Feelings of Sadness for No Reason

About the Symptom

Grief can be the reaction to the loss of someone or something that has already happened or will happen. It can feel like sadness or sorrow.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Numbness / sensory disorder
• Numbness of the body
• Abnormal sensation (tingling, prickling)
• Altered mental status (delirium)
• Fainting with loss of consciousness
• Recent weight loss
• Easy fatiguability
• Change in personality
• Difficulty breathing / breathlessness
• Suicidal thought
• Decrease in sleeping desire

Possible Causes

Generally, Feelings of sadness for no reason can be related to:

• Depression

  Depression is a mental illness that leads to low mood, reduced energy levels, and changes in sleep. This affects everyday activities like attending school and work. As the condition worsens, patients might have suicidal thoughts. Although stress and past trauma can cause depression, it can take time to identify and address causes, and genetic factors may also be at play.

• Migraine

  A type of headache that typically presents as throbbing, pulsating pain on one side of the head, sometimes with associated nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Sometimes, sensory disturbances, such as vision changes (seeing flashing lights or zigzag lines), can occur before the headache. The pain may worsen on exposure to bright lights or loud noise. Triggers for migraine include stress, poor sleep, caffeine, and hormonal changes in women.

• Adjustment Disorder

  A psychological disorder, often with low mood and anxiety. It is triggered by a sudden change in life circumstances, e.g. divorce or losing a job.

• Bipolar Disorder
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Dissociative Disorder
• Hyperventilation Syndrome / Panic Attacks
• Anxiety

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Feelings of sadness for no reason may be related to these serious diseases:

• Epilepsy

  Epilepsy is a neurological disorder where brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures of varying durations and severities. It can affect people of any age and may be caused by genetic disorders or brain injuries, such as stroke.

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Do you feel sad for no reason?

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