Most people occasionally have days when they feel down, have the blues or feel sad. This is especially true when something goes wrong or we lose someone close to us. But, when you experience sadness for an extended period of time and it starts to disrupt your life, your work and your relationships, it can be a sign of a serious condition that requires professional assistance.
If one or more of these problems describes your situation, you may require professional help:
- Have a loss of appetite or experience weight fluctuations
- Lose interest in activities or hobbies
- Feel restless
- Sleep too much or have difficulty sleeping
- Are frequently fatigued
- Have difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Have feelings of hopelessness, guilt or worthlessness
Here’s an example of how sadness can negatively affect someone:
Amy’s best friend Patti died of cancer four months ago. Since that time, Amy has had trouble sleeping and has withdrawn from her friends and family. In fact she doesn’t come out of her house except to go to work. Those close to her are starting to worry about her. Even her work is starting to suffer. Over the past two weeks she has called out four times because she is unable to get out of bed. In addition, Amy doesn't have an appetite and has lost 10 pounds in the last month.
Excessive sadness has many causes. But it’s important to remember, you are not alone. The clinical staff at Belmont Behavioral Health can help you understand what you are going through and work with you to develop a plan to help get your life back.
When you need to talk to someone, turn to Belmont.
Call 1-800-220-HELP (4357) or (215) 456-8000 to get the help you need.
Get more information about the following behavioral health disorders:
Mood / Affective Disorder