Valentine’s Day messaging is all around us throughout the month of February. We see romantic love elevated in every shop window and grocery store candy aisle, so it’s easy to forget that Valentine’s Day was never intended to be about romance. It started as a religious observation dedicated to Saint Valentine, the patron of courtly love, beekeepers, and epilepsy. Over the years, the holy day has transformed into a holiday dedicated to romance. Singles and couples alike can feel unnecessary pressure this time of the year. If you’re one of the many people who struggle with stress and anxiety related to Valentine’s Day, we invite you to take some deep breaths. Then, spend a few minutes reading our blog about how to relieve unnecessary pressure related to Valentine’s Day.
Celebrate Love Year Round
One reason we place so much pressure on Valentine’s Day is that it’s the one day of the year that we make time to celebrate our relationship. If you’re in a relationship and you don’t really go out together (especially since the pandemic), there can be a lot of pressure to do something special on Valentine’s Day. This one day of the year suddenly has to be great, or you feel disappointed. Rather than putting all that pressure on one day of the year, make time to celebrate your relationship year-round. This doesn’t have to be elaborate. Instead, you can do something simple like having a monthly date night. Even if you’re staying in, date night should be about just spending quality time together.
Embrace the Single Life
The pressure for single people to find and sustain a romantic relationship is always high around Valentine’s Day. This can cause a lot of unnecessary stress for people who aren’t currently in relationships. Even if you’re happy with your single life, Valentine’s Day can leave you feeling lonely. If you feel yourself focusing on being alone and wishing you had a partner, spend a little time reflecting on past relationships (good and bad), what you learned from them, and what your hopes are for the future. Then, spend time feeling and expressing gratitude for the time you have on your own. Don’t forget, being single doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. Actually, you can celebrate by doing all of your favorite things. Eat your favorite meal, pamper yourself, or finally splurge on that new outfit or piece of jewelry. Find ways to really enjoy and celebrate your time being single.
Spend Time with Family & Friends
Finally, don’t forget to show love and gratitude to your friends and family. Romantic love is only one specific form of love. Even if you’re not in a romantic partnership, that doesn’t mean you don’t have other loving relationships that deserve to be celebrated.
Consider Talking to a Therapist
If you find yourself struggling this Valentine’s Day, it may be time to talk about it. At LMV Counseling in Wilmington, our therapists work with individuals to understand and explore the emotions and experiences surrounding relationships. Whether you’re struggling with loneliness this time of the year or you’re having a tough time in a relationship, our therapists can help you work through these challenging emotions, develop healthier partnerships, and achieve other goals. You can get started whenever you’re ready, using our online scheduling request form.
