Hearts & Hurts: Coping with Valentine’s Day Blues
Valentine’s Day is a day of love, affection, and romance. This once-a-year holiday, filled with chocolate candies, red roses, and heart shaped novelty items provides a “Hallmark” opportunity to give and receive love. However, Valentine’s Day does not hold the same level of fondness for everyone. Whether you are grieving, experiencing difficulties in your relationship, struggling with loneliness, feeling pressured to express love in a specific or commercialized way, or comparing yourself to others on social media, Valentine’s Day can trigger uncomfortable feelings and make for a hard day. If any of these experiences resonate, there are plenty of ways to take care of yourself through Valentine’s Day.
Spend time with people who you care about and make you feel cared for, and plan this in advance!
To combat feelings of loneliness, isolation, grief, anxiety, or inadequacy surround yourself with those who are important to you, even if these relationships aren’t romantic in nature.
Stay off social media.
Social media can create unrealistic expectations of relationships and is only a small snapshot into people’s lives and relationships. Avoid the content to avoid comparing yourself and your relationships.
Volunteer your time and show love to those who also need it.
Volunteering at a local animal shelter, nursing home, or hospital can give you the opportunity to show compassion and warmth to others. This is also an opportunity for a healthy distraction and will likely make you feel good about yourself too!
Avoid substance use, lean into healthy habits instead.
Using alcohol, marijuana, or other substances can be very tempting when wanting to numb emotions. While substances may provide short-term relief from uncomfortable feelings, the long-term consequences of substance use do more harm than good. Lean into a healthier coping skill instead. Try exercising, engaging in a hobby, or spending time with others.
Be your own valentine and show yourself some love.
Valentine’s Day can be a hard day, show yourself some compassion. Meet your own pain with love, you deserve it. Speak kindly to yourself as you would to a friend, make yourself a nice meal, or anything that takes care of your body and soul.
