cry it out?

You stare at your friend, expecting some profound piece of advice that helps you defeat your inner demons and conquer the world.

Instead, she tells you to have a good cry.

Many women regard the advice as gospel -- almost as therapeutic as the proverbial can of chicken soup. But new research says we might be overestimating tears' cathartic value.

Check out an excerpt from the NY Times:

Having a “good cry” can and usually does allow people to recover some mental balance after a loss. But not always and not for everyone, argues a review article in the current issue of the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science. Placing such high expectation on a tearful breakdown most likely sets some people up for emotional confusion afterward.

Crying as therapy: Emotional necessity, or just plain sad?