Yes, it’s possible to teach yourself to cry on command. Actors and performers commonly learn how to do it. But unless you’re trying to land a stage or screen role yourself, you probably don’t want to do this. Research shows that if someone perceives your tears as fake, it could negatively affect how they think of you.
There are many reasons why you might not be able to produce tears when you cry. You might have dry eye or another related condition. And because your eyes need tear fluid, dry eye can become a more serious concern.
If you’re worried about not being able to cry — especially with symptoms related to dry eye — talk to an eye care specialist or healthcare provider. They can help determine if this is an issue that needs treating.
There’s more than one answer to this question. It partly depends on the type of tears.
Reflex crying is usually good for you because it protects your eyes from harm. But too much of this good thing can turn into epiphora (watery eyes), which can be disruptive or harmful. If it’s disruptive, it’s best to treat it sooner rather than later.
Is emotional crying good for you? Maybe. Researchers don’t completely agree on whether or not emotional crying is good for you. One key study found that crying actually made participants feel worse immediately afterward. But that same study also found that 90 minutes after crying, people felt better than they did before crying.
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The bottom line — at least until researchers find otherwise — is that if having a good cry helps you, don’t hold back.
Crying doesn’t seem to help pain, according to a pair of studies published in 2022. In fact, those studies found crying may lower your pain threshold and/or make pain feel more intense.
Onions make you cry because cutting them releases a gas that reacts with your tear fluid and irritates your eyes. Your eyes make extra tear fluid to flush the affected tear fluid away.
To avoid this, you can use a fan to push air away from your face so the gas doesn’t reach your eyes. The gas reacts easily with water (which is how it affects your eyes). That means you can keep it out of your eyes if you give it somewhere else to go. Try giving it another, closer water source (like an open cup of water) to react with. You can also try chilling onions in a refrigerator or freezer before chopping.
There may be a few reasons why you get a headache from or after crying. One of the reasons is that crying when your emotions are high could increase your risk of having a tension headache. But crying can be a symptom of certain headache disorders like migraines or cluster headaches, too.
There’s no rulebook that says when it’s OK to cry. And your reasons for crying can be as unique as you are. You might cry for everyday reasons, like hearing a sad story or a song that reminds you of how things used to be. Or maybe you’ve just reconciled with a family member you haven’t spoken to in years. Or perhaps you’ve just lost a pet.
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If you feel like you cry more than you’d like, it might be time to talk to a mental health professional. Emotional tears aren’t a sign of weakness, nor is seeing a mental health professional. It could be just what you need if you want to find ways to not cry or cry less.
If you frequently have reflex tears or watery eyes, you might need to see an eye care specialist. If you frequently have emotional tears and they’re disrupting your life, you may want to talk to a primary care specialist.
If you find yourself about to cry and want to stop it from happening, there are several things you can try that may help. And these are things you can do without it being evident to others.
Some other actions you can do regularly that may help you manage your emotions include:
If you’re thinking these tips sound a lot like stress-management techniques, that’s because they are. Anxiety and heightened emotions often involve more activity in your sympathetic nervous system. (That’s the one that runs your “fight-or-flight” response.) The techniques work because they tell your fight-or-flight response to stand down and let your parasympathetic nervous system take over. Other stress- and anxiety-managing approaches may help, too.
Maybe it’s your wedding day, your child’s first day of school or you’re grieving a loved one. Tears — and the countless emotions involved — can be a common factor for all three events. And tears can happen for everyday events, too. Watching a sad movie, making a recipe that reminds you of a dear relative and even just seeing a beautiful sunset can all be reasons to tear up.
But if you’re concerned about how or why you cry, talk to a medical professional. There are also techniques you can try to help you manage your emotions. But there’s no reason why you should feel ashamed or guilty for crying when it happens for reasons outside your control. So, if you find yourself wanting to have a good cry, grab some tissues and go with the tear flow.
Getting an annual eye exam at Cleveland Clinic can help you catch vision problems early and keep your eyes healthy for years to come.
Last reviewed on 01/09/2025.
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