Sadness

Sadness, that feeling we can feel when we lose someone close to us, or simply when we see the part of a movie where our favorite character dies.

Sadness is explained as one of the 7 universal emotions that humans feel, as a result of the loss of someone or something important.

What causes us sadness varies greatly based on personal and cultural notions of loss.

While sadness is often considered a “negative” emotion It is a natural response to the challenges and difficulties of life, helping us to process painful experiences and adapt to change.

Sadness encompasses different emotional states that can be less or more intense.

Some of the different states of sadness

Disappointment (Least intense)
Discouragement
Resignation
Helplessness
Misery
Grief
Sorrow
Anguish (Most Intense)

Sadness can also combine with other emotions, making it a much more complex emotion.

Sadnness and Anger

For example, having a loved one abandon you

Saddness with Fear

for example, moving to a new place you don't know

Saddness and Joy

For example, sadness of losing someone, but joy of remembering moments with them.

This emotion is a way of responding to difficult situations we go through as humans,

and managing it correctly also allows us to know ourselves in a deeper way.

The first step is to accept what we feel and recognize sadness as a normal and necessary emotion in our lives.

The next step is to find appropriate ways to express it, for example, with friends, family, or perhaps through art such as writing or painting.

Practicing activities such as mindfulness and exercise also help us manage this emotion effectively.

These are some of the strategies that have personally helped me to manage this emotion.

Things to do when you are feeling sad

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Cry

Sometimes the simplest things work best; crying allows you to release your emotions, and sometimes that's all we need.

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Listen to music

Listen to sad music; it might sound a little weird, but the idea isn't to force yourself to be happy, but to allow yourself to feel, and this kind of music allows you to be sad for as long as you need.

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Eat a snack

Eat something you like, such as fruit or cookies; food can always improve a bad day.