Tag: sad

If you're a new empty nester, know that what you’re going through is a challenging transition. My heart goes out to you because I’ve been there. As parents, we need to honor the significance of the sacred task we spent the last two decades doing, and it is entirely appropriate that there would be some sorrow at its close. There will be a time of adjustment, and that period will be different for everyone. Here are five things you can expect as you adjust to the empty nest.

1. Fluctuating emotions. Intellectually, you can probably acknowledge that it was time for your kids to move beyond the nest.

Few of us live with a spouse who is a mind reader. Consequently, two people with differing mindsets will express their strong opinions paving the way for change and compromise. However, when anger is always present during a "discussion," did you know that anger could signal sadness? It is important to recognize and understand the difference. Anger can choke off communication. In addition, anger can disguise a lack of personal empowerment. On the other hand, sadness can indicate that it is time to independently climb that slippery slope of self-esteem and assume responsibility for personal happiness.

If you're depressed, stressed out, anxious, or fatigued, the cure might be right outside your door. New research from Holland shows that people who live near a park or wooded area experience less depression and anxiety. And a study from the UK found that a walk in the country reduces depression in 71 percent of participants. Scientists have long known that sunlight can ease depression—especially SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, in winter.

The holidays are here. It's a season of joy and celebration. It can also be a little crazy.

Black Friday has invaded Thanksgiving. The frantic hunt for perfect deals is underway. Holiday shopping has become a contact sport. You can feel the tension amid bright lights and the tinkling bells. We’re impatient, hurried, even frantic. As the traffic increases, so does our blood pressure.

Holidays are also stressful for another reason. They surface our losses like nothing else can. We're keenly aware of who's missing.

We have loved ones who can’t be with us this year. Some have died. Others are still here, but no longer remember. Some are chronically ill. Some are alone in ways they’ve never have been before.