People in long distance relationships struggle with feelings of loneliness and sadness whenever the separation becomes overwhelming. This is called long distance relationship depression. They miss their loved ones, having them around, their laughter, hugs, kisses. Partners who live far away from one another display signs of anxiety, low morale, insomnia and they often find it difficult to focus on or show interest in any activity.
According to research, anger, concern, and desolation or melancholy are typical emotions for people who spend time apart from someone they care for. These are all symptoms of long distance relationship depression which, although a common issue in recent years, should not be treated lightly.
Everybody goes through difficult times. Studies have revealed that not only couples in long distance relationships experience this “dark” period, though its occurrence may be higher for them.
No matter how good you feel about your connection or how certain you are about your strong feelings, sometimes the distance gets to you. It lowers your spirit and it ruins your days. And still, it is not the end of the world. You and your significant other will manage to fight this and to overcome yet another LDR challenge. But you can only do it together, as a team.
Here are a few methods that can help couples cope with sadness and depression.
It is no surprise that one of the best and easiest ways to control and beat this bleak mood is communication. Always talk to your partner about how you are feeling and how much you miss them and wish they were with you.
Don’t try to hide your sombre state of mind, it won’t help either of you. Open up to your significant other and share your plans, your thoughts, but also your concerns. Tell them how your day was, where you went for lunch or what you are considering for the weekend, just like you would do in person.
Long distance relationship depression can be defeated with openness and strong communication between partners.
One of the things you can do to soften your longing is to see your beloved via video calling apps. Plan virtual dates where you get to spend quality time together. You can go out for dinner and drinks, engage in some entertaining games or enjoy a quiet night in, watching your favorite movies or TV shows. There are several online platforms that allow you to share fun, intimate moments with your remote partner. This will help you stay close and connected, which prevents harmful, negative emotions.
Simply because you can’t be together with your loved one doesn’t mean you can’t be around other people. Spending time with your family and friends fills the void created by the absence of your partner and eventually diminishes the impact of long distance relationship depression. So, go meet your friends for a coffee or for a shopping spree, it will make you forget how lonely and sad you are.
Music is a balm for the soul. It can slow the rhythm of our pacing heart and it provides great comfort for troubled minds. Whether you choose to listen to love songs or to tracks that get you moving, you will be able to clear your mind and to ward off any negativity.
If you are not a big fan of music, there are plenty of other activities that could get you through a gloomy day. Reading a book will keep you focused, while going down the memory lane by rediscovering old messages or emails will definitely put you in a good mood.
Care packages are a sweet way to show your affection when you are in a long distance relationship. You can surprise that special person in your life by sending carefully selected items they will just love. Or you can appeal to their soft side and share personal videos you filmed specially for them or a photo slideshow that tells your story.
These projects will keep you busy and make you feel joyful and good about your relationship at the same time. The hours and effort you put in are clear proof of your love and bound to strengthen your connection.
Setting up a blog and posting about the difficulties and the emotional roller coaster that arise from being in a LDR might really help navigate through all the sadness and anxiety. Drafting future posts will point out the positive aspects of your relationship and it will bring back nice memories. After all, you are writing about your own experience.
Whatever feelings of anger, sadness, depression you may have when you are separated from your loved one, you must acknowledge them and realize they are a direct result of the separation and the distance.
These are normal emotions and you mustn’t dismiss them or yourself for enduring them. What you should do is find methods to deal with your desolation and depression. For example, you could question the validity of your concerns. If you are afraid that your relationship might not survive the distance, remember that studies have shown that LDRs are not less successful than geographically close relationships. If you are unable to identify the reasons behind your state of mind, you can always try relaxation techniques, like yoga, meditation, massages or exercise.
When you are missing your partner, nothing else matters. You get preoccupied entirely by that one feeling you seem to revolve around. Should this happen, you need to distract yourself by hanging out with other people or by signing up for a new online class or by doing something you have wanted to try for ages but never got around to it.
In order to overcome long distance relationship depression you need to shift your attention from the person you love and miss to a time consuming activity. Otherwise, you will fall deeper and deeper into an unsettling mood.
Every time you manage to spend a couple of days with your partner, try to be as present as possible and to take in their presence as much as you can. Enjoy their touch, the way it feels to lie next to them in bed or cuddled in front of the TV. Stop worrying about the end of your visit and make the most of your time together. Connecting during these rare moments represents a strong foundation for the time you are apart.
Either you organize a surprise visit by yourself or engage your significant other in scheduling your next vacation together, making plans is one of the keys to keeping your long distance relationship on the right track. Plus, it helps a couple set goals and it gives them something to look forward to.
