Valentines Day Blues: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Coping Techniques

Whether you’re stressed out about your current relationship status or are coping with the passing of a loved one, there are ways to help take care of yourself during during the Valentines Period.  Read on for some simple tips based upon Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques…The warning signs of holiday-related stress can be hard to spot, but recognizing them can help keep you well as the day looms and after it passes. Feeling emotionally weighted, suffering a lack of appetite, harbouring a sense of apathy, sleeping much more or much less than usual, and feeling disinterested in your usual favourite activities can all be indicators to take some extra care of yourself.An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Reducing or working with your triggers for stress can assist in keeping you grounded when the sticky-sweet celebrations begin to sweep you off of your feet, and help guard against more serious problems such as Depression.

Valentines Day Blues Triggers:

Some triggers can be: being unable to spend time with your partner due to work or other obligations, feeling a societal obligation to having someone to spend the day with, financial woes impeding plans, or even simply reflecting on past relationships.

Remember that everyone is different – what makes one person sad or stressed may not have the same effect on someone else.

Tips For Preventing Valentines Day Blues:

1. Self-Appreciation
If the celebration of the holiday all around is what has you down, spend the day doting upon yourself. Cook your favourite meal, spend time at a place you’ve always wanted to visit; try something new, or cosy up with something familiar and comfortable. Your self-worth can be determined by you, not by who you’re with..

2. Platonic Relationships
Craving closeness around this romantic holiday is nothing to be ashamed of. However, the love you celebrate does not have to be romantic! Prioritise spending time with friends or family rather than worrying about finding a date. Sometimes we just need a little support to keep our heads on straight!

3. Plan Ahead
Having love to share doesn’t always mean having the time to share it. If you and your partner are too busy to dedicate the day to one another, plan on your next available day to be your special Valentine’s Day. The point is not always to buy into the campy customs, but to express appreciation.

Getting Help:

If the Valentines Day Blues have already sunk in try out these ideas and see how you get on.  However, if you are concerned about more serious problems around your relationships you may also look into local support groups, such as Sex and Love Addicts Annonymous or a Therapy Professional such as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist.

For example our London Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Clinic can offer effective help for relationship difficulties and can give you an appointment within 48 hours, as can our CBT clinics in Cardiff, Bristol and other UK locations.  The hope, though, is to catch the indicators before you start to feel the heavy toll.

However you cope, be sure to take care of yourself.  If you have any other great tips for coping on Valentine’s Day, please let us know in the comments below! Or if you’re looking for professional help Contact Us today.