SADAG: There are ways to overcome festive season loneliness

This means while most of us are looking forward to the December break, others dread the start of the holiday season.

South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) Clinical Psychologist Colinda Linde says there are a lot of people who feel lonely over the festive season.

A report by Healthline Media, an American website and provider of health information, has shown that social isolation is one of the biggest predictors of depression, especially during the holidays.

A 2023 survey by SADAG shed some light on the impact of load shedding on mental health in South Africa.

The survey revealed that household social relations were strained, as 31% reported problematic family relationships and feelings of isolation.

Load shedding has also reduced social interaction between homes and within homes, as people scramble to complete all tasks when there is power and tend to collapse into separate spaces in the dark.

Linde says the season only serves as a reminder to some that they will be spending the holidays alone.

She says there are several ways for young people to deal with feelings of isolation during the holiday season.

"It is important to talk about it; the feelings of loneliness, sadness and anxiety are just emotions, and those emotions tell us something when we are sad. It is saying, ’I am lonely, and I need support.’ Telling us that you need support.

"Get outside. There is something about nature and walking. Those two things are very potent anti-depressants. So that would be an excellent thing to do. Another thing to remember is that depression feels like it's going to be like this forever. Remember, everything changes, so you could look at the weather as it is different every day, and you can remember that sadness cannot be sadness forever.

"Practice random kindness, like paying someone a complaint, either in person or online."

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