Feeling sad is a normal response to feeling a loss of something important to us. We might experience sadness when something doesn’t go as expected or when experiencing a rejection. Feeling sad is often a signal that we need help, comfort, or time to recover.
Sadness can range in intensity from mild disappointment, to hopelessness, or extreme grief and anguish. Sadness is often experienced with other emotions such as anger and fear. Although we all experience sadness from time to time, we differ in how frequently we experience sadness, and in its severity.
When we feel sad we often want to retreat to our nest. We may avoid our flock, even though it’s at these times we need their support the most. We may also stop engaging in activities that give us joy. However, these are the very things that can help lift our mood when we feel sad. When we stop doing things we enjoy, it can maintain or deepen feelings of sadness, and contribute to feelings of loneliness.
Here are some ways to move through feelings of sadness:
If your feelings of sadness are severe and enduring, it may be a sign to seek further support from a mental health professional.
