The third Monday of January is said to be the most depressing day of the year, the so-called Blue Monday.

With Christmas in the distance and weeks of long nights and cold weather ahead, credit card bills arriving, and the threat of the pandemic still very much around us, it can be a challenging time for a lot of people.

But is Blue Monday real or is it a myth?

Our member isn鈥檛 persuaded by the concept of Blue Monday 鈥� 鈥渢he theory of one day being the lowest day is a bit of a stretch to me鈥�.

But she says it can be comforting to some people to know they鈥檙e not alone in finding this period difficult.

鈥淏lue Monday almost acts like a label and helps people realise it might not just be them who is finding this time of year difficult,鈥� says Lara. 鈥淭hat can be really reassuring to some.鈥�

Lara adds that some of her clients have a renewed sense of energy as they begin their 2022 journey, which doesn鈥檛 fit in with the Blue Monday narrative.

鈥淭hey seem to have been re-energised and see a new year as a new opportunity,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost like getting a chance to start on a fresh page.鈥�

Our member says she鈥檚 sceptical about Blue Monday, especially as it was initially created by an advertising agency.

鈥淭here鈥檚 the financial pressure after spending at Christmas, plus the cost of bills in winter months is generally higher and that can cause stress,鈥� says Nia.

鈥淩elationships where there was already friction can also come under particular strain at Christmas time, and so January is a time that many relationships come to an end.

鈥淭here鈥檚 also the cold weather and short days, and this year the continuing anxiety around the pandemic, all of which can add up to a sense of feeling low or stressed at this time of year.

鈥淭here's also a lot of pressure around resolutions and making significant changes, which can lead to a sense of failure when they don't work out.

鈥淭hat said, I'm sceptical about it all culminating on one day, and I understand Blue Monday was originally coined by an advertising agency trying to sell holidays.鈥�

Our member Clare Cox says people鈥檚 problems won鈥檛 disappear once Blue Monday has gone. But she says it can be useful to draw attention to mental health.

鈥淭he more we talk about mental health the more familiar we can become with the uniqueness of our emotional responses,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n that respect Blue Monday could be useful to remind us that we鈥檙e all different.

鈥淗owever by the time Tuesday comes many of our problems have not magically disappeared, nor have they by March, April or May.鈥�

So if you are struggling today, what can you do about it?

Get back to nature

Clare says: 鈥淚t鈥檚 winter and sometimes duvet days are good. We need to rest and to heal. Sometimes getting out for a long brisk walk, being grateful and grounded works.鈥�

Lara adds: 鈥淕et outside. The weather can make it more comfortable to stay indoors but a brisk walk outdoors can help break a negative cycle.

Reframe your goals

Nia suggests people revisit how they think about their resolutions around food and weight.

鈥淚nstead of number based ones 鈥� like losing half a stone or fitting into a size 10 鈥� think about something feeling based 鈥� like aiming to feel better about your body,鈥� she says.

鈥淚 do a lot of work around body image as this is such a widespread issue. With my clients we talk through what messages they got about food when they were growing up, and of course there are the messages we get from society and the media too.鈥�

Listen to your body

鈥淲hat鈥檚 important is to be in touch with your body,鈥� says Clare. 鈥淲hat is it feeling? Listen to it for clues as to what you should do. Bring mind and body together and be kind to yourself.鈥�

Hobbies

Lara says: 鈥淩econnect with hobbies you may have fallen out聽of routine with over the holiday period or as the year has gone by and got busier.鈥�

She adds: 鈥淭alk to friends and family and arrange to meet up. And create some healthy聽routines to聽keep you motivated and make it easier to make helpful choices.鈥�

Wellbeing

Clare says: 鈥淚t takes effort and energy sometimes to maintain a level of wellbeing. We can be naturally a little low on mental health reserves 聽and vitamin D at this time of year.

鈥淏e kind, rest and reconnect can all help, especially where problems are amplifying or not understood. A therapist can help process this in a safe way.鈥�

Therapy

Therapy is there for you at any time of the year, not just Blue Monday, say our members.

鈥淔or those who experience mental health difficulties, such as depression, any day of the year can be a struggle,鈥� says Nia.

鈥淭o anyone who is struggling right now I鈥檇 say please seek some support, either through your GP, a friend or a counsellor. You鈥檙e not alone and support is there.鈥�

Clare adds: 鈥淭his is a time to reconnect with ourselves and working with a therapist can be helpful to work out where there鈥檚 a disconnect.鈥�

鈥淏eing heard is really important to our sense of wellbeing. Thinking out loud and being supported by a qualified therapist while you鈥檙e on your journey into the future, whatever month it is, can help explore a whole range of experiences, not just blue.

Lara concludes: 鈥淚f it feels too much, seek the help of a professional through counselling.

鈥淧eople often come to counselling because they feel worried about sharing their experiences with friends and family; whether that's because they don鈥檛 want to be a burden or they don鈥檛 want to be judged.

鈥淐ounselling聽can offer a space that is completely聽yours, to speak with someone openly.鈥�

If you want to speak to a therapist, find a 香港六合彩精准资料-registered therapist near you.