Tears, Typography + Science = Cry to Heal
I've always had what I call 'over-active tear ducts'. I cry when I laugh, when I'm proud, when I find something extremely funny (especially when I'm telling said extremely funny story), when I'm sad, when I'm angry, when I'm frustrated, when I'm tired (and frustrated) ....
Needless to say, there's been a whole lotta tears fall from these eyes...
I used to categorise them differently. When I cry with deep emotion - those are 'hurty tears'. I mean, my whole face hurts, it gives me a headache, my heart aches.. it's a full body hurt.
But when I cry with pride there's just water from my eyes like a sprinkler..
When I cut an onion that's even less painful than pride..
These categorisations of tears got me researchin' (it's what I do) - Could it be that there are really different types of tears?
Science says; YES.
There are three types of tears;
1. PSYCHIC TEARS - are caused by extreme emotions like happiness and sadness..
2. BASAL TEARS - are made to keep your eye nice and wet. ie. lubricated.. we all know dry eyes = itchy eyes
3. REFLEX TEARS - are a response to a stimuli like those onions.. those damn onions....
Psychic tears are my favourite.
Scientists have found that REFLEX TEARS are 98% water. Whereas PSYCHIC TEARS have special health benefits. Not only to Emotional (Psychic) tears contain water they also contain stress hormones which are excreted from the body through crying. (!!)
Dr William Frey (Ciochemist and 'tear expert' from Minneapolis) found that emotional tears shed these hormones and other toxins which accumulate during stress. Other studies have also suggested that rying stimulates the production of endorphins (you know, those feel-good hormones that also come from exercise)
Photographer Rose-Lynn Fisher was so interested in tears during a hard time in her life that she took to photographing her tears under a microscopic lense.
Her work, The Typography of Tears is a testament to human sentiment. Our tears are like snowflakes. Different every time.
Tears of elation at a liminal moment Rose-Lynn Fisher
Redemption. Rose-Lynn Fisher