Many of us are surrounded by ideals of relationships we see on TV, in advertising and on social media. This can be true whether we're in a relationship or not.  That's why days which are supposed to celebrate love and togetherness can highlight how different, lonely or low we might feel.

We're using Valentine's day as an opportunity to share advice and personal stories which might help if you're struggling, today or any day.

Loneliness

Feeling lonely isn't a mental health problem in itself. But it's something that a lot of people with mental health problems struggle with.

There are many reasons that you might feel. For some of us, certain life events may mean we feel lonely. For example, going through a relationship break-up or bereavement.

But it's not always about not having people around. You can be in a relationship and still feel lonely. Especially if you don’t feel understood or cared for by the people around you.

Low self-esteem

Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. It's based on our opinions and beliefs about ourselves, which can feel difficult to change.

If you have low self-esteem you may dislike yourself. Or you might feel worthless or that no one likes you. On days like Valentine's Day, you might see lots of idealised relationships. This could be on TV or social media, for example. This might be difficult, if it makes you feel like you or your relationships aren’t good enough.

But we very often only see what other people want to share about their lives. Things are not always what they seem from the outside.

There are many other reasons you may experience low self-esteem. For example, if you’ve experienced relationship problems. Or if you’ve been bullied or abused in a previous relationship. There might not be one particular cause.

Mental health in relationships

Even if you're in a relationship, you might have difficult feelings on Valentine's Day. Going through difficult times can sometimes make our relationships stronger. But they can also cause arguments or stress. You might find it difficult to understand what the other person is going through. Or you may find that your relationship has changed.

People can sometimes take difficult feelings out on those close to them. This could also make us feel upset and hurt.

Content sourced from Mind (mind.org.uk).