Navigating Loneliness During the Holidays

"Loneliness is a universal human experience. We are living in a loneliness epidemic. Loneliness isn't the problem. It's the meaning we make and the story we tell ourselves about it. Loneliness happens for a no-fault reason. It is there to help us honor what we are missing or grieving. Taking action means both fact-checking automatic statements and finding small ways to reconnect with others."

"But in fact, for millions of people, the reflective pause of the holidays opens up a space for something very different: feelings of loneliness and isolation. Especially as we are living through a loneliness epidemic, this time of year can amplify feelings of being on the outskirts of humanity, closed off from the experience of the holidays or even just what normal should be."

"We aren't lonely because we are different or aren't worthy of connection or love. No, we feel lonely simply because we are human. All of us have seasons of winning the connection lottery, and other seasons where we feel bereft of the contact we cravewhether we are with others or not. Loneliness can turn a switch off in us; we can lose perspective and interpret our feelings as a verdict about ourselves globally and permanently,"

Loneliness is a universal human experience that signals missing connection or grief and can occur without fault. The prevalence of loneliness has reached epidemic levels, and holiday periods can magnify its impact by opening reflective spaces that contrast with perceived communal joy. The feeling itself is normal and transient; the harmful element arises from interpreting loneliness as a permanent verdict about personal worth. Small, concrete actions can reduce suffering: fact-checking automatic negative thoughts and seeking manageable reconnections with others. Recognizing loneliness as meaningful information rather than identity supports coping and reduces isolation.

Read at www.psychologytoday.com