How do you, personally, treat sadness?

[Lucyan28]

This month I have tried to combat sadness away with joy and love, doing exercise, playing with my hobbies, hanging out with friends. But during nights when my defenses are gone I woke up in the middle of the night and all the sadness hit me like a nuclear bomb, I'm not able to sleep well anymore :(

So I realized I needed a different approach, I'm trying to understand this sadness and I'm allowing it to flow, but little by little.

[Belle]

I hate the middle of the night glums.

First I play. I'm an avid doll collector so either I play with my dolls or my pets. If that doesn't work then I get off my a- and I go find someplace to volunteer where people are a lot worse off than I am. That usually ends the pity party pretty quickly. We all feel sad sometimes. It a valid emotion and there are good reasons often to feel that way. But you can't let it swallow you whole and as bad you might feel, there's nearly always someone out there who needs your help who is probably worse off. The volunteering really helps. It helps me feel grateful for what I've got, not what I don't have...

[ocean breeze]

I like to sit alone in darkness. Something about darkness that is so calming, soothing, relaxing. Sometimes a poem comes out of my sadness.

[linen53]

I've had a lot of sadness in my life. When I was young it would engulf me. But as Ravenspirit points out, I've learned to allow myself to be sad for awhile and then it's time to pull myself out of it. I go and be with friends. I break my routine. I do something special for myself.

And finally, I realize sadness is all about me. Focusing inward. So I put on my big girl panties and have a firm talk with myself.

[JohnVajraUtah]

Use a mantra.

Om Mani Padme Hum

..will cut through not just the present state of sadness, but also its causes, and build new positive causes for future states, as well as activate your heart center and radiating compassionate energy.