Are You Feeling Lonely This Holiday Season?

The holiday season can be really exciting and it can be really overwhelming. The idea of seeing friends and family can be heart warming and it can be anxiety provoking. All of these feelings and experiences are natural and often to be expected. For many the holiday season is joyful, for many it is not and for most it is somewhere in between and a mixture of all of the above. If you are struggling this holiday season and feeling lonely, you aren’t alone.

What Contributes to Holiday Loneliness?

There are many things that can cause you to feel lonely on an average day, during the holiday season it can seem more intense. We are surrounded by images of happy families and groups. If you are feeling alone these images and expectations can magnify how you are feeling.

If you are away from your support system it can make the holidays more difficult. Perhaps you have recently moved or are away for work, maybe even deployed. This can lead to feeling alone, particularly around the holidays.

There are times where we feel isolated from others and if this happens around the holidays it can feel exponentially worse. This can be a particularly trying time for those in recovery from addiction. If you have been changing the people you surround yourself with you may be in a season of finding new supports and connections making the holiday season all the more challenging.

What Can You Do?

Many of us try to “fake it” which often only makes us feel worse. When we deny how we are really feeling and put “on a face” it can actually make us feel our feelings more intensely. It can lead to negative thinking and self-talk surrounding why you don’t feel as happy as you are pretending to be. You can get stuck in a loop of “what is wrong with me”, “what do I have to be depressed about” and “why can’t I just be happy”.

Being authentic and identifying how you are feeling is important. Counseling can provide a space for you to explore your feelings and find more effective ways to cope. You can address the source of your loneliness and find healthier supports. Therapy can help you to break free from loneliness every day, not just during the holidays.

Carolina Counseling Services in Fayetteville, NC contracts with licensed therapists who can help. In person sessions are available as well as online counseling sessions. Working with a therapist online can help you to get the treatment you need without all the hassle of going into an office. Call today to schedule your first appointment.

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