Some Things to Do if You or Your Child is Experiencing Sadness

Sadness is a very normal reaction following trauma. You have sustained a loss. If nothing else, this experience has reminded you that nothing stays the same and that there are things you have no control over, things you cannot change. Sadness is a pain and emptiness inside. It will lessen in time. We never quite forget anyone close to us who dies. We never quite forget any type of loss. In time, however, it no longer occupies all our attention and energy. Sure it returns, but in returning gives us an opportunity to grow stronger and help refocus on what is important in our life.

How to Relieve Sadness

• If you or your child is experiencing sadness, give it time. Don’t try to push it away. Sad things happen. You have a right to your sadness. Give yourself permission to be sad.
• Know that in your sadness it is still okay to comfort yourself, to treat yourself with tenderness and to ask for the same from others.
• We can never replace the loss of a loved one, but we can go on and discover new people, new experiences and new meaning in our lives. As difficult as this sounds, sometimes the best we can do in our sadness is to do something for someone else. This may help you feel better about yourself and actually give you the strength and courage to, in time, to move past your sadness.

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