Feeling sad is not being depressed.

I used to think that sadness was wrong Feeling happy and feeling sad are normal emotions. We are usually ok when we feel happy but what happens when we feel sad? Well, some of us have a low tolerance for those blue moods. When things don’t work out the way you expect them to do you might feel frustrated. Frustration goes hand in hand with feeling sad.

Sadness can lead to depression and that is what I want to try to avoid. Feeling sad is normal, and expected, but falling into depression is more complicated.

When depressed, it seems like everything looks bad, that state of mind drains my energy and leaves me feeling tired. When depressed, everything happening in my life loses the light and shine. Maybe there is no big or new reason, this sadness shows up. When the sense of sadness becomes part of my daily routine, I need to get moving. That’s when I should start doing something about it.

When I feel depressed, I can clearly spot it. I feel a loss of interest in activities that I usually enjoy. I am not talking about clinical depression or major depression. I am just talking about those days when, for whatever reason, you feel blue. Not sad, when sad, you know what it is about, when depressed the cause is not found. Depression happens when I can’t clearly discover the cause of my sadness. I am incapable of pinpointing what generated that state of sadness.

When feeling sad.

First, I acknowledge my emotions. I open my awareness to see what I am feeling, and I name it. I embrace the feeling and try to give it some space. Yes, in and out of that stage of sadness is the clue for me.

I know small changes in my daily routine can have a big effect. I know these steps might help me cope and navigate these feelings. The issue is that depression drains your energy. This lack of energy makes it difficult to take even those tiny steps. It is like battling inside yourself. You must choose between fighting these emotions or getting on top of them. You try to navigate them in the best way.

 Tips I use when I feel I am going into that stage.

1. Get moving. Exercise, dance, walk, or just simply move.. Exercise is a powerful natural antidepressant. It is one of the most essential tools we can all reach in our “recovery arsenal”.
2. Eat healthy.
3. Sleep well. Sleeping disorders are frequent when anxious or depressed. Sleeping too little or too much can make it worse. Create a schedule and push yourself out of bed.
4. Mindfulness. Honestly, I am not a meditation type of person. Yet, I discovered during the COVID outbreak that meditation helps me slow down. It also helps me focus on the here and now. When anxiety arrives, and fears seem to be taking over me, I use a little meditation. It is a great tool from my arsenal to calm down.
5. Set attainable goals. Take one day at a time. Remember that today is just today and doesn’t necessarily mean it will be this way tomorrow. Set small goals that you can achieve. This will give you a sense of control and motivate you.
6. Stay connected and avoid withdrawing. Usually, when we feel sad, we avoid people. We don’t like to take our sadness for a ride, so, we just stay alone in our own little mood. This is not a good idea. Reach out to a friend, open yourself to someone you trust, and you will see how relieving this is. To share your feelings helps a lot.

Hope this has been helpful for someone. Remember sadness and happiness are emotions. If you have any other tip that has been helpful share it with me!