The emotional and mental impact of Valentine's Day

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Friday afternoon, Nurse Practitioner Shauntel Marcin discussed the emotional and mental impact of Valentine's Day, especially for those who are feeling lonely or are single.

Marcin explains that feeling lonely is normal but is often intensified by social media's portrayal of relationships.

She suggests reframing Valentine's Day to celebrate various other forms of love such as family, friends and community.

"Valentine's Day can be like this magical, sweet time for some, but for others, it's a pretty aggressive reminder, between the restaurants and the stores and social media posts, that you are single," said Shauntel Marcin. "That can feel kind of heavy and lonely, and I think the thing I want people to understand is that it's okay to feel like that, you're not being dramatic. It's the way that the day is constructed to make you feel."

Marcin encourages everyone to go out and do things that bring joy and comfort, even if you don't have a Valentine to celebrate with for the holiday.