I Feel Low

Understanding Feeling Low and Sadness

It’s perfectly natural to experience feeling low, sad, or fed-up sometimes. Our mood can go up and down for all kinds of reasons. And usually, these feelings pass in due course.

Sometimes, it’s easy to understand why you’re feeling low or questioning “why am I sad?”, especially if you have recently gone through a particularly sad experience. For example, you might be experiencing grief because of bereavement, maybe you’ve lost your job or you’re living with a long term condition. However, at other times, there might not be an obvious reason as to why you find yourself thinking “I am sad” or asking, “why do I feel sad for no reason?”

Getting support may seem daunting, but working with qualified therapists from NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies can help you understand why you often think “I feel sad” and work with you to build coping mechanisms to prevent low mood and sadness from impacting your daily life.

Why Am I Sad and What Causes Low Mood?

Everyone’s mood can go up and down; that’s to be expected. And low mood can affect us all in very different ways.

There are a lot of things that can result in you feeling low, and the  experience differs from person to person.

You might be feeling sad because of a significant life event, like moving away from family, dealing with other mental health conditions or the breakdown of a relationship.

Help is available if you are dealing with sadness that has lasted for more than two weeks and is impacting your daily life. For example, if you are struggling to go to work, socialise with family and friends, or finding it difficult to do things you once enjoyed, you may be experiencing low mood.

Feeling low can be caused by:

Significant Life Events

Past Experiences

Mental health problems

Physical health problems

At NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, we understand that constantly asking yourself “why do I feel sad for no reason?” can be exhausting.

What are the Symptoms of Feeling Low?

When someone is experiencing symptoms of low mood, they may stop doing the activities they enjoy, distance themselves from loved ones, or have difficulty sleeping.

Some typical feeling low symptoms, or signs that you may have had a low mood for over two weeks, could include:

Feeling Down

Frustration or Anger

Sleeping Issues

Appetite Changes

Suicidal Thoughts

Anti Social

Without treatment and support, continued low mood can have a negative impact on your relationships, work, finances, and overall health, so it is important to seek help for prolonged feelings of sadness low mood.

Understanding low mood and sadness

Low mood and sadness are closely linked.

Sadness is a primary trigger for general low mood. Even though it is a specific, normal emotional reaction to experiencing a difficult event, like loss or change, wondering “why do I feel sad for no reason?” could be a sign that your sadness is having a wider impact on your daily life.

Low mood is a broader and often longer-lasting state where your sadness spreads into everyday feelings of unhappiness, low energy or a lack of enjoyment. If it is leaving you feeling anxious about what comes next or exhausted with worry, getting support could be beneficial to help you handle your thoughts and feelings.

Sadness and low mood can affect people of all ages. At NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, we provide support for everyone. From dealing with men’s mental health to handling women’s mental health conditions and providing mental health support for older adults in partnership with Age UK, working with a qualified therapist can help change your outlook on life.

Why do I feel sad for no reason?

It can be difficult to understand why you feel sad for extended periods of time, especially if it is impacting your daily life and preventing you from doing things you enjoy.

Often, feeling sad for no reason is a result of hidden physical or mental factors, like stress, not getting enough sleep or hormonal shifts.

Some ways you can deal with sadness that has no clear trigger include accepting your emotions without judgement, making sure you eat a good diet and get enough sleep, and engage in gentle physical movement or a comforting, familiar routine.

Asking yourself “why do I feel sad for no reason?” could also be a result of other mental health conditions, especially if you are feeling anxious about your daily life, stressed about something at work or overwhelmed because you are preparing for or going through a big life event.

Talking about how you feel can seem daunting, but getting support is the first step to dealing with your sadness and low mood. Talking therapies can help you understand your emotions and build coping strategies to make dealing with your symptoms easier.

What Support is Available if I Am Sad?

Luckily, there are ways to overcome feeling low, so you don’t have to continue feeling the way you are. It’s important to seek help for low mood if you have been feeling down for a while. Reaching out for support can also provide help with loneliness if you’re experiencing isolation alongside your low mood.

At NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, we offer a range of talking therapies to help you if you are dealing with sadness and low mood. We know that constantly wondering “why do I feel sad for no reason?” can become exhausting, and we are here to get you through it.

Getting support is simple. You can complete a self-referral or call us on 0333 091 0414. We also accept GP/professional referrals.

Contact one our local service providers, who will work with you to find the right support service for you. Find out more about each of the talking therapy services we currently provide across Kent and Medway.