As a caregiver, there were times when the worry and the stress of wondering whether I was doing everything I could for my son reached a point where the floodgates would open and the tears flowed. I felt that I was failing when I didn't seem to be able to "hold it together" and be strong as I should be. I knew somehow that there was a cleansing benefit to just "having a good cry" but I didn't see it explained so well as when I received my "weekly affirmation" email from the Cancer Crusade a few days ago. It seems the researchers at the University of Minnesota, studying the chemical composition of emotionally tears found that crying seems to be a healthy and very appropriate response to stress creating an endorphin which is a natural pain reliever in the brain. To read the whole text, just go to:

http://webpages.charter.net/xila/tears.html