Sadness is inevitable! It’s a normal feeling that everyone will experience, and sometimes, it can come out of nowhere!
It could hit you without any warning. It might be a break-up that’s caused it, the loss of someone special, job loss or any other incidents or tough times that could cause you to feel sad.
Photo via Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials
Though we’ve all experienced it at least once in our life, it can still be incredibly difficult to get past.
But don’t fret, the thing is, you can always learn how to stop being sad! It’s not going to be easy and may take awhile, but sometimes spending the day outside, watching your favorite shows or eating your favorite meal might help! You just need to figure out what suits you…
Just note that these are not cures and it’s not scientifically proven to help, but psychologists and mental health experts have shared their top tips for how to stop feeling sad, regardless of what triggers it, as reported by Oprah Daily.
Don’t feel bad about feeling sad
When something negative happens in your life, it can seem like your world is ending. But instead of suppressing or dismissing your emotions, either by distracting yourself or keeping up a good front, you should actually embrace them.
Remember that your feelings are valid!
“All emotions are important to experience and have valuable information for us about our lives,” says Dr. Lori Rockmore, Psy.D, “Individuals who accept rather than judge their mental experiences may attain better psychological health, in part because acceptance helps them experience less negative emotion in response to stressors,” she added.
Try writing!
Can’t pinpoint why you’re sad? Well, have you tried writing your feelings down?
Sometimes it’s easy to know the reason you feel upset, like a fresh break-up, you’re too stressed for a big work presentation or you just miss your family… But other times, you may be sad for no reason at all! Hm, weird, huh?
Well, if this is the case, try grabbing a pen and a piece of paper and try writing for at least five minutes.
Life coach Sunny Joy McMillan said not only may you naturally uncover what’s causing your sadness, but just the act of writing may help you to feel better, something that’s backed by numerous studies.
So, it’s not too late to start keeping a journal!
Embrace your emotions
Like we said before, do not avoid sadness. Tell yourself that what you’re feeling is real and that it’s okay. “You can’t heal what you don’t feel,” says life coach and author Nancy Levin.
It can sometimes be uncomfortable but acknowledging and embracing your sadness is actually the first step to feeling better. “Instead of running away or eating something or yelling at someone… try to breathe it in,” says Tibetan Buddhist nun and author Pema Chödrön.
Cry if you feel like crying
Alternatively, you could also try “crashing.”
Levin said that it’s something that she does when she’s sad. “I put on music or movies or shows that I know will help me cry and have a release,” she said.
Did you know that only humans cry? A biochemical analysis of tears have found that the droplets contain an endorphin named leucine-enkephalin, which is known to reduce pain and improve mood.
So, if you want to cry then go ahead, girl (or dude) because no one is stopping you!
There is nothing to be embarrassed about.
However, if your sadness goes beyond the blues, your sleeping patterns and eating habits change, or you’re not interested in activities you used to enjoy… It may mean it’s more than just sadness.
Please get help, talk to a professional even if it’s through an online platform. It could help!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
