HAPPY TEARS

 

Why do we cry from happiness?

Our autonomic nervous system consists of sympathetic and parasympathetic. One part is responsible for "fighting" and the other for "relaxing" respectively. It's the sympathetic nervous system that kicks in during stress, such as by increasing heart rate. And the parasympathetic system, with its calming function, is directly connected with the lacrimal glands.

When we experience intense happiness, our heart rate increases. And the emotion is so strong that our body cannot recognize it. So our rapid heartbeat activates the parasympathetic system, sending a signal to the lacrimal glands, and we start crying.

That is, the body simply can't tell the difference between a strong positive emotion and a negative one.

 

#bigthink