How to stop feeling sad
Sadness is a part of life and it will come and go. It’s not possible to remove sadness permanently but if you find that you are sad more often than not, the tips in this blog just might do the trick to help you snap out of your sadness and enjoy life again.
1) Gratitude Journal
Sometimes we get stuck in a rut where we focus on all the bad stuff – psychologists call this a “negative filter”. This type of thinking is irrational in nature because not everything in life is always negative. There is always two side to a story. A gratitude journal gets you into the practice of focusing what is working in your life. It can be small things, such as a smile from a stranger. You can write in a gratitude journal as little or as often as you like but if you feel very sad it might be a good idea to start off by writing in it once a day. Try to find three things that you appreciate in your life right now and write them down. Going back and reading over positive entries helps to shift a sad mood too.
2) Reframe
Reframing is all about considering different ways to look at a problem. If you think about it, there can be many ways to interpret whatever is happening to you. You can get yourself into panic mode and ‘catastrophise’ using statements like “this always happens to me” or “I am never going to succeed” or you can choose to see the current problem as a temporary issue that won’t seem as serious a few weeks from now. It’s all about INTERPRETATION and CONTEXT.
Ask yourself, “What can I tell myself about this problem that will make me feel less stressed?”. For example – I am currently in a tricky situation as I have been given notice to move out of my current home and need to be out in 3 weeks time. I still haven’t found anything and most new places that are coming onto the market aren’t available for at least another 6 weeks. That leaves me with 3 weeks of potential homelessness. I could catastophise and think, “This is a complete disaster. I am going to be homeless. I am never going to find somewhere in time”. This thinking will inevitably lead me to feeling even more desperate and sad or I can reframe and tell myself, “This isn’t the best situation to be in but I have managed tricky situations in the past and this one is no different. Whatever happens I will find a way to deal with it. I will work with what I can control and I will accept and deal with what I cannot control”. This thinking will leave me in a better emotional state than the former thinking would.
3) Time out
Sometime all we need is a break from the monotony and the thinking rut we have gotten into. Taking a break from the routine can help introduce new and fresh ideas. New perspectives bring hope and a chance to look at things differently.
4) Spend time with fun, positive people
Inspiring people spread their energy is a positive way. Seek out positive like-minded people and you will feel inspired.
5) Tune in fun,tune out drama
Watch comedies or listen to upbeat music – great mood changers. Don’t watch the news for a week. We are like sponges and we are affected by our environments. When you feel emotionally battered it’s important to surround yourself with things that uplift you and nurture a happier mood.
Mandy X
Photo by mabahamo 
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
