Everyone grieves in their own way, so do what feels right to you. Whether you’re trying to recover from a loss, breakup, change, or failure to reach a goal, acknowledging your loss can help you accept and work through it. Sadness can be hard to shake, but depending on your situation, these tips might help: Here’s a look at what each of these five categories involves. For example, a 2017 study suggests there are 27 categories of emotion.īut Ekman’s concept of five main types of emotion offers a good framework for breaking down the complexity of all the feels. Keep in mind that this is just one way of categorizing emotions.

This online interactive tool breaks down emotions into five main categories:

Paul Ekman, a psychologist and leading researcher on emotions, surveyed more than 100 scientists and used their input to develop what’s known as the Atlas of Emotions. You don’t have to navigate the process of identifying your emotions alone. Knowing how to name your emotions and talk about them - with both yourself and others - is a key part of developing emotional health. You can talk about your emotions with practice, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.Įmotions are an essential part of who you are, but they can be messy, complicated, and downright confusing at times.

What is another word for sad