when the person we lost really touches or inspires us. Sometimes, triggers like songs, anniversaries, or remembering something about them trigger our tears to fall. It’s painful, but crying really helps reduce the distress. 

It releases oxytocin and endorphins, like a pain reliever, and makes us calm  (10). Grief that lasts more than 6 months may be interfering with life. At times, it will lead to prolonged grief disorder or major depression (11). Support options like counseling, group support, and trauma-informed therapy may help you without being consumed by the loss.

5. Chronic Stress

Controlling feelings is hard when we are in constant stress (12). What really happens is when our brain is under a stressful situation, our limbic system (responsible for our emotions) takes over, and the prefrontal cortex (responsible for logical thinking) gets weaker. 

Caregiving, heavy workload, health struggles, and money problems are just some of the common stresses we have. And the tears we shed are the sign that the body and mind are worn out. 

Being stressed for a long time can also shrink the prefrontal cortex. It will become harder and harder to focus and manage our emotions (12). 

When this happens, we easily get frustrated, have little patience, and may cry often. Doing stress management and therapy is necessary, not optional.

6. Sleep Deprivation

We may think sleep is just for energy, but the reality is, it also helps with emotional balance. We think clearly when we have good sleep. But when we don’t, for example, just 1 to 2 hours of sleep may be the reason for the unusual emotion and tears. Having 4.5 hours of sleep per night in one week can trigger stress, sadness, and anger (13). 

Having low serotonin and dopamine stems from poor sleep.  And these brain chemicals are connected to depression and anxiety. The brain can’t self-regulate when tired and has no sleep. So this can be a reason why many people with insomnia, sleep apnea, or poor habits usually cry more than usual. 

7. Trauma Can Leave Emotional Residue

A trauma can make you emotionally on guard (hypervigilant). And when there’s a trigger, for example, someone who experienced being abused when still a child, a smell or familiar clothes that were used by the abuser will make the person agitated and cry. Sometimes, there is no trigger at all. 

It’s common, and there are about 6% of adults in the U.S. who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but many are still unhealed (14).  The amygdala gets overactive. And when it is overactive, it will make you feel danger is near and waiting. The hippocampus is also having trouble separating the past from the present. For the brain, that threat is really happening again. 

Commonly, crying will be the body’s way of releasing the unprocessed trauma energy. There are helpful therapies that might help ease the feeling and complete that unfinished trauma, such as  Trauma-informed therapies like eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or somatic.

8. Neurological Conditions Can Mess With How You Show Emotions

Crying can be a brain or nerve condition too. Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neurological condition that makes a person cry or laugh involuntarily in ways that feel out of their control. They will cry but not be sad, and feel no relief after crying. 

Mostly, episodes are short but intense. A person who has it may feel ashamed and confused after an episode. PBA is tied to stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and traumatic brain injury – it affects the parts of the brain that control your emotions and how they show up on the outside. (15). 

9. High Sensitivity

There are people who will easily cry at movies, music, and emotional events more than others. They are not dramatic, but they have what is called HSPs, or Highly Sensitive Persons. 

And there are over 15% of people with HSPs (16). Their brain and emotions react more strongly (17). So when they cry, it may only mean they care deeply. But without self-care or pushing past your limit without knowing it, it can wear you out. Setting boundaries and learning to be calm are some of the best way to manage it.

10. Medication Side Effects or Withdrawal Can Impact Emotions

Medications help, but they also have side effects. Some will cause mood problems and may lead people to cry than usual.

For example:

• Antidepressants (like SSRIs or SNRIs): Antidepressants sometimes make you feel emotionally numb. Sometimes they will also make your emotions strong or cause crying spells when you stop taking them (18). 
• Steroids (like prednisone): Mood swings and crying are common because of the effect on the stress hormone.
• Beta-blockers (for blood pressure): This medication can cause depression-like symptoms, such as feeling low or more down (19). 

Stopping and cutting it fast is not good. Brain chemicals may get confused. It will cause crying, irritability, and a mood crash.  It is always best to talk to your doctor before reducing a dose. Going slow handle the side effects better.

Lift the Weight Off Your Shoulders with TMS Institute of Arizona

Know that if crying is not normal and making your life hard, it’s a sign that you need to visit a professional. The TMS Institute of Arizona offers a safe, drug-free option for people dealing with depression, anxiety, or PTSD.

TMS or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation uses gentle magnetic pulses to activate the parts of the brain that help regulate mood. Many people notice they feel steadier, calmer, and have more energy within a few weeks of going to our center. We support people with depression, PTSD, chronic pain, and autism so life feels calmer, clearer, and a bit easier to handle.

Our team of TMS experts in Scottsdale has earned the trust of patients across Arizona. Contact us today to learn about a treatment that can help you feel more balanced and in control again.

References

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