Alone For the Holidays
By Scott Cunning
Relationship Survival offers tips for Surviving The Holidays When Your Relationship Is Over:
If your relationship is on the skids or is completely kaput - you are probably feeling extra vulnerable during the holiday season.
This time of year can be rough on a newly single person.
I think this is true for most singles, not just the newly. Recently-dumped folks may be more vulnerable to depression, but most of the singles I know get mopiest about it once the snow starts falling and all the local lite-rock stations switch to 24/7 Christmas music.
Regardless of who's at risk and when they broke up, however, RS offers some solid tips:
1. Do not isolate yourself. Self-imposed isolation is not only bordering on being a martyr - but it's not productive. Breaking up is hard enough, but during the holidays only amplifies things. Go out. Be around people. Your family. People you work with. Be kind to strangers:) Whatever! Just get out...
3. Stay true to your traditions. Don't stop your normal holiday routine just because one small part of the equation has been temporarily or permanently eliminated. That's what's great about life. It can be adjusted and manipulated to satisfy your new circumstances. Go buy the tree. Celebrate Chanukah. Or make your Kwanzaa gifts as usual.
Good stuff, plus more in the link, as usual.
I agree the biggest thing is #1--don't isolate yourself. Start planning now--if you have family, you have an obvious social outlet, but it's trickier to find non-related people to hang with over the holidays because most people will be spending time with their families. Being alone over the holidays is miserable, and compounded by any recent heartbreak.
The post brought to you by holidays and loneliness.
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