<\/a>Kenya Johnson
\n<\/strong>Staff Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Holidays can be the most dreaded times of the year for those who are not in relationships.<\/p>\n

Assorted chocolates, gigantic teddy bears, flowers and balloons are just a few of the Valentine\u2019s Day staples that are filling shelves at all of the stores.\u00a0 Local restaurants are also advertising specials for couples to celebrate the day of love with bae.\u00a0 You can\u2019t even log on to social media without people shoving their relationship status down your throat.<\/p>\n

According to Psychology Today, humans need connection to others in order to thrive and be happy. So when Valentine\u2019s Day comes around and triggers feeling of loneliness and disconnection, it can signal the need for the individual to focus on emotional healing.<\/p>\n

In the Psychology Today report, Dr. Laura S. Brown, a professor of psychology at Argosy University\/Seattle gave tips on how to handle depression and other emotional health issues during the week leading up to Valentine\u2019s Day:<\/p>\n

1. Do not define yourself by your relationship status. Your relationship status is not your identity.<\/p>\n

2. If you are single because of a recent loss, allow this to be a day of grieving. Do not pretend that it\u2019s not a hard day. Get support and sympathy.<\/p>\n

3. Realize that Valentine\u2019s Day is a commercial holiday. It is not about love and relationships; it is about selling flowers, candy, and diamond jewelry. Think of all the money you are saving.<\/p>\n

4. Plan well in advance to do something that will not place you in the path of billing and cooing couples. Even if you usually like dining out alone, do something else on Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

5. Get together with people who do love you \u2014 friends, family members, the people who already have relationships with you.<\/p>\n

6. If you are single and you don\u2019t want to be, start now to think about what is in the way of you creating the relationship you want. Find ways to work on becoming the person your dream partner would fall in love with.<\/p>\n

7. If you are single and you like it, now is the time to affirm your choice. People who never marry or partner have close, loving, emotionally intimate relationships and lives worth living. Do not let a couple-driven culture define your choice as something wrong.<\/p>\n

To all of you who are spending this holiday bae-less, remember that it is only as depressing as you allow it to be. This day of love does not have to be centered on your significant other. It can be your chance to show anyone that you love how much you appreciate them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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