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Sunday scariesare a real thing, butanxietyhits meespeciallyhard the week before Memorial Day.
Marie Bertrand/Getty Images
So I scroll through old text threads, seeing if theres somebody I might hit up.
More often than not, I dont reach out.
Perhaps I dont want to appear desperate.
If theyreallywanted to see me,they would have invited me by now, I somberly tell myself.
You might think, I’m a failure.
No one cares about me.
(Cut to me nervously gulping in this interview.)
Here are some ways to do that.
Pinpoint what energizes you and incorporate it into new holiday traditions.
Although it seems counterintuitive,the summer months can contribute to sadness, says Dr. Lombardo.
For some people,the heat is too much, she explains.
If Im being one hundred percent real with myself, I dont like any of those activities.
Theres not some rule that defines how you spend your time as good or bad, successful or unsuccessful.
Dr. Lombardo suggests turning some of those feel-good activities intonew traditions.
Take a break from social media and apps that stress you out (including dating ones).
There’s some reality to it.
Those humans were there, and your mind is going to make a comparison.
The same goes for any stress-inducing app, Dr. Lombardo says.
Get off the news channels, she urges.
It may have nothing to do with you being lonely, but it could cause distress.
Consider silencing Bumble and Hinge if youre single.
The situation they create is so dismal, Dr. Saltz says.
It has brought out the ease with which people dont treat other people like human beings.
Dont be afraid to reach out.
But thats probably not the case, Dr. Saltz says.
Use authentic language, she notes.
Humans really respond to vulnerability and intimacy.
Are you doing anything, and if so, could I join you?
It comes down to a sense of mattering, Dr. Lombardo explains.
Volunteer or sign up for a class if being with others energizes you.
Really, most all communities will have something going on over big holiday weekends.
Another good option: volunteering.
Communities are often found in helping others, Dr. Saltz explains.
[Try] a local soup kitchen or clean up the park.
You’re going to meet other people with similar concerns about the environment or community.
Giving back can help give you a sense of purpose and reduce depression,researchhas shown.
Remember what three-day holiday weekends are actually about.
People treat this holiday like its solely about the beginning of summer.
Thats not really the point, Dr. Saltz says.
What thought would make you feel even just a little bit better right this second?
