OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

When you feel a really big emotion, your body reacts. Your face might turn red, your stomach might hurt, or your hands might shake. That is because your brain and body are connected. When your brain feels something big, it sends signals all through your body.

Here is something interesting: crying actually helps! When you cry, your body releases stress hormones through your tears. That is why you often feel better after a good cry. Scientists have found that emotional tears have different chemicals in them than tears from cutting an onion.

Your brain is still growing and learning how to handle big feelings. The part of your brain that helps you stay calm does not finish growing until you are in your twenties! So it is completely normal for feelings to seem really big right now.

• Scientists have identified at least 27 different human emotions, from happiness and sadness to awe and nostalgia.
• Crying releases stress hormones from your body, which is why you usually feel better after you cry.
• The word “emotion” comes from the Latin word “emovere,” which means “to move out.”