Sadness is an emotional state characterized by feelings of unhappiness and low mood. And although it’s considered one of the basic human emotions, people tend to hide their sad feelings. Sometimes, it’s the fear of coming across as emotional or vulnerable, other times your sad self doesn’t quite fit the profile you have on social media. So no wonder most of us tend to experience sad thoughts in solitude.

So to find out what an expert has to say on sadness and whether some of us are more prone to it than others, Bored Panda reached out to Dr. Lise Deguire, a clinical psychologist and the author of “Flashback Girl: Lessons on Resilience From a Burn Survivor” which has recently won two international awards.

“Occasional sadness is a normal part of life,” assured Lise. “Happiness and sadness are both normal feelings that naturally arise through life's inevitable ups and downs. When people are numb to their feelings, or try to avoid feelings altogether, they won't experience sadness, but they won't experience much happiness either.”

When asked whether some people are more prone to sadness than others, Lise confirmed that it’s true. “This can be partly genetic and partly due to negative life experiences. Mindset is also a factor.”

According to Lise, “People who tend to be pessimistic, who dwell on the future anxiously, and who ruminate negatively about the past can experience more sadness. However, these are cognitive bad habits that can really be helped by psychotherapy,” she concluded.