How to deal with sadness

At Barnardo’s, we believe that talking about mental health and the things in our daily lives that can affect it is really important, and we want to help kick-start those conversations. In this blog, we look into how to deal with the feelings of low mood and sadness we all experience from time to time. 

It’s completely natural to feel low sometimes, particularly after the challenges we’ve all been faced with over the past year. However, if your low mood is affecting your daily life, and preventing you from doing things you’d normally do without a second thought, following these five Ts may help. 

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Talk and share 

Try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member, health professional or counsellor. This can help you come to terms with your feelings, get support, and also feel less alone.

Try mindfulness 

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. Mindfulness meditation involves sitting silently and paying attention to thoughts, sounds, the sensations of breathing or parts of the body, bringing your attention back whenever the mind starts to wander. 

Take time for you 

Find the things and activities which bring you joy, be that going for a walk, singing in the shower or playing a video game, and dedicate time to them.  

Treat yourself to a healthy lifestyle 

Choosing a well-balanced diet, getting enough sleep and exercising are all great ways to improve your general wellbeing, and boost your mood. 

Tell yourself something positive 

Boosting your self-esteem is a great way to tackle sadness, and to feel better about yourself. The best way to improve your self-esteem is to treat yourself as you'd treat a valued friend - in a positive but honest way.

The past year has been incredibly challenging for all of us. However, for the young people that Barnardo’s supports, the pandemic and its consequences have been especially difficult. Children and young people are more lonely, worried, sad and stressed than before lockdown. 

By hosting a charity live stream, and fundraising for the young people Barnardo’s supports, you can help us make sure that no child has to face mental health problems alone. 

Sadness and feelings of low mood can often be a consequence of grief. Grief can be overwhelming after you’ve been through trauma, but with the right support recovery can begin. We’ve put together seven things you need to know about grief, to help explain the process, as well as tips for coping with grief, loss and bereavement.