How to Cope With Normal Sadness
Here are some ways to experience normal sadness in a healthy way and to allow this emotion to enrich your life:
Allow yourself to be sad. Denying such feelings may force them underground, where they can do more damage with time. Cry if you feel like it. Notice if you feel relief after the tears stop.
If you are feeling sad, plan a day to wallow. Plan a day or evening just to be alone, listen to melancholy music, and observe your thoughts and feelings. Planning time to be unhappy can actually feel good and can help you ultimately move into a more happy mood.
Think and/or write about the context of the sad feelings. Are you sad because of a loss or an unhappy event? It's usually not as simple as discovering the cause of the sadness, but understanding why you're sad and exploring those feelings can help you feel better.
Take a walk. Sometimes some fresh air and a little quiet time can change your perspective.
Call a close friend or family member. Sometimes venting your feelings can help you process them.
Be kind to yourself. This may include a hot bubble bath, indulging in a nap, or splurging for some really good chocolate.
Let yourself laugh. Fire up a favorite comedy and binge watch it for a while, or find a funny YouTube video.
Consider starting a gratitude journal. Focusing on the positive, even if you can only think of one thing to be grateful for per day, helps you to shift away from the negative, sad feelings.
Remember that sadness can result from a change that you didn't expect, or it can signal the need for a change in your life. Change is usually stressful, but it is necessary for growth. If you're sad because you need to change something, think about the steps you can change to make your life more joyful.
How to Tell When Sadness Turns Into Depression
Be aware of the signs of sadness turning into depression and get help if you notice these symptoms significantly impacting your life for two weeks or longer.
Symptoms include:
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, fatigue, and/or being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, and/or making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, and/or oversleeping
Loss of appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and/or weight gain
Thoughts of death or suicide and/or suicide attempts
Restlessness and/or irritability
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
If you experience these, you may feel inclined to just "tough it out" and wait until it passes. However, the earlier you recognize these signs, the sooner you can seek help and change your situation. Talk to your counselor for more help and guidance.
Sometimes depression is not because of what is going on around you. It could be a medical condition, like hypothyroidism, for example, that can be causing symptoms of depression.
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