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| Blue Monday isn’t the only day depression can strike. Here’s how I cope | Blue Monday isn’t the only day depression can strike. Here’s how I cope |
| (25 days later) | |
| Today, 15 January, is apparently Blue Monday, a term coined by the psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2005 after a publicist at a British holiday company persuaded him to create a “scientific formula” to find out “the most depressing day of the year”. He took into account weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing in our new year’s resolutions, motivational levels, and the feeling of a need to take action. Not content with his attempts to quantify sadness, he also calculated that 24 June or other dates close to midsummer would be “the happiest day of the year”. | Today, 15 January, is apparently Blue Monday, a term coined by the psychologist Cliff Arnall in 2005 after a publicist at a British holiday company persuaded him to create a “scientific formula” to find out “the most depressing day of the year”. He took into account weather, debt, time since Christmas, time since failing in our new year’s resolutions, motivational levels, and the feeling of a need to take action. Not content with his attempts to quantify sadness, he also calculated that 24 June or other dates close to midsummer would be “the happiest day of the year”. |
| The bleak midwinter can obviously cause a slump in mood and there are some who suffer from seasonal affective disorder. But it’s important to acknowledge that, despite the PR over this particular date, depression can strike on any day, at any time of year. I have suffered bouts of clinical depression and anxiety since childhood. I’ve experienced it on winter days when the sky is leaden and the sun snuffed out, when the weather seems to perfectly mirror my mood, but depression has also crept upon me on the brightest summer day. Indeed, it’s those sunny days that can feel most alienating as they’re at odds with the bleakness of mood. I’ve suffered from depression on spring days when the world around me is blossoming, and on autumn days when the leaves are turning a glorious burnished copper. Depression does not discriminate – it can strike anywhere, anytime, anyone. | The bleak midwinter can obviously cause a slump in mood and there are some who suffer from seasonal affective disorder. But it’s important to acknowledge that, despite the PR over this particular date, depression can strike on any day, at any time of year. I have suffered bouts of clinical depression and anxiety since childhood. I’ve experienced it on winter days when the sky is leaden and the sun snuffed out, when the weather seems to perfectly mirror my mood, but depression has also crept upon me on the brightest summer day. Indeed, it’s those sunny days that can feel most alienating as they’re at odds with the bleakness of mood. I’ve suffered from depression on spring days when the world around me is blossoming, and on autumn days when the leaves are turning a glorious burnished copper. Depression does not discriminate – it can strike anywhere, anytime, anyone. |
| And it can be made worse when superficial marketing campaigns suggest it is OK to feel depressed on specific days – with the implication being “cheer up, love” the rest of the time. To emphasise this, the mental health charity Mind has set up the #BlueAnyDay hashtag. Meanwhile the Samaritans advise: “Forget ‘Blue Monday’ and instead join Samaritans for ‘Brew Monday’.” | And it can be made worse when superficial marketing campaigns suggest it is OK to feel depressed on specific days – with the implication being “cheer up, love” the rest of the time. To emphasise this, the mental health charity Mind has set up the #BlueAnyDay hashtag. Meanwhile the Samaritans advise: “Forget ‘Blue Monday’ and instead join Samaritans for ‘Brew Monday’.” |
| I recall the times I didn’t think I’d survive, not only Blue Monday, but any day. But the world continued, and so did I. So over the years I’ve been creating and fine-tuning my own personal formula for alleviating my depression and anxiety on blue days, grey days, golden days, and every other colour day of the year. I’ve come up with the following selected list. | I recall the times I didn’t think I’d survive, not only Blue Monday, but any day. But the world continued, and so did I. So over the years I’ve been creating and fine-tuning my own personal formula for alleviating my depression and anxiety on blue days, grey days, golden days, and every other colour day of the year. I’ve come up with the following selected list. |
| Walking: When I started walking regularly, early in the morning and at night, I felt my mood begin to lift, the anxiety start to dissipate with each footstep. Exercise is scientifically proven to boost endorphins. I’ve been practising this regularly on bright days and dull days alike, and my depression has been lifting. And on these chilly winter days there’s a particularly pleasurable glow when walking helps to warm me. | Walking: When I started walking regularly, early in the morning and at night, I felt my mood begin to lift, the anxiety start to dissipate with each footstep. Exercise is scientifically proven to boost endorphins. I’ve been practising this regularly on bright days and dull days alike, and my depression has been lifting. And on these chilly winter days there’s a particularly pleasurable glow when walking helps to warm me. |
| Nature: Spend some time outdoors, in green places. I live in a city, and changing my morning walk so it passes through a park rather than along a busy, blaring, polluted main road has done wonders for my mental health. It’s also helped me to connect more with the cycles of life, and of light – gaining a sense that now we’ve passed the winter solstice the days are lightening. And I know that even when they darken again, eventually the light will flood in once more. I’ve learned to find value in both the darkness and the light. | Nature: Spend some time outdoors, in green places. I live in a city, and changing my morning walk so it passes through a park rather than along a busy, blaring, polluted main road has done wonders for my mental health. It’s also helped me to connect more with the cycles of life, and of light – gaining a sense that now we’ve passed the winter solstice the days are lightening. And I know that even when they darken again, eventually the light will flood in once more. I’ve learned to find value in both the darkness and the light. |
| Altruism: In the midst of my depression I signed up for volunteering at Crisis, and spent Christmas Eve into Christmas Day volunteering at a homeless shelter. The simple act of helping others can do wonders for one’s own wellbeing. | Altruism: In the midst of my depression I signed up for volunteering at Crisis, and spent Christmas Eve into Christmas Day volunteering at a homeless shelter. The simple act of helping others can do wonders for one’s own wellbeing. |
| Art: Reading improves wellbeing and builds empathy. And music lifts my mood (Blue Monday by New Order, any day). | Art: Reading improves wellbeing and builds empathy. And music lifts my mood (Blue Monday by New Order, any day). |
| Food: I realised that unhealthy eating was affecting my mood. So now I feed both body and mind with healthy stuff. | Food: I realised that unhealthy eating was affecting my mood. So now I feed both body and mind with healthy stuff. |
| A note on pills: If you’re currently on medication, do not feel ashamed about it. At the moment I’m on SSRI medication and there’s still so much stigma around it I feel it needs mentioning. | A note on pills: If you’re currently on medication, do not feel ashamed about it. At the moment I’m on SSRI medication and there’s still so much stigma around it I feel it needs mentioning. |
| Openness: Even with all this, it’s not a perfect formula nor a complete solution, and there are days that dip into darkness seemingly without explanation – and it’s OK not to always feel OK. Everyone will have their own formulas and sometimes they will fail – because life is messy, complex, and feelings are not always quantifiable. | Openness: Even with all this, it’s not a perfect formula nor a complete solution, and there are days that dip into darkness seemingly without explanation – and it’s OK not to always feel OK. Everyone will have their own formulas and sometimes they will fail – because life is messy, complex, and feelings are not always quantifiable. |
| “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” said the great Martin Luther King – and for a long time I was silent about my depression. Today is also Martin Luther King Day and I find a certain happiness in commemorating that and taking courage in his words, in the need to end the silence about something which is still so stigmatised. | “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” said the great Martin Luther King – and for a long time I was silent about my depression. Today is also Martin Luther King Day and I find a certain happiness in commemorating that and taking courage in his words, in the need to end the silence about something which is still so stigmatised. |
| • Anita Sethi is a freelance journalist, writer and broadcaster | • Anita Sethi is a freelance journalist, writer and broadcaster |
| • In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. | • In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org. |