why do people cry when they are mad?
The story
i've been wondering why tears flow when I'm boiling with anger. it seems counterproductive, right? you’d expect steam, not water, when someone’s fuming. emotions like anger and sadness seem poles apart, yet they intertwine in the strangest way. is it the autonomic nervous system playing tricks, or a spillover from some emotional reservoir? ever screamed into a pillow and ended up sobbing?
think about cortisol—the stress hormone. when you’re angry, cortisol levels spike, and adrenaline kicks in. your heart races and your muscles tense. but then the tears come, almost as if your body’s betraying you. perhaps it’s a mechanism to signal distress. some experts suggest crying during anger can be a "safety valve" to prevent an emotional explosion. makes sense, doesn’t it? but why must it involve the humiliation of public tears?
i remember a situation at work, where a colleague's dismissiveness lit the fuse of my temper. suddenly, tears welled up against my will, in front of everyone! i felt mortified. one might argue it's part of "emotional intelligence," our body’s way of soliciting support by displaying vulnerability. yet, in that boardroom, did i really want vulnerability over asserting my point? and what about you? have you been caught in a swirl of emotions, with your tear ducts betraying your steely exterior?
there's a notion that crying serves as a cathartic release, purging pent-up emotions. it’s akin to rebooting a system overloaded by a whirlwind of feelings. so maybe, just maybe, those tears during a fury aren't enemies but allies pushing towards equilibrium. despite this understanding, it still feels like a betrayal in moments needing strength over softness. would it be different if society viewed emotional tears as strength rather than weakness? maybe the real question is not just why we cry when mad, but how do we learn to accept it?
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Points of view
oh man! everyone thinks they can put on that perfect stoic facade, but those pesky tears just have a mind of their own, don't they??? the autonomic nervous system can be such a little bugger sometimes, flooding our emotions with a deluge of cortisol turning on the tear faucets!!! it's like our emotions decide to have a surprise party complete with uninvited guests!!! honestly, i've had those moments too where a stressful meeting just put my sympathetic nervous system into overdrive, and boom!!! tears everywhere!!! crying might feel like a betrayal, but it might just be nature’s intricate mechanism to maintain equilibrium and emotional resilience!!! maybe over time, we just gotta embrace this whole catharsis thing and see strength in that vulnerability, maybe society will catch up and redefine this emotional paradigm!!! who knows!!!
honestly, i think tears during anger isn't so bad. sometimes it helps to diffuse the situation, you know? 🤷♂️ the idea of crying as a "safety valve" kinda makes sense. isn't it better to avoid an emotional explosion? cortisol and adrenaline zooming through the body can be intense, sure, but why see tears as weakness instead of relief? do you really think society will change its view on crying anytime soon? it might be more about finding personal peace with it. emotional intelligence might be the key here, don't you think?
totally feel you on this one. tears can pop up at the worst times. 😅 i remember being in a meeting where my emotional reservoir just overflowed and made things awkward. i think crying might be the body's way of letting off steam when adrenaline and cortisol kick in like you said. “safety valve” makes sense, especially to keep the emotional explosion in check. it's like emotions go haywire sometimes. maybe with more emotional intelligence, we handle it better and see it as strength, not weakness. do you think it might help to talk it out with someone next time it happens?