Title: Loneliness: How to Cope During the Holiday Season
Headings: Loneliness and the Holidays
Loneliness and the Holidays
Dealing With Loneliness During the Holiday Season
Be Good to Yourself
Understand That You’re Not Alone
Rethink Your Expectations
Get Connected
Cultivate Gratitude
Give to Others
Examine Your Feelings
Get Advice From The Verywell Mind Podcast
A Word From Verywell

Content: Loneliness: How to Cope During the Holiday Season
Stress Management
Situational Stress
Loneliness and the Holidays
Dealing With Loneliness During the Holiday Season
By
Elizabeth Scott, MS
twitter
Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of "8 Keys to Stress Management." Learn about our editorial process
Elizabeth Scott, MS
Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD on November 12, 2019
facebook
twitter
linkedin
Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments. Learn about our Review Board
Carly Snyder, MD
Updated on December 09, 2020
digitalskillet / Getty Images
Table of Contents
View All
Table of Contents
Be Good to Yourself
Understand You’re Not Alone
Rethink Your Expectations
Get Connected
Cultivate Gratitude
Give to Others
Examine Your Feelings
The holiday season is generally thought of as a time of joy and love, but for many people, it’s a time of loneliness. Some people live far from family and miss seeing their loved ones this time of year; others dread going to holiday parties and New Year’s Eve celebrations and end up staying home. Even those with an abundance of friends and family nearby may feel more lonely this year with restrictions on travel and gatherings due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also common for people to feel emotional distance from the people they’re with, which can result in feeling lonely even when in a room full of people. For those who feel a sense of loneliness, holidays can be a time of additional stress, even those like Valentine's Day or even Independence Day. 1 ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ The following suggestions can help.