Why do I feel sad?

This is a hard question to answer because there may be several reasons why we are feeling sad and deflated. Sometimes we feel sad because a close friend has let us down or because we disappointed our boss at work. Often these feelings of sadness will pass with time, but if you find that you’re feeling sad more days than not, it might be time to check in with your mental health before things get worse.

At times there can be medical explanations for feeling sad, for example, low iron or hormonal changes, and at other times there could be an accumulation of events that have left us feeling down hearted and blue. One step towards improving your overall mood could be to think about what is important to you and how much effort you’re currently putting towards those areas. Often when we have difficulty recovering from stressful events we spend less time looking after ourselves and can lose sight of what’s important. Let me introduce you to what we call ‘Values’, otherwise known as what is most important to us as an individual. Some common examples include family, health, animals and our career. For example, if family was a value of yours, you may find that spending too much time at work leaves little time to spend with your family, therefore that behaviour is moving away from what is most important to you.

When our life is in alignment with our values, we tend to feel happier because we’re actively working towards what’s most important to us. Once you’re familiar with your own values, start planning action towards them. A Psychologist at Nurturing Minds can help you explore your values and understand why you might be feeling sad and how to do something about it.

Brionie Fryer (Owner of Nurturing Minds)