Therapist Elizabeth Keohan writes, “Sadness doesn’t usually feel good, but it is a very normal emotion, often felt after loss, during a period of pain or transition, or when challenging hardships are on the forefront. It can be a very healthy and normative emotion that’s typically temporary.”

A person’s sadness could be caused by any number of factors, including relationship issues, personal loss, and stress, to name a few. Fortunately, there are some healthy ways for us to deal with such feelings of sadness. 

First of all, it’s okay to feel sad. We need to allow ourselves to feel the sadness we are experiencing. Suppressing these feelings, or ignoring them altogether, will only exacerbate the problem.

Self-care is essential during periods of sadness. When we are feeling out of sorts, it’s important for us to make every effort to get the sleep we need and to eat nutritious meals. Good nutrition can be beneficial to lifting our mood and providing the energy we need to get through the day.

When we’re feeling down, it’s best to avoid junk food and alcohol. These might provide temporary relief for our sadness, but they can be destructive in the long run. 

Reaching out to those who love us can be extraordinarily helpful during difficult times. A phone call, text message, or personal visit to someone we trust can prevent our feelings of sadness from becoming overwhelming.

Journal writing, too, can be a productive activity when you’re feeling sad. Writing your thoughts and feelings can help you to effectively process the emotions you’re experiencing and help you to better understand why you are feeling the way you do.

For many years, Reader’s Digest Magazine has featured a segment titled “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” When you are sad, you may not feel like laughing, but if you intentionally seek out magazine articles, comedy channels, videos, or books that enable you to laugh for a bit, you might find that your mood starts to improve.

When I’m feeling melancholy, I often turn to nature. Making the effort to go outside and spend some time in nature can instantly elevate my mood. A walk through a local park, a visit to the San José Rose Garden, or time spent at a place like Hakone Gardens in Saratoga offers a respite from the negativity I’m experiencing at a particular time. Just sitting in the shade of the redwood trees outside my home provides a sense of peace which helps me to cope with life’s challenges.

Finally, it’s important that we recognize when it’s time to get professional help. If strategies such as those I’ve already mentioned are not helpful, and you recognize that you cannot effectively cope with the sadness on your own, seeking the help of a trained therapist would be both beneficial and wise. Turning to a therapist for help is not a sign of weakness, it is an admission of our vulnerability… and our desire to heal.