First five minutes
- Loosen your shoulders and unclench your jaw if you can.
- Sip water. Crying can make your throat and chest feel worse when you are dehydrated.
- Breathe out longer than you breathe in for a few rounds, without forcing it.
What it can feel like
- Feeling out of control, embarrassed or scared by how intense the emotion is.
- Not knowing exactly why you are crying.
- Feeling physically drained afterwards.
Why it can happen
- Crying can come from grief, stress, panic, depression, exhaustion, hormones, trauma reminders, loneliness or finally having space to feel.
- Sometimes there is no single reason. It can be the build-up.
What can help
- Let the crying slow before you try to explain yourself.
- Use warmth, a shower, a blanket, a safe person or a low-stimulation room.
- If crying is frequent, frightening or linked with wanting to hurt yourself, ask for support.
Free support options
- Use guides on anxiety, depression, grief and emotional numbness.
- Speak to a GP or mental-health professional if this keeps happening.
Important note
This guide is for education and signposting. It cannot diagnose you or replace care from a qualified professional. If you feel at risk, seek urgent local help.
Keep exploring this safely
These connected guides may help you understand the next layer of what you are feeling.
Questions people ask
Why am I crying for no reason?
There may still be a reason, even if you cannot name it yet. Stress, grief, anxiety, depression, tiredness and overload can all come out as crying.
Should I force myself to stop crying?
Usually the kinder aim is to make yourself safe and comfortable, then let the wave pass. Seek urgent help if you may hurt yourself.