What disorders cause crying?

Asked by: Saul Quitzon  |  Last update: February 19, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (24 votes)

Disorders causing crying range from neurological conditions like Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) (due to stroke, TBI, MS, Parkinson's) leading to uncontrollable outbursts, to mental health issues like Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder, which involve intense emotional responses and mood swings. Other factors include hormonal imbalances, severe sleep deprivation, and certain epileptic seizures, highlighting that crying can stem from disrupted brain signals, overwhelming stress, or mood dysregulation.

Why do I keep crying all the time?

Frequent crying can stem from various emotional triggers and stressors, like sadness or overwhelming situations. Understanding why you have strong emotions, whether it's hormonal changes, mental health conditions, or something else, is essential for addressing the issue.

Is there a disorder that makes you cry a lot?

Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) involves uncontrolled or inappropriate episodes of laughing or crying. These emotional responses don't match the intensity of your inner feelings. PBA results from certain underlying neurological conditions.

What is a neuro cry?

A "neuro cry" (or neuro-irritability) refers to persistent, intense, high-pitched crying or agitation in infants with severe neurological impairments, often sounding like a sharp, piercing scream, with no obvious cause like hunger or pain, and sometimes linked to brain injury or immaturity, though it can also signal underlying issues like gut problems.
 

Does anxiety cause crying spells?

Anxiety is usually associated with excessive worrying and physical symptoms like sweating and tremors. But for some people, anxiety manifests as frequent or intense crying. Anxious crying is crying that happens during periods of high stress or anxiety, often without a clear trigger or reason.

Condition causes uncontrollable crying, laughter

15 related questions found

What is the first stage of a mental breakdown?

The first stage of a mental breakdown, often called the onset or honeymoon phase, involves subtle signs like increased stress, irritability, sleep changes (insomnia or oversleeping), appetite shifts, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and pulling away from social activities, as your body starts showing stress before a full crisis, signaling a gradual depletion of emotional resources.
 

What neurological disorder causes crying?

When the parts of the brain that control emotions are injures, pseudobulbar affect (PBA) occurs. This neurological condition is also known as emotional lability, reflex crying or involuntary emotional expression disorder, among others. PBA occurs as a result of several neurological diseases, such as: Stroke.

What is the Joker's condition?

The Joker (Arthur Fleck) in the 2019 film has symptoms pointing to Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA), causing uncontrollable laughter/crying due to neurological injury, alongside severe trauma, depression, and potential personality disorders like narcissism or psychopathy, stemming from horrific childhood abuse, though the film intentionally leaves his exact mental state complex and undefined.
 

What are the three types of crying?

The three types of tears, or crying, are basal tears (for lubrication), reflex tears (to flush irritants), and emotional tears (from feelings like joy or sadness), each serving a different function and having a unique chemical makeup, with emotional tears containing stress hormones.
 

Which personality disorder cries a lot?

Borderline personality disorder. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive, long-term pattern of significant interpersonal relationship instability, acute fear of abandonment, and intense emotional outbursts.

What mental illness is hardest to live with?

There's no single "hardest" mental illness, as experiences vary, but Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Bipolar Disorder, and severe Eating Disorders (like Anorexia Nervosa) are often cited as extremely challenging due to their profound impact on reality, emotions, relationships, and daily functioning, often involving symptoms like psychosis, severe mood swings, intense instability, and distorted self-perception. 

What is the psychological reason for crying?

It is a testament to our ability to feel, empathize and cope. While crying is usually associated with distressing experiences, positive yet overwhelming experiences such as receiving an award, a marriage proposal or watching a touching movie can cause people to tear up as well.

What mental health condition has a lot of crying?

Depression is a well-recognized cause of frequent and uncontrollable crying spells in adults. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood condition that affects the feelings, thoughts, and day-to-day functioning of a person. One of its key emotional symptoms is persistent sadness and tearfulness without a clear reason.

Is crying a lot a red flag?

If you're still crying daily and intensely beyond 6-8 weeks with no improvement, pay attention. When tears completely disrupt your ability to work, maintain hygiene, or handle basic responsibilities, that's a red flag. Watch for these specific warning signs: You've stopped eating regularly or can't keep food down.

What are the five signs of emotional suffering?

The 5 Signs of Emotional Suffering, popularized by the Give an Hour organization, are: Personality Changes, Agitation/Moodiness, Withdrawal/Isolation, Poor Self-Care, and Hopelessness, indicating significant shifts in typical behavior that suggest someone may need support, much like recognizing signs for physical emergencies.
 

What disorder does Harley Quinn have?

Everyone knows Harley Quinn as the Jokers' girl, but how did she become Harley Quinn? Personality Disorder, specifically, Histrionic Personality Disorder plays a key part in Harley Quinn's life.

What is PBA disorder?

Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) is a neurological disorder causing sudden, frequent, and uncontrollable episodes of laughing or crying that don't match the person's actual feelings or the situation, often occurring with other brain injuries or conditions like ALS, MS, or stroke. It's a separate condition from depression, resulting from a "short circuit" in the brain's emotional control pathways, and can be managed with specific medications, notes.
 

How is crying disease diagnosed?

Pseudobulbar affect is typically diagnosed during a neurological exam. Your care team checks how well the brain, spinal cord and nerves are working.

Is crying a symptom of ALS?

Besides cognitive and behavioral changes, some people with ALS experience changes in how they process and display emotions. They may laugh or cry at inappropriate times, even when they don't necessarily feel happy or sad.

What are four symptoms of neurological brain disorder?

Common symptoms of neurological disorders include:

  • Pain: Headache, back pain, neck pain.
  • Muscle movement: Weakness, stiffness, tremor, spasms, paralysis, coordination challenges, falls.
  • Sensitivity changes: Numbness, tingling, hypersensitivity to touch and temperature, loss of feeling.

What are the signs of mental health decline?

Signs of mental health decline include major shifts in mood (sadness, irritability, euphoria), changes in sleep/appetite, withdrawing from loved ones, loss of interest in hobbies, difficulty concentrating, increased substance use, neglecting personal care, unexplained physical pains, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide, often stemming from overwhelming stress or trauma. Recognizing these emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical changes early can prompt necessary professional help. 

What is the #1 worst habit for anxiety?

There isn't one single "#1 worst" habit, but procrastination/avoidance, lack of sleep, negative self-talk, and excessive caffeine/poor diet are consistently cited as major drivers that intensify anxiety by creating a cycle of stress, worry, and poor coping. These habits often feed into each other, making it harder to manage anxious feelings, with procrastination often stemming from anxiety and then worsening it further.
 

What drink calms anxiety?

For calming drinks, focus on herbal teas like chamomile, lavender, and peppermint (often containing apigenin or L-theanine for relaxation), green tea for L-theanine's calm alertness, and warm milk with tryptophan; also consider water for hydration and nutrient-rich smoothies with ingredients like turmeric or ginger. These beverages, especially those with antioxidants and amino acids, support mood regulation and stress reduction, but shouldn't replace professional anxiety treatment.
 

What does crippling anxiety feel like?

Crippling anxiety feels like being trapped in a cycle of intense fear, dread, and physical distress, making everyday tasks overwhelming with symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, trembling, and a constant sense of impending doom, often leading to avoidance, social withdrawal, and an inability to focus or relax, significantly disrupting your life. It's a severe anxiety that goes beyond normal worry, stealing your ability to feel calm and in control, leaving you feeling isolated and exhausted.