Since 2005, the 3rd Monday of January has been ear-marked, the most depressing day of the year, hello “Blue Monday”!

According to Psychologist, Cliff Arnall’s “calculations”, he seems think there are various reasons for this day;

• Lack of daylight resulting in a Vitamin D deficiency. 
• For a few weeks during the Christmas / New Year’s holiday season we tend to GORGE ourselves on high carb foods and then diet, drastically cutting out carbs, causing our serotonin levels to plummet. 
• Increased debt loads we place on ourselves, trying to out-do Christmas’ of year’s gone by.  
• and more….

Some say this is hogwash, others are glad for the attention on the severity of depression, most probably don’t even notice or even care. Either way… I do think there is some truth to the point Mr Arnall was trying to make. Whether it is increased on one particular day verses another has yet to be proven by a scientific study not sponsored by a travel company… oi!

* There is truth to increased depression due to environmental causes like less sunshine. Our bodies do need a certain amount of Vitamin D, which occurs naturally from the sun. I’ve always been a big believer in supplements, so I increase my Vitamin D intake during the winter months. Lower B12 levels in your body can also cause mood instability. I try to remember to take my B12/B6 sublingual plus a Vitamin D supplement daily.

* There is truth to increased depression due to what we put into our bodies. Studies have shown that people on high-protein/low-carb diets complained more about feeling depressed. What do we tend to do after the holiday binge eating is over?… We diet! Did you know that cutting out or lowering your carbs {good carbs}, you actually lower your serotonin levels. Low serotonin levels cause people to be irritable, anxious and depressed. Watch what you eat, do some research of your own on foods {I’ve always had a great Homeopathic Doctor & Chiropractor who help me out} and in my opinion… eating a healthy, balanced meal is 100x’s better than any diet out there.

* There is truth to increased depression due to the stress caused by the amount of debt we have. Overspending {not just at Christmas but it tends to be over the top at that time of the year}… bills piling up… creditors calling… it can become unbearable very quick. The feeling that everything is going to cave in, grows. Trapped. Desperate. Hopeless. You need to get a strategy together and face this head on, or else it will destroy you. Develop a budget! Contact your creditors instead of avoiding them. Make an appointment with a credit counselor or in my life-long experience, a credit union – there is no shame in asking for help!

Depression isn’t a “state of mind” – there are all sorts of contributions, internally and externally that we need to be aware of. The effects of depression are serious and it affects everyone around you. If you are feeling overwhelmed but it’s lasting longer than the usual sadness, please see your family physician and get the help you need.