There are many reasons why we cry.
If you find yourself seeminglycryingfor no reason, it may worry you.
However, there is often a logical, underlying reason for your tears.
Verywell / Laura Porter
This article explores some of the reasons why you might cry for seemingly no reason.
It also discusses when to seek help and how to cope.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Causes Crying for No Reason?
Here is why you might be crying more than usual.
Some people may experience episodes of seemingly unexplained crying.
Others may find themselves crying more than usual.
People with anxiety may feel overwhelmed and more likely to cry over seemingly mundane things.
Bipolar Disorder
People with bipolar disorder have extreme highs and lows.
Along with these unpredictable mood swings may come outbursts of emotion, including crying.
Not everyone with bipolar has the same ratio of highs and lows.
Hormones
Your tears are made up of more than water and salt.
Hormonal changes may explain why some people seem to cry for no reason.
Sometimes, hormone changes are expected.
People who are pregnant, for example, may find themselves crying more easily.
The flood of hormones due to pregnancy is typical.
PMDD can cause:
The onset of the disorder typically happens about a week or so before menstruation.
Symptoms usually subside during menstruation.
Some people may also feel more emotional while menstruating because of hormone changes.
Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA)
Neurological disease can also cause crying for no reason.
When crying results from a brain disorder, there is no reason for it aside from the physical condition.
Rapid changes in emotions are also possible.
For example, going from anger to laughing instantly can happen in people with PBA.
These emotional episodes are typically very short-lived.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
How to Cope
There are several ways to cope with mental illness.
Seeking professional help is the first step.
Some people may find it helpful to join a support group.
If you have PBA, you may struggle to deal with your symptoms.
You may be experiencing depression, anxiety, or another mental health condition such as bipolar disorder.
Hormones and neurological disease are also possible culprits.
They can help you identify the cause of your crying and develop strategies for treating it.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Depression.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Mental health conditions: Depression and anxiety.
National Institute of Mental Health.Bipolar disorder.
Mukamal R.All about emotional tears.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
2022;100:100-107. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2022.04.009
American Stroke Association.Pseudobulbar affect (PBA).
