According to Wikipedia, 'sadness' is a feeling of being alone or lonely, which can feel as a "severe pain related to sorrow", and which results from something negative happened to you. Sadness is when your mood is temporary lowered, whereas with depression you will have the same feelings but which are more 'chronic' (i.e. repeat on a regular basis).
Are you feeling upset or sad right now?
Or maybe you want to know what to do when someone upsets you as it happens to all of us now and then? Here are the 5 things you can do at those moments of your life:
1. Allow yourself to be upset. Feel those sad feelings inside of you, get overwhelmed by them, and cry if you can. Sometimes it is not healthy to fight those feelings. If you let yourself to fully experience the sad feelings, you might feel much better in only 10-15 minutes.
2. Find 3 to 5 positive things for every negative thing you have in your mind. For example, if you became upset because someone said to you something earlier, try to think about other people in your life who are supportive, friendly and accepts you for what you are.
3. Count your blessings. I know it's hard to do it when you are upset, but making yourself to look at the good things in your life can change your mood towards the more positive one.
4. Ask yourself "What is the worst thing that can happen to me regarding this situation?" Can this situation become worse? How much worse? If you prepare your mind for the worst, you might accept the situation much easier. And besides, the worst cases of scenario usually don't happen.
5. Develop a positive strategy. What can you do to make this situation looking a bit better? Are there any positive sides to it? Maybe you have learned some valuable lessons from it or gained a different experience. Or maybe this situation made you think and now you can have different plans and goals for the future.
I hope this short article made you aware that not all upsetting experiences are negative. There is always something you can learn from it.
The upsetting or sad thoughts and feelings are not permanent. Everything passes and they will pass too. If you cannot change them to make yourself feel better, then let them run inside you for a bit. Eventually they will get released and hopefully you will feel a bit happier.
Elmira Strange, MPhil, has been studying human behaviour and Psychology for over 10 years with an expertise in Stress Management.
If you want to know how to feel a bit more positive or happier, you can read her other article 'How to be happy in this unhappy world' (http://www.stress-explained.com/how-tobe-happy.html).
Or if you think that you feel unhappy simply because you are stressed, then have a look at this article 'What to do when you are stressed' (http://www.stress-explained.com/what-todo-when-stressed.html).