According to recent research carried out by Mental Health Research UK (MHRUK), 90% of us feel sadder in the darker, winter months. The theory is based on the ‘hibernation effect’ when we want to stay indoors, not socialise, eat and do less exercise. With the winters lasting longer, and weather becoming progressively worse, we are more likely to feel down in the dumps – rather than up in the clouds – and prone to be effected by SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), where people who normally do not suffer from depression do so in particular seasons, especially winter.
January the 21st is the day where you are likely to feel at your lowest, as it is deemed the most depressing day of the year. The reason for this is due to several factors, such as; bad weather, debt levels, time passed since Christmas, the breaking of our new year’s resolutions, low levels of motivation and the need to make changes to our life.
Depression rates tend to be higher in deprived areas, where residents are on a low income and live in poverty. As Islington has the second highest rate of poverty in London, depression is hard to avoid.
Lucy Meel, 42, who lives in Holloway, says: “I have suffered from depression for most of my life, not many people think of it as a serious illness, but it really is. I am currently healthy and happy, but on Monday I did feel a bit down. I think labelling it as the most depressing day of the year, doesn’t help.”
The amount of people who suffer from SAD disease is at an all-time high, people are struggling to provide for their family, they struggle to pay off the debts that accumulated over Christmas and are left in a terrible cycle, of little motivation and a poor outlook on life.
Chan Daniels 39, a youth worker, says: ” I have met some truly sad people over the years, I have also met people who have never experienced happiness, but I do think you can stop yourself from becoming depressed in most circumstances, it’s all psychological. Blue Monday is horrible, I made the effort to get everyone in a positive mind frame that day.”
Here are some tips to stop yourself from slipping into a dangerous cycle of over-eating, not leaving the house and generally feeling down; listen to some cheesy uplifting music, dance like you have ants in your pants, pamper yourself; whether that is putting on a face mask and having a nice hot bath, or catching up on Match of The Day. Every time you have a negative thought, replace it with five positives, it can be: “I don’t have any money but I do have a family, a roof over my head, my good looks, my cat and my health”. And remember it takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 to smile, so turn that frown upside down!