Can you be unhappy for no reason

In certain moments, the emotional burden might feel particularly heavy. You might cry often , feel numb or drained, and struggle to concentrate. At other times — when you get lost in something you enjoy or when a loved one distracts you — your sorrow may seem light enough that you can barely feel its weight.

While it might linger in some form for days or weeks, it generally begins to ease naturally. Persistent sadness is something else entirely. It can wrap around you like a heavy blanket, muffling the sensations and joy of everyday life. This sadness can leave you feeling low, empty, and defeated.

After all, sorrow is a normal human response to disappointment and loss. Sadness, in other words, seems to become a constant companion. Chronic sadness, especially when related to depression, might also prompt regular thoughts of death or suicide.

You might begin to notice your feelings of sadness, along with any other symptoms you experience, follow a specific pattern. Depression can take different forms, and various underlying factors can have an impact on the way your symptoms show up. People living with bipolar disorder often experience episodes of depression as part of a cycle that also includes episodes of mania or hypomania.

You might notice you suddenly feel intensely happy, even euphoric. This abrupt change in mood might also involve:. You could experience sadness and other symptoms of depression at the same time as mania.

Maybe your sadness seems to arrive or intensify around the same time of year the days begin to shorten. Once the longer, sunnier days of spring and summer arrive, you feel better, year after year. The nights get long and cold, and there are plenty of days when you may not even see the sun. If this seasonal sadness persists and becomes serious enough to affect daily life, you could have seasonal affective disorder SAD , a type of depression that occurs along with seasonal changes.

Reproductive hormones can also play a part in depression symptoms, so tracking what time of the month symptoms show up can offer some important clues. With most forms of depression, periods of sadness might last a few weeks or longer, depending on the type of depression you have, and then lift temporarily. You might not feel sad or notice any other symptoms for some time. Instead, they often last for years.

You might:. Unlike symptoms of major depression, symptoms of PDD may not prevent you from living your daily life. Still, as you work, go to school, and take care of your regular responsibilities. When sadness tints every aspect of your day-to-day an unrelenting gray, you might have trouble finding relief.

Feeling down can also make it more difficult to brainstorm potentially helpful changes, which is why professional support can make a big difference more on this in a moment. Many of the symptoms associated with sadness or depression can prompt you to pull back from others rather than seek emotional support. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:.

There are many people you can talk to who can help you overcome feelings of wanting to lash out. Anxiety disorders are common mental health problems that affect many people. It is helpful to imagine assertiveness as the middle ground between aggression and passivity. Bisexuality is when a person finds men and women physically, sexually or emotionally attractive.

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Skip to main content. Healthy mind. Home Healthy mind. It's okay to feel sad. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. About sadness You may feel sad for many reasons Sadness will ease Supporting someone else who is feeling sad Sadness is different from depression Where to get help. About sadness We use different words to talk about sadness: agony, anguish, broken heart, hurt, sorrow, dejection, dismay, homesickness, distress, unhappiness and more.

You may feel sad for many reasons Life is full of situations that may make people feel sad: having trouble at home for example, family fights or domestic violence having trouble at school or work, or feeling pressure there moving home losing a loved one or a friend being ill, or caring for someone who is ill experiencing chemical changes in your body from puberty, drugs or medicines experiencing changes in your thoughts for example, developing an unhelpful thinking style such as being self-critical, or learning new information about subjects such as poverty or terrorism.

Sadness will ease Feeling better can involve taking one step or many. You may want to try some of these tips: Be honest with yourself and the people around you. Talk to someone whom you trust. Seek help from a professional a doctor, psychologist, or other health professional. You may need support, advice or a referral to a specialist. Think about whether your sleep and eating patterns are good for you. Help someone else.

Find a creative way to express your sadness. Writing your thoughts in a diary, for example, may help you find a new perspective. Keep yourself safe.

If you feel at risk of hurting yourself , let someone know immediately. If a prescribed medication makes you feel down, let your doctor know. And talk to your doctor before taking any non-prescribed medications or complementary or alternative medicines. She specialises in cognitive behavioural therapy, work-related stress, self-harm, depression, trauma and anxiety.

She also deals with substance misuse, behavioural problems, relationship difficulties and family issues. She then re Overall assessment of their patients See opinions 1. By Dr Jessica Valentine Psychology. She specialises in cognitive behavioural therapy , work-related stress , self-harm , depression , trauma and anxiety. She then received a master's in general theoretical psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University in , before obtaining further training in mental health counselling from Seton Hall University in , and finally going on to achieve a Doctorate in Psychology at California Southern University.

She is now based in the UK where she has worked as a clinical and consultant psychologist in various clinics across Brighton and London. Dr Valentine has a vast amount of experience in both psychological assessment and interventions, which include cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, compassion-focused therapy and psychotherapy. Her therapeutic approach is eclectic, centred on the individual and follows a humanistic and behaviouristic approach to counselling.

She believes people can achieve success and improve their personal problems by creating short-term and long-term goals as well as practising the art of wellbeing. PYL: Overall assessment of their patients. For further information, read our Privacy Policy. If you can't get in touch, reserve cita online.

Dr Jessica Valentine Psychology. Book online. Is feeling sad and not knowing why common? Could feeling a sudden low mood or sadness be a sign of depression? How are depression and sadness different? What are the main symptoms of depression? Some symptoms of depression could include: Loss of interest or pleasure in your activities Weight loss or gain Trouble getting to sleep or feeling sleepy during the day Feelings restless and agitated, or else very sluggish and slowed down physically or mentally Being tired and without energy Feeling worthless or guilty Trouble concentrating or making decisions Thoughts of suicide What do you recommend to those who feel sad or low frequently?

When you feel sad or low three tips to increase your vibrations are: 1. Move your body. Exercising or going for a walk will make you feel happier.