Crying for no apparent reason, also known as crying spells, is a relatively common experience. It can happen due to hormonal changes, emotions that overwhelm us, or no obvious cause at all. While crying spells can be alarming, they are usually harmless and manageable.
What Causes Crying Spells?
There are a few possible causes of crying spells:
Hormones
Hormones play a big role in crying spells. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and other hormones influence the amount of tears your body produces. Hormonal fluctuations related to:
- Menstruation
- Pregnancy
- Perimenopause
- Postpartum periods
- Hormone therapy
- Birth control pills
Can make you more prone to crying when you otherwise wouldn’t. The weeks before, during and after your period are common times for crying spells if you menstruate.
Strong emotions
Sometimes emotions can overcome you, triggering tears even if there’s no direct reason behind them. Strong feelings like:
- Stress
- Sadness
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Loneliness
- Frustration
Can build up over time and lead to a sudden release of emotion that manifests as crying. Big life events like having a baby, changing jobs or moving can intensify these feelings.
No obvious cause
For some people, crying spells happen with no clear trigger. Hormonal fluctuations or intense emotions aren’t always behind them. Some potential reasons for unexplained crying include:
- Fatigue
- Allergies
- Eye irritation
- Neurological causes
Being very tired or having irritated eyes could make you prone to tearfulness. Some neurological conditions like pseudobulbar affect (PBA) can also cause uncontrollable laughing or crying.
When Do Crying Spells Happen?
Crying spells can happen during:
Certain times of the month
Hormone changes make crying more likely at different points of your menstrual cycle if you menstruate. It’s most common right before your period when estrogen and progesterone drop and during your period when hormone levels are changing rapidly.
Pregnancy and postpartum
Mood swings and crying spells are very common during pregnancy and in the first year after giving birth. Hormones like estrogen rise steadily during pregnancy then drop rapidly after delivery. The changes trigger neurochemical processes that make laughing or crying episodes more likely.
Perimenopause and menopause
Women going through perimenopause and menopause experience sharp declines in estrogen and progesterone. The fluctuations frequently cause mood swings that lead to laughing or crying for no reason.
Any time of day
Crying spells can strike suddenly without regard to the time of day. But episodes are more likely when you’re tired, alone or feeling overwhelmed. This often happens late at night or early in the morning when emotions and stress levels tend to be higher.
Following emotional events
Big life events can trigger crying spells. You may find yourself crying uncontrollably in the days or weeks after experiences like:
- Losing a loved one
- Going through a breakup or divorce
- Getting fired from a job
- Moving homes
- Having a baby
Even happy events like weddings or job promotions can lead to crying spells due to the emotions involved.
Are Crying Spells a Cause for Concern?
Occasional crying spells are not necessarily a cause for concern. If they become more frequent or severe, discuss it with your doctor. Seek medical advice if crying spells:
- Happen daily
- Make it hard to carry out daily activities
- Are accompanied by other symptoms like intense anxiety or hopelessness
Unexplained, frequent crying could potentially indicate health conditions like:
- Depression or anxiety disorders
- Hormonal imbalances
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Neurological issues
It’s important to rule out any underlying issues. But in most cases, crying spells are not a major concern.
Tips for Managing Crying Spells
You can try various self-care strategies to get through crying spells when they occur:
Let it out
Don’t fight the tears – allow yourself to fully experience the crying episode. Releasing the emotions helps minimize future crying spells.
Do self-care
Engage in calming activities that make you feel better like taking a warm bath, meditating or enjoying a favorite hobby.
Avoid triggers
Prevent crying spells by avoiding triggers when possible. For example, congestion from allergies could trigger crying, so you may want to take allergy medication or avoid going outside on high pollen count days.
Practice relaxation techniques
Deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation or imagery exercises can help halt a crying spell when you feel one coming on.
Get support
Talk to a close friend or therapist who can comfort and reassure you when intense emotions produce tears.
Make lifestyle changes
Reduce stress, add regular exercise to your routine and make time for relaxing activities. Healthy lifestyle habits make crying spells less likely.
Track episodes
Note when crying spells happen so you can identify patterns and potential triggers.
Try supplements
Some supplements may help stabilize mood and prevent crying spells, but check with your doctor first. Potential options include vitamin B complex, magnesium, omega-3s or evening primrose oil.
When to See a Doctor
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if:
- Crying spells disrupt your daily functioning
- Episodes happen frequently throughout the day
- You regularly cry uncontrollably for more than 10 minutes
- Crying is accompanied by feelings of depression or anxiety
- There is no obvious trigger for crying spells
A doctor can check for underlying causes like thyroid disorders, neurological conditions or mental health issues. Hormonal imbalances, stress overload or dietary deficiencies may also contribute.
Medical Treatment
Treatment depends on the cause. Your doctor may recommend:
- Hormone therapy or birth control pills to stabilize hormones
- Antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication
- Allergy medication to reduce environmental irritants
- Counseling to address psychological factors
- Dietary changes to improve nutrition
For crying related to neurological causes, treatment focuses on managing the underlying condition.
Coping Strategies
Along with medical treatment, your doctor may suggest strategies like:
- Joining a support group to share experiences with others
- Keeping a diary to record emotions
- Practicing stress management and self-care
- Getting regular physical activity
- Avoiding triggers like lack of sleep
Building a strong support system is also beneficial for coping.
Outlook for Crying Spells
The prognosis for crying spells depends on the cause:
- Hormonal causes – Crying often resolves when hormone levels stabilize postpartum or after menopause.
- Emotional causes – Episodes should subside after a major stressor resolves.
- No obvious cause – Spontaneous crying spells may recur indefinitely.
- Underlying condition – Management depends on effectively treating the primary disorder.
With proper care, most people can manage crying spells well. But episodes may come and go depending on life circumstances.
Preventing Crying Spells
It’s not always possible to prevent crying spells, but you can reduce frequency and severity with lifestyle measures like:
- Getting regular exercise
- Practicing relaxation techniques
- Building a strong support system
- Eating a healthy diet
- Getting enough sleep
- Avoiding triggers like alcohol
- Learning to manage stress effectively
Hormonal causes may be prevented with birth control pills or hormone therapy as well. Talk to your doctor about medical prevention options.
Risk Factors
Factors that increase risk of crying spells include:
- Female sex – women are more prone due to hormone fluctuations
- Periods of hormonal change like puberty, pregnancy and menopause
- High stress levels or significant life changes
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Postpartum depression
- Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety
- Neurological disorders like pseudobulbar affect
- Lack of quality sleep
- Fatigue
- Allergies or eye irritation
Underlying health issues and a genetic predisposition may also increase risk.
Complications
Potential medical complications of frequent, severe crying spells include:
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Dehydration
- Skin irritation around the eyes
If crying interferes with daily life, contributes to depression or leads to relationship problems, psychotherapy may be beneficial.
Coping with Crying Spells
Tips for managing crying spells when they occur:
- Let yourself cry as needed
- Breathe deeply and slowly
- Soothe yourself with calming activities
- Change your environment by going for a walk
- Practice grounding techniques
- Listen to reassuring audio messages
- Call a friend or loved one
- Shift your focus to something positive
Being patient with yourself and asking for support can help you get through episodes.
Supporting Someone with Crying Spells
If someone you care about experiences unexplained crying spells, you can support them by:
- Listening without judgment
- Validating their feelings
- Offering a shoulder to cry on
- Helping identify triggers
- Encouraging self-care
- Reminding them it will pass
- Suggesting they seek medical advice
Your understanding can help loved ones manage crying spells during hormonal changes, stressful times or inexplicable episodes.
Conclusion
Crying spells can be troubling when they happen frequently or intensely. But brief episodes are usually not a major concern. Hormonal fluctuations, emotions and fatigue often play a role. Management typically involves self-care strategies, lifestyle changes and sometimes medical treatment. While crying spells may recur indefinitely, they tend to resolve eventually for most people. With the right coping methods, these episodes can often be handled effectively.