Yes, those tough days come. A negative work evaluation, a missed promotion, a friend who doesn’t reciprocate our friendship as we hoped, a failed relationship, or an impolite customer who blames us for their dissatisfaction with a product. Frustration with our own performance. It’s hard enough to cope with these challenges, but on top of that, we may also have to deal with the loss of a loved one. Imagine if your beloved aunt, whom you feel closer to than your own mother, were to pass away. Or if your loyal companion, your faithful dog who has been by your side since he was just a 10-year-old puppy, was suffering so much that the difficult decision had to be made to put him to sleep. Yes, my friend, these days come, and they will continue to come.
Sadness is a normal human emotion that can be a healthy response to a difficult or challenging situation. It can be intense at times, but usually fades over time as the person processes their emotions and begins to adapt to the new reality. Depression, on the other hand, is a more serious and persistent condition that can develop over time and may not necessarily have a clear trigger or cause, a period of time characterized by low and depressed mood, low energy, and low motivation.
If sadness persists for an extended period of time, it may be a sign of depression. A diagnosis of depression is typically made when symptoms persist for at least two weeks and interfere with a person’s ability to perform their simple daily life activities.
It is important to seek professional help if you are experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or any other symptoms of depression, as early intervention and treatment can be highly effective in controlling the condition.
Excluding a condition of depression, there is another side to these difficult moments: within these periods of low, there may be a window of opportunity for an internal investigation.
Personally, I notice that I become much more sensitive to bodily experiences, perhaps yoga has contributed to this. I feel slower, and more contemplative of sounds and touches. The wind is perceived with more delicacy on my face, I blink more slowly. It’s not necessarily good or bad, it’s just about noticing the body is more sensitive, and slower. My suspicion is that we stop, and slow down, in an attempt to digest the emotions of what is presented to us.
For me, as a more restless person, these moments are like gold, even if they are often uncomfortable and painful.
Another point is the reflections that these moments provide. It’s as if a temporary direct channel opens up some place inside us. I notice that well-formulated questions can generate answers that were not even investigated before.
Perhaps not everyone, but many of us when we withdraw, we are more sensitive to our internal listening.
Notice that I’m talking about a place that doesn’t pass through anger, revenge or other feeling directed out. I am referring to periods of sadness and loneliness, where many of us try to be more withdrawn, these are moments of greater isolation. There are those who do not allow themselves to live this experience, many try to avoid it at all costs as if the main objective was to avoid pain at all costs, even knowing that this is impossible.
I leave here an invitation to authorize ourselves to breathe in this space. Allow ourselves to understand, feel and listen to these moments. Realizing this uncertain space within us, without an answer, but which is still only ours.
In the next post, I’ll explain how I usually deal with these difficult and valuable moments within this crazy and unpredictable human experience.