Is it healthy to make yourself cry?

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Sometimes, when I'm going through a particularly stressful period in my life, I watch something that I know will make me cry, and then just bawl my eyes out. Afterwards I feel better about everything in general.

Is this a healthy or unhealthy coping mechanism?

I have no idea but i do the same thing..

Make yourself cry with laughter, that's so much better.

Sounds like an effective way to release emotions. What is called catharsis. What I have heard is unhealthy is keeping emotions bottled up.

I believe Ezra pegged this one. You might follow it up by taking a hot bath and getting a full night's sleep, then waking up early next morning.

Stress is cumulative in nature unless it is vented. Too much stress can throw your body into a distress state. It can throw your body into a trauma state.

There are many types of stress relievers. This is not a one-size fits-all approach. Individuals are different. The effectiveness of individual therapy techniques is measured against the following criteria, the signs of stress/trauma abatement:
* Crying with soulful tears
* Feeling of joy, pleasure, strength
* Spontaneous shaking, trembling, and shivering
* Deep spontaneous breathes
* Ecstatic and blissful states
* Sense of competency

I wouldn't exactly put this as forcing yourself to cry but rather allowing yourself to cry.