Oaklander is a senior editor at TIME. Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Lauren Margit Jones for TIME Michael Trimble, a behavioral neurologist with the unusual distinction of being one of the ...

While crying is usually associated with distressing experiences, positive yet overwhelming experiences such as receiving an award, a marriage proposal or watching a touching movie can cause people to ...

Crying for no apparent reason can be a confusing and unsettling experience. This behavior often indicates underlying mental health needs that require attention. Recognizing and addressing these needs ...

“Those who do not weep, do not see.” ―Victor Hugo, Les Misérables Before we can express our needs through language, we resort to crying to survive our infancy. As we go through life, we find other ...

Crying can help lower stress by removing cortisol from the body. Emotional crying releases hormones like oxytocin and endorphins that improve mood. Crying can also improve your sleep by making you ...