So there are three types of tears: basal tears, protective tears, and emotional tears. The first two are simple, the liquid that surrounds your eyes is logical; the protective or irritant ones make a lot of sense since the glands under your eyebrows push them out when you peel an onion, vomit, or get dust in your eye. They flush out the material that’s irritating your eyes. These are the kind of tears that stream down your face when your allergies are kicking into high gear. They are like crocodile tears. Only for protection.
But then, the psychic or emotional tears happen out of the blue. Doctors explained them as a liquid that has the same chemical makeup as basal tears but contains more stress hormones and natural painkillers. Humans and animals have compounds in our body fluids that give off subtle messages to other members of the species. That’s why sometimes our tears can relay chemical messages (either intended or unintended) to someone close by. This can bring about empathy or compassion in other people, or signal them to stay away, for example.
Think about it: “Natural painkillers”! All this time I’ve walked around thinking I am such a pussy, crying at weddings and watching movies, ja ja. I am not a mom but I doubt any man can imagine the pain that comes from giving birth or getting a Brazilian wax, for that matter. It’s like having an aspirin with a glass of champagne kind of therapy. Do men shed tears as much as us? is it really that easy to train your brain to say: “Men don’t cry”? And then my big question: How does the natural pain killer work to heal the pain in your soul? And why are some more sensitive than others? Are there levels of tears to protect more? Like how much should you cry to get an oxycontin effect for example, and then just move on with your life? According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology emotional tears are triggered by empathy, compassionate and societal pain, physical pain, attachment-related pain, and sentimental or moral feelings, which brings up another important question: what is attachment-related pain and why should it exist? Unless you are joined by birth with your twin sibling, this kind of pain should not exist. You are attached by choice and by choice there should be detachment, no pain involved. Or does that make you a psychopath?… and do they have tears? Would they shed tears with no feelings?
Too much thinking for a Sunday morning so go ahead and enjoy your God-given right to cry your eyeballs out! another unexplained way to explain the existence of a higher power protecting us always.
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