Over the past few weeks, we have tried to talk about many of the challenges surrounding the festive period. It can be a hard time for anyone, at any stage of their life. We can all experience different things in life which can add to these challenges and make it a far less enjoyable time.
In this blog, we are going to be discussing loneliness and grief during the festive season and offering some helpful information.
The Festive Season can be a harsh reminder of those who are no longer a part of our lives for whatever reason that may be. We won’t go into every reason that someone may no longer be a part of your life as we know that can be a triggering experience to read through, however, we shall offer some information that may be of use over the coming days.
Loneliness is something that can be felt in many different ways over this time...
With things now like social media, we may see images of people spending time with one another and having a good time, and longing for a similar experience. This can negatively affect our mental health and worsen our mental health during this time.
Or perhaps even if you have lots of people around you, you can still feel lonely especially if you feel like you must hide a part of you around these people.
If you are experiencing a mental or physical health problem, it can often make it harder to want to get involved in celebrations or you may even feel like you can’t join in.
“My anxiety and depression isolate me from people and stop me from being able to do the things I'd like to do. So socially it cuts me off.”
Here are some tips and suggestions, you may be able to take forward with you…
Something that can be so important when helping yourself to feel less impacted by feelings of loneliness is learning more about feeling comfortable in your own company.
When we feel lonely, it can be hard to feel motivated to go out and do things that are often associated with a group activity. However, there is nothing wrong with doing things alone.
Personally, something I have enjoyed a lot is going to the cinema alone! It's
nice being able to choose a film without worrying if the other people you’re going with are enjoying the film too. But you could also do things like going for walks, learning arts and crafts, or even going on trips around local sights and attractions.
Reaching out…
When we feel lonely it can be hard to reach out and take that first step and talk to someone, especially if it might be a new person or someone we have not talked to in a while.
But there are lots of different ways you could make new connections such as…
Joining online communities such as Side by Side -> https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/side-by-side-our-online-community/
Getting involved with local groups. Perhaps you’ve got an interest in learning a new hobby, you could join a class and meet people with a shared interest.
If you may have difficulty talking to people in person, meeting people online through activities such as gaming can be a fantastic resource.
Try not to compare yourself to others…
It can be so easy to see other people and wish for what they have in all aspects of life, and this goes for loneliness too. We might see photos or videos of people going out with others and having a great time, and this could further add to any feelings of loneliness. However, it is important that those images are just that, an image. And just because they might be presenting this perfect thing, the reality may be very different.
If you are struggling with feelings of loneliness over this festive period and it is having a negative impact on your mental health, please remember that you are not alone. There is help available.
Here is some information…
NHS: Call 111, select Option 2
Samaritans: Call 116 123
Shout: Text 85258 with the word ‘SHOUT’
Calm: Call 080058 58 58
Combat Stress: 0800 1381 619
You can also find urgent support here ->
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