Millions of Americans suffer from depression. It’s important to know that you are not alone, especially on occasions like Valentine’s Day, when loneliness can really bring you down. Watching others happily in love can make you feel bad about yourself if you are not in a relationship and not feeling good about yourself. While loneliness can be heightened on occasions like this, it needs to be addressed and managed so that you can live your life free of depression every day. Learning how to deal with loneliness often requires professional behavioral health treatment.
To find out more about managing loneliness, isolation, and depression, call The Arbor Behavioral Healthcare at 844.413.2690 and learn about our depression treatment center in Texas.
Dealing With Loneliness on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day can be a trigger for those battling depression. This is especially true if the person does not have someone special to share the holiday with. It can remind you of the negatives in your life rather than celebrating the positives. So, how can you deal with loneliness on Valentine’s Day? We have a few suggestions below.
Celebrate with Friends and Family
Valentine’s Day does not have to be celebrated with a boyfriend, girlfriend, or serious significant other. Plan something with friends or family who are important in your life. Those who care about you will welcome the opportunity to support you on this day to combat your feelings of loneliness. Do something that brings you joy, and ask those you care about to join you.
Mindfulness
Taking time for yourself can take your mind off the traditional expectations of Valentine’s Day. Clearing your mind and focusing on the positive is a constructive way to spend your time and distract your mind from this Hallmark holiday. Take a yoga class, practice breathing exercises, get out in nature, or channel your creativity in art or journaling. This is a much better use of your time as opposed to dwelling on what you don’t have.
Get Off Social Media
What you see on social media is not always reality. People post what makes them feel good, and it can be an altered state of reality. Take what you see in your feed with a grain of salt, and better yet, give yourself a self-imposed break from scrolling these accounts. Remove the effects of seeing these unrealistic ideals and focus on yourself and your in-person connections with people that matter.
Depression Treatment in Texas
Major depression and loneliness should be managed effectively every day, not just on holidays like Valentine’s Day. It is a mental health disorder that should be treated seriously. It can be a lifelong condition that, if managed, can allow you to live a happy and full life without the constant weight of loneliness. Bouts of sadness may arise, but these can be overcome effectively with the right tools and learned techniques.
Depression treatment programs can be inpatient or outpatient, depending on the severity of the condition and the person’s individual needs. Therapeutic approaches can include:
- Psychotherapy – traditional talk therapies like individual, group, and family therapy.
- Support groups – peers helping peers can be an invaluable resource.
- Behavioral therapies – cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are commonly used to treat mental health and substance use disorders.
- Experiential therapies – alternative approaches like equine therapy, art therapy, and yoga can assist in combating depression and loneliness.
- Dual diagnosis treatment – when a co-occurring substance use disorder exists alongside depression, they should be addressed together.
A professional behavioral health treatment center like The Arbor can help determine the right combination of evidence-based therapies and holistic approaches to address mental health conditions like depression or any co-occurring substance use disorders.
Contact The Arbor to Deal with Isolation and Depression
While there is no cure for depression, it can be managed so that those affected can live a healthy, happy, and full life. Treating depression involves a combination of therapies, changes in lifestyle, and, in some cases, medication.
In addition to treating depression, mental health treatments at The Arbor include treating:
Call on the experienced treatment team at The Arbor’s idyllic campus in Georgetown, Texas, for more information on treating depression. Contact The Arbor online or at 844.413.2690 for more details.