Key takeaways:
For most people, crying is a normal part of being human. Factors like gender, cultural background, and attachment style can impact how often you cry.
Crying every day may be a sign of unresolved grief or an underlying mental health condition. It could also be perfectly normal for some people who use it as a way to release their emotions.
If your crying feels like a problem or is interfering with your daily life, it could be a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional or therapist.
Almost everyone cries from time to time. Sometimes your eyes make tears just to help remove smoke, dust, or pollen. Other times, you might be moved to tears when you feel upset, sad, or even happy.
In general, crying is normal and healthy. It can release stress, boost your “feel-good” hormones, and even provide natural pain relief. And, as many people know from experience, you often feel better after a good cry.
But what happens if you cry every day? Let’s take a closer look at whether it’s normal to cry every day, why some people cry more than others, and what you can do if you feel like your crying is a problem.
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Is it normal to cry a lot?
It’s hard to say. When it comes to crying, there’s no “right” or “wrong” amount.
Some people cry easily and often. Others cry only once in a while. And some people hardly ever cry at all.
What makes people cry?
Crying can be triggered by a range of emotions and experiences.
Common causes of crying include:
Loss of a loved one
Ending of a relationship
Conflict
Failure
Physical pain
Stress
Hormones
Positive emotions and experiences can also induce crying, such as:
Birth of a child
Marriage
Connection with a loved one
Achieving a goal
Intimacy with a partner
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Though these are common causes of crying, the truth is people cry for all different reasons. Certain experiences or emotions may trigger crying in one person but not another.
What does it mean if you cry every day?
Crying every day isn’t very common, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s unhealthy. If you’re going through an especially difficult time. For example, if you’ve lost a loved one or ended a relationship, you may find yourself crying almost every day.
And for some people, crying every day is just how they express themselves. If you find yourself crying a little each day — but otherwise feel good — then that may be normal for you.
Remember: Crying itself isn’t a problem. But if you feel distressed by the amount that you cry, it might be worthwhile to check in with a professional (more on this below).
Why do some people cry so easily?
Nearly everyone cries from time to time. But some people seem to cry more often than others.
Here are some of the factors that may explain why some groups of people cry more often:
Your gender: A large international study of over 7,000 adults found that women were more likely to shed emotional tears than men. Women are also more likely to cry in response to conflict, while men are more prone to crying in response to positive events.
Your culture: Certain cultures, like the U.S., encourage emotional expression and crying, while others discourage it. In the international study mentioned above, people living in wealthy countries that encourage emotional expression cried more often than those living in countries that encouraged emotional restraint.
How you interact with people in relationships: Research suggests that people with a preoccupied attachment style tend to be dependent on others and cry more often than other attachment styles.
Your hormones: Testosterone — a hormone found in larger amounts in men — tends to inhibit crying. It’s also common for women to experience crying spells due to hormone changes during perimenopause, menopause, and pregnancy.
Could crying be a sign that you have major depression?
We often think of crying as a symptom of major depression. But there actually isn’t a clear link between the two. While people who have depression may certainly cry, studies have found that they don’t really cry any more often than people who don’t have depression.
But even though there isn’t a direct link between crying and depression, if you do feel sad or hopeless often, it’s possible that you could have depression. Other symptoms of major depression include:
Inability to experience pleasure
Lack of energy
Chronic feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Changes in weight and/or appetite
Changes in sleeping habits
Concentration or attention problems
Changes in activity level, such as slowed movements or feeling restless
Suicidal thoughts
How do you stop crying all the time?
Crying is a form of emotional expression. If you cry a lot, you may find yourself wishing you could stop. But for most people it’s healthy to cry from time to time.
If you want to cry less often, one thing that can help is to try to understand why you’re crying a lot. Perhaps you’re grieving the loss of a loved one or the ending of a relationship. Or maybe you become overwhelmed with emotion when good things happen. If you cry at movies, consider if there are any common themes that evoke emotion in you.
Once you understand the reasons, you can take action. Depending on the underlying reasons for your crying, this might mean talking to a healthcare professional or therapist or finding other ways to work through trauma or grief. Mindfulness and grounding exercises can also help you cope with difficult emotions.
Tips to help you stop crying in the moment
Even though crying is totally normal, there might be situations where you want to stop your tears — at least temporarily. Maybe you’re in an environment where you’d prefer not to cry. Or maybe you just no longer want to be crying at that moment.
No matter the reason, if you’re crying and want to stop, here are some things to try:
Use a grounding technique
Distract yourself with music, a book, or a movie/television show
Press the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth
Visualize a peaceful or relaxing scene
Relax your face and body muscles
Breathe deeply and slowly, or use a breathing exercise
When to seek help
For most people, crying from time to time is healthy. But if you feel like your crying is a problem, it could help to check in with your healthcare professional.
Here are some reasons you might want to consider talking to a professional:
You’ve recently started crying very often or more than usual.
You cry a lot for what feels like no reason.
Your crying affects your daily life.
Your crying bothers you, or you feel badly about it.
You have other mental or physical health symptoms.
Talking to your primary care provider is a good place to start. They can help determine whether a physical health problem could be affecting your crying. Many primary care providers are also comfortable diagnosing and treating basic mental health conditions, like depression.
Working with a therapist can help, too. Therapy may help you understand your crying. Some types of therapy can also teach you strategies for managing your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors — including crying.
Mental health support and resources
For assistance finding a mental health treatment facility or mental healthcare professional, you can:
Ask your healthcare professional for a referral.
Conduct an online search for a mental health professional in your area.
Contact your health insurance company for a list of in-network healthcare professionals or therapists.
Search an online therapist directory.
For additional mental health information and support, see the following organizations:
If you or someone you know is having thoughts about suicide, you’re not alone, and help is available. Call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or text HOME to 741-741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
You should also call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room if you or a loved one is in immediate physical danger.
The bottom line
Crying is part of being human and can be a healthy way to express your emotions. When it comes to how much crying is “normal,” it varies considerably across cultures and from person to person. Generally, women and people living in cultures that encourage emotional expression cry more often than their counterparts.
If you cry often and don’t feel bothered by it, then that may be what is normal for you. But if you find yourself crying every day and are bothered by it, or if crying is getting in the way of your day-to-day life, then it could be time to reach out for professional help.
Why trust our experts?
References
Bahadur, N. (2018). How to stop yourself from crying. The New York Times.
Chand, S. P., et al. (2023). Depression. StatPearls.
Collier, L. (2014). Why we cry. American Psychological Association.
Office on Women’s Health. (2021). Menopause symptoms and relief.
van Hemer, D. A., et al. (2011). Country and crying: Prevalences and gender differences. Cross-Cultural Research.
Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M., et al. (2007). Is there a relationship between depression and crying? A review. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
Winerman, L. (2017). By the numbers: Shedding tears. American Psychological Association.
