If you're planning or about to spend the holidays alone, here are some suggestions on how to avoid feeling lonely. By the way as one of my main focus of my blog is around grieving - I might have a look at the article I wrote beginning of December "
Managing Bereavement during the Holidays"
The holiday season is usually full of happiness, love, and people coming together, but this is not the case for everyone. Whether you're alone choice or due to circumstances such as being geographically or emotionally distanced from family and friends, there are ways to cope with being alone during the holidays.
Feeling lonely, sad or uninspired is normal, particularly if this situation is new for you or if you're dealing with loss. However, it might be beneficial to find ways to lighten your mood and make the holidays easier to get through.
Adjust your expectations
Television, movies, and social media often portray a perfect holiday season, which can make you feel like you're not living up to those standards when you're alone. However, there's no set way to celebrate the holidays.
Consider the many different ways people around the world celebrate this time of year. Not all cultural celebrations involve family gatherings, gift-giving, or other common practices.
Shifting your perspective on the holiday season might help reduce your emotional stress. Instead of focusing on how things should be, consider the season for what it is. What if you viewed it as a chance to have a new experience or adventure?
This doesn't mean you have to pretend to be festive if you're not feeling up to it. But you could see it as a time to do what you need right now. For instance, if you're going through a hard time, consider the holidays as a period for self-care and recovery.
If you're away from loved ones due to travel or relocation, you could view it as the year you did something different and maybe immerse yourself in local traditions or activities. Take this time to see the holidays as a temporary new experience. They don't have to have a specific meaning.
Get creative
Decorating, baking or doing holiday crafts can help you get into the spirit of the season, but they aren't the only ways to be creative during the holidays. - When you're alone, you might not feel like taking part in typical holiday activities. Instead of dwelling on what you're not doing with loved ones this year, consider using your imagination to start new traditions.
This could include a variety of activities, such as:
- making a meaningful tribute to loved ones who are no longer with you
- watching a Christmas movie every year, either by yourself or with others
- volunteering at a local shelter
- performing a cleansing and good luck ritual at home
- completing a themed puzzle
- doing something not related to the holidays, like a horror movie or 'Die Hard' , SOA, Peaky Blinder ... marathon,
- Allow yourself to create a new tradition, however wild or tame that might be.
Connect with others
Even if you can't be around your usual people during the holidays, you can still try and connect with others. Reach out to people you know, even if they are in different towns or cities.
Some ways to connect could include:
- Making a phone call to an old friend
- Hosting an online game night with distant loved ones
- Introducing yourself to a new neighbor
- Having a chat with the cashier at the grocery store
- Setting up a virtual family reunion on Zoom
- Attending a local event
Treat yourself
The holidays are usually about giving, but remember to give to yourself too. What this looks like is entirely up to you.
This could mean buying something you've been wanting, visiting places you haven't had time to see, or indulging in your favorite dessert. It could also mean taking a break, spending time in a place you love, or trying out a new hobby.
No matter what you pick, doing things that make you happy can help improve your mood and give you a new perspective on the holiday season.
Allow yourself to feel
Not every moment will be filled with happiness and cheer when you're on your own during the holidays - and that's okay. Don't worry about how you should feel. Just be ready to accept whatever you do feel.
By allowing yourself to experience a range of emotions, even the less pleasant ones, you are participating in a healing process that the holidays can provide.
Spending the holidays alone could provide the space you need to freely express your feelings.
Seek out professional help if needed
Even with all these efforts, spending the holidays alone can still be challenging. If you're having a tough time coping during the holiday season, or if your feelings of sadness or loneliness are growing, you may want to consider reaching out to a mental health professional.
If you're feeling persistently lonely or sad, this could mean that you could use some extra help. A therapist or mental health professional can provide that for you.
Feeling lonely for a long time can often be a symptom of conditions like anxiety or depression. A professional can identify if you're dealing with these or other conditions.
They can offer resources and suggest strategies to help you manage, as well as create a treatment plan designed specifically for you.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, or you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week in the USA.
If you are from UK - Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours - Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19 - If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to
Childline.
In this Context ... The WHO declares loneliness a ‘global public health concern’
The World Health Organization and many countries have launched commissions on loneliness.
Prevalence of loneliness among older adults in Germany - Overall, 8.3% of the population 50 years of age and older feel lonely. The findings showed no differences between different age groups over 50 years of age, nor are there gender or educational differences.
If you are older and feel lonely - check Silbernetz out. Silbernetz offers older people who feel lonely help throughout Germany. It offers three types of services to signpost ways out of isolation:
On the Silbertelefon
0800 4 70 80 90 in order to simply have a chat when needed, with Silbernetz-Friends who call ’their’ older persons regularly at a specific time agreed and accompany them as they take their first steps out of isolation as well as with Silberinfo, which provides information on services for older people. Silbernetz is a non-profit association.
Silbernetz.org
Further Help in Germany ... Deutschland ...
Hilfe - Rufnummern und Websites
Sozialpsychiatrische Dienste
Die Sozialpsychiatrischen Dienste unterstützen in der ambulanten Versorgung und Hilfe von Menschen mit chronischen psychischen Störungen. Sowohl Betroffene als auch Angehörige können sich beraten lassen. Die Psychiatrischen Dienste sind lokal organisiert und am besten durch eine Eingabe über eine Suchmaschine wie
google.com mit den Suchbegriffe:
- Sozialpsychiatrischer Dienst
- eigenen Wohnort
SeeleFon/Bundesverband der Angehörigen psychisch erkrankter Menschen e.V. (BApK)
Bundesweite Telefon- und Mail-Beratung für Angehörige von psychisch erkrankten Menschen. Die beratenden Personen, die selber Angehörige sind, können aus eigener Erfahrung viele nützliche Hilfestellungen geben und wissen, wie wichtig es ist, verständnisvoll zuzuhören.
Telefon: 0228 71002424
Telefonseelsorge, bundeseinheitliche Nummern
Die Telefonseelsorge bietet kostenfreie Beratung per Telefon, Mail, Chat oder vor Ort. Sie ist für jeden da, für alte und junge Menschen, Berufstätige, Nicht-Berufstätige, Auszubildende, Rentner, für Menschen jeder Glaubensgemeinschaft und natürlich auch Menschen ohne Kirchenzugehörigkeit. Die Gespräche sind anonym und die Mitarbeiter*innen rund um die Uhr erreichbar.
Telefon. 116 123
http://www.telefonseelsorge.de/
Evangelisch.: 0800 111 0 111
Katholisch: 0800 111 0 222
Nummer gegen Kummer für Kinder und Jugendliche und Eltern
Nummer gegen Kummer e.V. hat sich zum Ziel gesetzt, Kindern, Jugendlichen und Eltern ein kompetenter Ansprechpartner zu sein bei kleinen und großen Sorgen, Problemen und Ängsten.
Telefon Beratung für Kinder und Jugendliche: 116 111
Elterntelefon: 0800 111 0 550
Comments are welcome - even I will not publish comments, for good reasons. I will read them for sure, and perhaps use the input, replying if needed. Thx all the best.
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