Connection can happen in big and little ways
As sparkly tinsel line up the streets and the echo of Christmas classics follow you down each shopping aisle, some of us experience a pain that often grows around this time of year.?
Christmas and the New Year period can be an emotionally loaded time.?
When social connections are spotlighted, Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman says it can amplify the feeling of loneliness.?
“There are so many expectations and pressures about having ‘the perfect Christmas’, and it’s a time that can bring greater financial pressures and place strain on relationships,” Harman tells Women’s Agenda.
“For people experiencing loneliness it can be an especially hard time because Christmas magnifies your sense of being isolated. It can feel as though everyone has a full social calendar and you’re being left on your own.?
“This can be really painful and can affect how you feel about yourself.”
What is loneliness??
Loneliness is described as the feeling of wanting greater social connection than what you have.?
It’s something we can all experience even when surrounded by people.?
“It’s a very normal emotion, but it can also be an awful feeling, a physical ache,” Harman says.?
That’s why it should not be left unchecked because this can lead to other mental health issues.?
“Connection is a foundational building block for mental health, and put simply, we cannot be mentally healthy while we’re experiencing loneliness,” she says.?
Don’t let it snowball?
If you’re already aware that loneliness is something you might experience this festive season, it can help to create a plan so you know how to respond when it creeps in.
While advice about loneliness often centres around creating new connections, it’s a difficult time of year to make it happen.?
Instead, Harman suggests focusing on deepening your existing connections that bring you joy.
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And don’t underestimate the positive impact of micro interactions like a quick greeting to a neighbour or saying hello to the barista.?
Research shows these smaller day-to-day connections can create a sense of connection while easing the feeling of loneliness.?
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Serena Williams was all of us in this moment, when she continued to do business while sprawled out on the table with her eyes closed from exhaustion.?
“I was so tired and this was the best I could do,” she said in the caption.
“Some days, your best may not look as pretty as other days.”