9 tips to deal with loneliness this Valentine's Day

There is no reason for you to feel bad if you are single. Here are some tips to avoid being depressed on Valentine's Day.

Valentine s Day is a day most couples, greeting card companies and gift shops look forward to with bated breath. However, people who are single or haven t found love feel a little sad as they feel that they are missing out on some great experiences in life. The songs on TV, reports in newspapers and public displays of affection on Facebook, etc. only further aggravate this feeling. Most people who give in to depression on this day suffer from a loss of confidence and that can have an impact on their health and life. In this post, we ll discuss some strategies and paradigm shifts that will make you feel better.

1. Pretend like the day doesn t exist

These days, there s a day for everything and it is unlikely that you feel any different on World Alzheimer s Day. Why then should you give any mental space to Valentine s Day? If it isn t for you, then you shouldn t care about it.

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2. Gift yourself something

You are the only person you can t get rid of. Going by that logic, there s no one you should love more than yourself. So, use all your savings to buy something you really wanted. Give yourself some leeway and buy a watch that you find expensive, a chair that will make you feel comfortable for a long time or even a pair of dumbbells that ll help you get in better shape. Whatever it is, make sure that your own gift overpowers the impact that media has on Valentine s Day. If you think the day isn t important enough for you to spend anything at all, then you can try gifting yourself these cards.

3. Think about the positive side of being single

Even though being in a relationship is wonderful in its own way, it can cause several instances where you don t understand your partner and feel angry. Besides, there is always a constant pressure of showing affection, possibility of your expectations being ignored, etc. that can make you feel that you were happier when you were single. Remember, happiness is an attitude towards life and if you don t know how to be happy single, you wouldn t know how to be happy committed either.

4. Remember old flames

If you were in a relationship in the past, then you could reminisce about some of the highs and wonderful moments that you shared with your partner. As Dr Seuss would say, Don t cry because it s over, smile because it happened. If this method doesn t work and the bad aspects of your relationship, involuntarily come into your mind then it s best to ignore it.

5. Watch a series of romantic comedies

If you can t help but feel a little romantic, then you could consider watching a series of romantic comedies. If it s a good movie, then it will make you invest in the character and forget about your own life. A good movie will also make you go through a range of emotions in under 2 hours and if you watch 3-4, you ll be too exhausted emotionally to feel depressed.

6. Avoid going to restaurants, pubs, amusement parks and movie theatres

You may find many couples enjoying themselves at these places, and it will only aggravate your feeling of being alone. Therefore, it is best if you avoid these places. If at all you need distraction to go outside, go to a gym or a get a back massage done in a spa. You are unlikely to find couples at such places.

7. Get inspired!

A lot of people feel that the reason they are single is because they are too fat or too thin, then it is time you hit the gym and transform your body. Even though this notion isn t true as you can see people of all shapes and sizes romancing on Valentine s Day, it doesn t hurt to use it as motivation to get fit. People have done it before, and people will do it again. But, do you have the passion and the resolve to work hard to reach your goals? If not, then it is time you realise that things won t be presented to you on a platter. Also, there is no reason why you can t achieve something that others can. Read what women want in an ideal man.

8. Be in transit

Travelling can make even your birthday seem like a mundane day where survival is the priority. If you have some pending work in a different town, or need to meet a relative for social reasons, then you can do it on Valentine s Day.

9. Question the concept of love

Treating love as a scientific concept will give you a sense of realism that will suppress your sadness. People who feel they are happy in love are only experiencing dopamine released into their system, and people who feel sad while in love are only experiencing serotonin released into their system. The much publicised feeling of falling in love (or connecting to a person) is nothing but experiencing a rise in your adrenalin levels with someone else. Also, studies have found that relationships can make you fat and love can make you oversensitive. Read about what happens to your brain when you are in love.

Hopefully, these tips will make you feel better on Valentine s Day and any other day of the year if you are single. Unless you idolize romantic poets like Mirza Ghalib who wrote brilliantly about unrequited love, there is absolutely no reason for you to be sad.

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of depression.