Managing Loneliness During Easter

Easter is in one week. Many of us are under shelter at home orders that restricts us from leaving our houses. Being stuck at home is hard. It’s even harder with an upcoming holiday. Are you wondering what you can do for Easter?

For many people, Easter is a time to get together with loved ones. This year you may not be able to do that. Loneliness during the holidays leaves us vulnerable to increased feelings of sadness and anxiety. It is important that you first tune into what you are feeling. It is also important that you recognize your feelings are valid. Oftentimes, when we are faced with feelings of sadness, worry, and loneliness, we start feeling guilty for having those feelings. Your feelings are valid. There is no shame in how you are feeling. These feelings are perfectly normal and also perfectly understandable given the current situation in our country. To compound these feelings, many people are feeling an increase amount of anxiety related to COVID19 and the potential consequences of this pandemic.

What does this mean for you? If you are one of the many people that will be alone this Easter holiday, first remember that what you are feeling is very normal. Second, if you are experiencing feelings of anxiety and/or depression, there are tried and true methods you can implement on a daily basis to help manage this. These include: mindfulness, exercise, quality sleep, balanced nutrition, thinking shifts (such as focusing on positives), staying connected, and talking to a licensed professional.

One of the most helpful ways to manage depression and anxiety is through social support. This seems counter-intuitive as we talk about the importance of physically distancing ourselves from others. It’s also difficult when you may be facing the Easter holiday alone which could very well cause you to feel more depressed or anxious. So what can you do? How can you stay connected during this holiday? Here are some ideas:

• Set up a time to call your family during Easter. You can get really creative with what you want to do on the call to engage family and friends. You may even consider sharing a meal virtually with these people.
• Video conference with your friends/family.
• Find a church that is streaming online if you are an avid church goer.
• Create an Easter meal for yourself and reminisce about past Easters as you enjoy your meal.
• Have an indoor Easter egg hunt for kids in your household.
• Make Easter crafts with those in your household.
• Send Easter cards to your friends and family.
• If you have elderly or high risk family members in the area, set up a time to drop off Easter supplies for them. Feel free to cook them food, and then deliver it to them on Easter Sunday. (Please take precautions when doing this so as not to potentially expose them to COVID19).
• Remember this is only temporary, and we are all doing our part to flatten the curve.

If you are experiencing feelings of depression and anxiety, please reach out. Mental health counselors are prepared to help you deal with these uncertain times. For information on how to find therapists in your area, contact your local government service center.