How to Deal With Intense Emotions: A Therapist's Approach to Grief and Sadness?

When you feel really, really sad, it’s like having a storm inside your heart, and here's how to make it calm again.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite toy, and suddenly, it breaks. You feel really sad, maybe even cry. That's grief, it’s when we miss something or someone important, like a friend who went away or a pet who passed on.

When the storm inside you starts, take a deep breath and say, “I notice I’m feeling sad.” Just like how you check if your backpack is full before going to school. Naming your feelings helps them feel smaller.

Then, do something that makes you happy, maybe draw a picture, eat your favorite snack, or hug someone you love. It’s like giving the storm a big, warm blanket so it can sleep.

Sometimes, sadness feels too big to fit in one person. That’s okay! Talking about it with someone else, like a friend, a parent, or even a therapist, is like sharing your toy with someone else. Together, you can feel less sad and more understood.

Grief isn’t something you need to run from, it's just a storm that will pass, and you’ll be stronger when it does. When you feel really, really sad, it’s like having a storm inside your heart, and here's how to make it calm again.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite toy, and suddenly, it breaks. You feel really sad, maybe even cry. That's grief, it’s when we miss something or someone important, like a friend who went away or a pet who passed on.