Reasons Why You Might Be Crying All The Time

Throughout life, we may receive many implicit and explicit messages about crying. Depending on the environment you grew up in, you might have been taught to believe that crying is natural, normal, and okay. However, you might avoid crying as much as possible if you were surrounded by people who got uncomfortable when you cried or told you it was wrong.

While crying is a natural response to any big emotion, if you can't stop crying for inexplicable reasons, it may be beneficial to take a closer look at why.

Reasons for consistent crying

"I can't stop crying; I want to know, is it healthy to cry?" Crying is normal, and studies show that it can even have benefits, such as releasing endorphins to make you feel better. However, if you're crying all the time, especially uncontrollably, there may be a reason why.

The potential causes of constant crying could include the following:

• Stress or burnout
• Physical health conditions or pain
• Grief
• Mental health conditions or a neurological disorder
• Reactions to a specific medication or drug
• Environmental factors
• Sensitivity

Crying may not always have an underlying cause. Examining whether you have other symptoms besides being tearful can help determine whether something else is happening. You may also choose to get a second opinion from a medical professional if you're unsure why you might be crying so often.

Why do people cry?

Crying, which engages a number of facial muscles, is a natural response to overwhelming emotions. Despite what some may think, crying doesn’t only occur when you feel sad. Crying can happen when you experience fear, happiness, sadness, anger, or any other emotion. Emotions are complex, and they can be affected by physiological changes, such as fluctuations in hormone levels. When your body produces tears, it may also be trying to rid itself of stress hormones like cortisol.

Below, we'll explore common reasons for crying in more depth.

Stress

When an individual experiences a stressful situation, the body's natural response to relieve that stress can be to cry. At times, we may be feeling stressed about one thing, whether we consciously know it or not. As a result, we may cry over something unrelated to the stressor later. When we have a buildup of stress, it may lead to burnout.

You’ll want to treat yourself with compassion when an emotional outpouring happens. It may be natural and necessary for you and your body to process stress and other emotions to release the tension.

While some stress is common, you may consider seeking professional support if the symptoms persist or grow more intense. If you cry multiple times a day or intensely numerous times a week, turning inward and attempting to understand where these persistent feelings are coming from can help you feel some control over your emotions.

Uncontrolled stress may lead to issues with physical and emotional health, and in some cases, may pose an immediate risk to your well being. In these cases, it may be best to choose to control any stressors with the help of a therapist. You might also use relaxation techniques like mindfulness.

Physical health conditions

Certain physical health conditions may cause you to cry more than usual, and for the most part, these conditions are not subject to gender differences. This means that some of these conditions can affect men, women, or people of any gender. These conditions could include pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a lack of sleep, and a condition called pseudobulbar affect (PBA).

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the body experiences a spike in hormones. Along with this spike, the body is trying to adjust to such a significant life change as having a new human to care for. It's not unusual to cry more often and more easily if you're pregnant, especially in the first trimester. If you have any concerns during pregnancy, it may be helpful to contact your doctor or call your local emergency number. 

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA)

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a nervous system disorder that can cause involuntary and inappropriate laughter or crying. The emotional response observed by those with PBA often doesn't match how they feel inside. PBA can be managed with medication.

PMS

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common health condition, affecting as many as 3 out of 4 individuals who menstruate. PMS may come with a wide range of symptoms, including irritability, mood swings, and a depressed mood. Often, these changes in the body can lead to more frequent crying.

Lack of sleep

Sleep has the purpose of restoration for our minds and bodies. Lack of sleep may cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, poor judgment, and heightened emotions. A prolonged lack of sleep may cause excessive emotional responses and result in uncontrolled crying. Studies have also shown that sleep deprivation may lead to the development of certain neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia. 

Grief

The grieving process may begin when you lose someone or something important to you. Though it looks different for everyone, crying is a normal reaction to such an impactful event.

Crying due to grief may happen unexpectedly and uncontrollably, such as in a public place. There's no timeline for grief, and crying may help relieve complex sensations and emotions.

Mental health conditions

Anxiety, depression, and other types of mental health conditions could be the cause of your frequent or uncontrollable crying spells.

Anxiety

People living with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) tend to feel anxious at a high level to their circumstances.

Often, this anxiety is caused by excessive worry over anticipated future events or other things that might cause a person concern. Those who experience mood disorders like GAD may exhibit exaggerated responses to stressors that others may not find troubling or can work through more efficiently.

Depression

Depression is a mood disorder that may cause persistent sadness, usually lasting more than a few weeks. Feeling hopeless, gloomy, or fatigued are also symptoms. When moderate or severe depression is present, the affected person may cry over many things or be unable to explain why they are crying.

They may also be in a heightened emotional state more often, which might result in crying. This kind of crying could be from a sense of worthlessness or hopelessness, both clinical criteria for diagnosing depression.

Environmental factors

Emotions are often linked to several external factors. For example, the smell of freshly baked bread may bring back memories from childhood or an experience you had with a friend. 

Feeling the wind in your hair may remind you of a boat ride you enjoyed with someone close to you. Driving past a particular street may remind you of something frightening you witnessed. These emotions may sometimes feel overwhelming and can cause one to cry.

When does crying become "too much?"

While crying is a natural response, you may want to talk with a professional if you feel it has become excessive or uncontrollable. You may also consider talking to professionals if your crying is coupled with other behaviors, like thoughts of self-harm. 

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text 988 to talk to someone over SMS. Support is available 24/7. If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more immediate resources.

You can schedule a visit with your primary care provider for a wellness exam. Here, they can monitor lab values and check if you have any hormonal imbalances affecting your emotions. Further, discussing your feelings with a counselor or therapist could be beneficial.

Uncontrollable or frequent crying may interfere with daily life, making it hard to function normally. Speaking with a therapist may help you discover the root cause of your crying. You can work with your therapist to find potential solutions if an underlying condition is present.

If you're experiencing grief or depression, you may have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.  Online counseling allows you to speak with a licensed therapist from the comfort of your home. 

Studies have shown that online therapy can be a viable solution to decreasing negative symptoms. One study showed that of 318 online therapy users studied, 37.8% reported clinically significant improvement in their depression symptoms in just three months. If you're interested in trying online therapy to learn emotional control skills, online therapy platforms such as BetterHelp offer a significant database of licensed counselors.