Sometimes we get the blues for seemingly no reason. It can hit us out of nowhere, and we struggle to understand and validate why we feel that way. These periods of feeling sad and down can really affect us in our daily lives as our relationships struggle, motivation to work suffers, and overall feelings of lethargy can be consuming. These feelings can be especially damaging when we don’t understand and therefore cannot treat our feelings.Persistent sadness is extremely different from being sad due to an event or trigger. Persistent sadness is more commonly known as depression, a severe mental health problem that can be overwhelming if left untreated. Similarly, not knowing whether you are worried or suffering from anxiety can lead to an increase in anxious feelings as, once again, you struggle to determine the cause of your worry. Being worried (like being sad) is a natural human emotion in response to something. However, feeling anxious over seemingly nothing that you can pinpoint could be a more serious indicator of anxiety. Trying to determine whether you’re sad or worried or more seriously depressed or anxious can in itself be an exhausting mental battle. Thus, this week, I will help you understand what could be causing these negative emotions and whether or not you should seek help.

Sadness Vs Depression

Whilst depression may not always present itself as feelings of sadness, unexplainable sadness is a strong indicator of depression. If feelings of sadness seem to be following you around, you should probably seek professional help. Below are additional symptoms of depression:

• Feeling empty
• Feeling anxious
• Hopelessness
• Irritable
• Guilt
• Fatigue
• Anhedonia (loss of interest)
• Appetite changes

If your feelings of sadness also accompany any of these listed above, then it’s time to realise something else may be going on inside your head. Depression is (sadly) common, with 3.8% of the global population suffering from this mental health problem. If anything, you should take comfort from this proportion. You are not alone with your feelings, and seeking help is more routine than you may realise. Therapists worldwide want people to feel comfortable enough to reach out and work together to figure out how to overcome feelings of depression. If depression is left untreated, it can lead to serious health issues such as substance abuse, lack of sleep, exhaustion, and, at its most extreme, suicide. Make sure to seek help immediately if you have resonated with any of the above symptoms. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health; if you were physically feeling injured, you wouldn’t let yourself bleed out, you would seek immediate aid - so why do we not do this for our mental health? If the above symptoms do not ring true to you, perhaps you are just experiencing sadness. Unlike depression, sadness is only temporary. For some, overcoming these feelings can be achieved through acts of self-care. However, left untreated, sadness can develop into feelings of depression. Following steps of mindfulness may help you pinpoint the cause of your feelings, and the list of activities below can help boost serotonin and endorphins.

• Daily walks outside (preferably during sunlight hours)
• Spending time outdoors
• Other forms of exercise, anything to get the heart pumping
• Meditation
• Treating yourself
• Spending time with friends and family
• Spa days
• Creative activities or a hobby you enjoy

Worry Vs Anxiety

Similar to sadness, worry - if left untreated - can turn into anxiety. With worry, you often know the cause or trigger that creates this emotion; you could be worried about money, a loved one, work, or many other causes. What is important to highlight is that worry is caused by real-life events, whereas with anxiety, your mind creates these feelings. Therefore, feelings of worry tend to come and go depending on the current events in your life. As for anxiety, these feelings can be hard to remove, following you around and obstructing your daily routines.Suppose you are worried and want to know how to deal with it. In that case, a great mindset to adopt is that worry is actually a productive emotion that forces us into action rather than procrastination. However, if you are feeling anxious/worried and cannot determine a direct source, most likely, these feelings will be anxiety. This is another extremely common mental health problem, with another 3.8% of the global population suffering from anxiety disorders. The key symptoms of anxiety can be identified as:

• Feeling restless
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Muscle tension
• Sleep problems
• Heart palpitations
• Difficulty breathing
• Sense of dread

If you feel you are suffering from the above symptoms, it is essential to seek professional help. Anxiety can control a person's life, making them afraid to leave the house and socialise with others. This is not how anyone wants to live, and consulting the help of a therapist is a very routine treatment for those with anxiety. Remember, feelings of sadness and worry are normal. But, if you feel they are becoming more frequent, or you are unsure of the cause, you should seek help before they develop into more serious mental health problems. If you are interested in booking counselling for sadness or worry, please head to my website today. I offer over the phone and in-person appointments to best suit your needs; together, we can get to the root of your feelings.