"Help! The holidays make me feel lonely"

Almost 55% of us feel lonesome this time of year, so we asked experts to share simple ways to grow closer to others and find peace within ourselves

Ease the hurt

Know you're not alone

"We tend to believe that we somehow deserve to be lonely," says expert Kory Floyd, Ph.D. "But it's not a shortcoming it's a temporary 'state' we're in because the holidays can be very difficult." Indeed, our sense of isolation is often worsened by social media posts of holiday "perfection." Remind yourself that these pictures are highly curated and don't tell the whole story. Says Floyd, "Take a break from social media for 24 to 48 hours to help you refocus on your needs."

ID what you need

Loneliness is like hunger a signal aimed at motivating us, says expert Sabine Schmid, Ph.D. "You can still be lonely in the presence of others, so it's important to ask yourself what exactly you're missing." She says if you've lost a loved one, for example, the holidays can be hard no matter how many people you're surrounded by, and making time for grieving may be the first step toward healing.

Find peace in kindness