Man : Helpless (Sadness)

Sadness

Sadness is emotional pain  characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness and sorrow. These feelings are usually negative, often become less outspoken, less energetic, and emotionally influenced. 
Crying  is often, but not necessarily, an indication of sadness.

       a.  When sadness is triggered, 
      b. a heavy emptiness or longing is felt because 
      c. your brain's appraisal system determined the experienced of a lasting loss. 
      d. Waning for something that is unattainable or lost. 
Sadness is a painful emotion of disconnection from someone or something that you value or had wanted to value.

Effects

Sadness helps you to remember, rather than forget, what it is or was that you desired. It promotes a personal reflection following a loss that is important to you, and turns your attention inward in a way that can promote resignation and acceptance.

Thus, the emotion of sadness attempts to assist you by 
      i. giving you an opportunity to consider the impact of your loss and 
    ii. the necessity of revising your objectives and strategies for the future. 
One study found that sadness tends to decrease one's confidence in first impressions. Another found that the experience of sadness leads one to struggle with the painful, existential question of "Who am I?”  If sadness can help you to remember and accept reality, achieve insight that can realign your goals, alert you to be cautious before making decisions, and create an opportunity for you to observe yourself, then perhaps its adaptive purpose is evident: like all emotions, sadness, in spite of how it makes you feel, is simply trying to protect you.

a.   Physical Health

      Whether sad or angry, the depressed person experiences a rise in blood pressure and blood sugar due to the stress of the depression. His blood chemistry fall out of balance, which include his sodium and potassium. These disturbances lead to temporary and long term illness. 
   Fall prey to heart disease, dehydration and anorexia. Those with chronic ailments find their pain reaches higher levels. Additionally his sex drive decreases and he becomes prone to sleep problems. Digestion often slows, causing constipation, though some people experience diarrhea if their initial problems have their roots in stress.

                 i.     Feelings of Despair

You may feel that the future looks bleak and that you are helpless to change your situation. If you often find yourself thinking that nothing will ever get better, you may be clinically depressed.

                   ii.     Loss of Ability to Feel Pleasure

You may find that activities that you once enjoyed are no longer pleasurable for you. These activities include not only hobbies and interests, but also everyday activities, such as socializing, food and sex.

                 iii.    Irritability

If everything gets on your nerves or if you find yourself constantly angry, you may be experiencing a side effect of depression. A related symptom is extreme restlessness--the inability to sit still or remain in one place for long.

iv.   Fatigue

If you are depressed, you may feel physically drained and unable to complete simple tasks. You may find it almost impossible to exercise or work.

v. Thoughts of Death

Depressed people not only think of suicide quite often, that also tend to think of death in abstract ways much more often than other people. Even if you are not thinking about suicide, constant thoughts of death may indicate that you are depressed.

b.   Physical Appearance

The face lacks expression when a person becomes sad. She smiles less and the twinkle in her eye disappears. In the severely depressed, the voice becomes monotone, void of intonation and expression. She adopts a stooped posture and a slow gait with no buoyancy or enthusiasm. She may neglect her personal hygiene and appear disheveled. A blank gaze takes the place of eye contact with another.

i.     Change in Body Weight

If you are depressed, you may cut down on eating due to a loss of interest in food. Alternatively, you may find yourself overeating to compensate for negative feelings. If you have experienced a significant increase or decrease in weight recently for no apparent reason other than a spontaneous change in eating habits, you may be depressed.

ii.    Disrupted Sleeping Patterns

Depressed people may find themselves unable to sleep or waking at odd hours. On the other hand, many depressed people oversleep. Consistently awakening before dawn is strongly associated with depression.

iii.  Unexplained Bodily Pains

Depressed people often experience psychosomatic pains. Although these pains can occur anywhere on the body, the most common ailments are headaches, backaches, muscle aches and digestive problems. Be sure to rule out physical causes before concluding that your ailments are psychosomatic.

iv.  Low Self-Esteem

Feelings of self-loathing and self-contempt often accompany depression. The lack of ability to accomplish much along with negative changes in your lifestyle caused by depression can exacerbate these feelings.

v.   Difficulty Concentrating

If you are depressed, you will find it difficult to remember things or focus on a task--your mind will wander constantly. You will also find it difficult to make even simple decisions.

c.    Relationships

When a person suffers from depression, his family, friends and co-workers suffer as well. As he spirals down into sadness, loved ones' worry affects their own lives. The threat of suicide never leaves their minds as they find new ways to try to help. Guilt and self-doubt on the part of meaningful loved ones cause his support system to break down. Frustration sets in when the person that most needs their help shuns their suggestions. Medical and psychological intervention takes on a sense of urgency.

Is Sadness the Same as Depression?

Tears are a physical response to sadness. Eighteenth-century French writer and philosopher Voltaire once said, “Tears are the silent language of grief.” If you hold back tears, you are stifling your sadness.

Many people mistakenly think sadness and depression are the same. 
        i. Sadness is a normal emotion that everyone experiences. Sadness can be thought of as a mood
      ii. Depression is persistent sadness that is often accompanied by feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, and even worthlessness , a medical condition . If you feel you have crossed over into true depression, get professional help.

Sadness can be viewed as a temporary lowering of mood, whereas depression is characterized by a persistent and intense lowered mood, as well as disruption to one's ability to function in day to day matters. When sad we often go through a process called crying where we shed tears.

Studies have shown that when someone says they are angry or filled with hate that they are actually deeply sad or disappointed. Hate and anger are often ways emotionally disturbed individuals express sadness or disappointment. Due to an inability or refusal to express their true feelings of sadness and disappointment.

When Is Sadness a Problem?    

If the sad feelings go on for too long, it's called depression. Here are some of the signs and symptoms that can be seen with depression:

feeling anxious, "empty," or "numb" feeling hopeless, like there's nothing to look forward to feeling guilty or worthless feeling lonely or unloved losing interest in regular activities - things are not fun anymore having difficulty concentrating in school and when doing homework - sometimes grades fall having difficulty concentrating on other activities, like reading or watching TV - not remembering what a book or a TV show was about having bowel movements, headaches, stomach or chest pain, vomiting, dizziness

•  having less energy and feeling tired all the time •  sleeping too much or not enough •  not eating enough (smaller appetite) and weight loss, or eating too much (bigger appetite) and  weight gain •  thinking about death - or sometimes attempting suicide •  spending less time with friends and more time alone •  frequently crying, often for no obvious reason •  feeling irritable (every little thing gets on your nerves) •  feeling restless (being unable to sit still or relax) having physical complaints, such as dry mouth, dry skin, difficulty

Enriched Life

Normal sadness in a healthy way and to allow this emotion to enrich your life:

• Allow yourself to be sad.

Denying such feelings may force them underground, where they can do more damage with time. Cry if you feel like it. Notice if you feel relief after the tears stop.

• If you are feeling sad, plan a sadness day.

 

Plan a day or evening just to be alone, listen to melancholy music, and to observe your thoughts and feelings. Planning time to be unhappy can be actually feel good. It can help you ultimately move into a more happy mood.

• Think about the context of the sad feelings.

Are they related to a loss or an unhappy event? It's usually not as simple as discovering the "cause" of the sadness, but it may be possible to understand factors involved.

• Sadness can result from a change that you didn't expect, or it can signal the need for a change in your life.

Change is usually stressful, but it is necessary for growth.

• Know when sadness turns into depression.

Get help if this happens rather than getting stuck in it.

·        Bounce back from disappointments or failures.

When things don't go your way, don't give up! Stay in the game. There's always next time. Give yourself credit for trying. Then focus on what you need to work on and try again. Keep a positive attitude.

·        Think positive.

Even if you're sad, think of one or two good things about yourself or your situation. Believe in yourself. Think about what you can do and how things can get better. If you didn't get something you wanted, think of something else that can make you happy. There's always something good — look for it!

·        Think of solutions.

Coming up with ways to solve a problem or cope with a situation can help you feel strong, confident, and good about yourself. It's hard to stay sad when you're feeling so capable!

·        Get support.

Even the most capable kids need support. The people in your life who believe in you and care (like parents, friends, and teachers) can comfort you when you feel sad. Sometimes, just listening and understanding what you're going through is enough. Sometimes they can help you work out a problem or help you think of happier things to get your mind off sadness or disappointment.

·        Put yourself in a good mood.

Shake off a sad mood by doing things that put you in a more positive mood. Play a game or sport, ride a bike, dance or run, take a walk, make art or music, read, or spend time with someone you like. Relax, have some fun, and feel better.

Learning to deal with sad feelings takes practice. But when you do things to take care of sadness, you make room for more positive feelings. That means a happier you!

Excerpt and extract with thanks from:
Leonard Holmes

Carol Eustice
Marcia Purse

http: //www.livestrong.com/article/132078-define-sadness

Wikipedia