Blue Monday is a myth, but the winter blues are real

Feeling Blue?  You’re in good company. Around 60% of people living in Canada report feeling “the winter blues.”

The third Monday in January is often referred to as ‘Blue Monday’ — the most depressing day of the year.

While the idea that one specific day is more depressing than any other has been debunked, research has shown that the toxic blend of frigid temperatures, shorter days and post-holiday debt, can lead to depression and fatigue during the winter months.

According to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH] there are some simple but effective practices that can boost your mood during the longer, colder months.

These include getting proper sleep, maintaining a healthy diet, getting outdoors during the daytime, especially if it’s sunny, and, most importantly, incorporating physical activity into your daily routine.

How does physical activity improve mood?

Getting active reduces levels of the stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, and increases endorphins and the feel-good chemicals, dopamine and serotonin. FYI: Any movement like a brisk walk or jumping jacks will quickly provide mood-boosting effects.

Looking for ways to get moving?
Download the free ParticipACTION app HERE and join the #MoveforyourMood challenge from January 16 – 31.

What if you can’t shake the winter blues?

Seasonal Affective Disorder [SAD]

About 2 to 3% of Canadians will experience Seasonal Affective Disorder [SAD] in their lifetime.

Seasonal Affective disorder, or SAD, is a kind of depression that appears at certain times of the year. It usually begins in the fall when the days get shorter and lasts through the winter. SAD doesn’t only happen in the colder months though.

A less common form of SAD affects people in the summer months and usually starts in the spring. It isn’t really clear what causes SAD, but it’s thought that winter SAD may be caused by lack of sunlight.

But this may not be the whole answer, as it’s also thought to run in families: 13–17% of people who develop SAD have an immediate family member with the disorder.

Could I have SAD?

• I feel like sleeping all the time, or I’m having trouble getting a good night’s sleep
• I’m tired all the time, it makes it hard for me to carry out daily tasks
• My appetite has changed, particularly more cravings for sugary and starchy foods
• I’m gaining weight
• I feel sad, guilty and down on myself
• I feel hopeless
• I’m irritable
• I’m avoiding people or activities I used to enjoy
• I feel tense and stressed
• I’ve lost interest in sex and other physical contact

If some of these feelings seem to happen each year, have a real impact on your life, and improve during certain seasons, talk to your doctor.

Your doctor can help rule out any other causes for your symptoms, like thyroid problems or other types of depression. Some common treatments for SAD include:

• Light therapy—has been proven effective for people with seasonal affective disorder. It involves sitting near a special kind of light for about half an hour a day. The intense artificial light causes a chemical change in the brain that improves mood and helps relieve SAD symptoms. Light therapy should not be done without first consulting your doctor because there are side effects to this treatment. Sixty to 80 percent of people with SAD find substantial relief from light therapy.
• Medication—can be helpful for treating all kinds of depression, including SAD. Different kinds of medication work in different ways. Talk to your doctor to find out if medication is right for you and how you should use it.
• Counselling—such as an approach known as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), is effective for depression. A health professional who uses this approach can teach you skills to help change your view of the world around you. They do this by coaching you to break the negative patterns of depression including the thoughts and actions that can keep the depression going. CBT may be used alongside other treatments like light therapy or medication.
• Self-help—can help you feel better. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, good sleep habits, staying connected to others, balanced thinking techniques, and managing stress have all been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression. These are helpful if you have only mild changes in your mood that follow a seasonal pattern. Doing these things can also help alongside treatment for more moderate or severe symptoms.

Tips to Ease Your Winter SAD Symptoms

• Spend more time outdoors during the day
• Try to arrange the spaces you spend time in to maximize sunlight exposure
• Keep curtains open during the day
• Trim tree branches or hedges that may be blocking some of the light from getting into your home
• Move furniture so that you sit near a window or, if you exercise indoors, set up your exercise equipment by a window
• Install skylights and add lamps
• Build physical activity into your lifestyle preferably before SAD symptoms take hold. Physical activity relieves stress, builds energy and increases both your physical and mental well-being and resilience
• Make a habit of taking a daily noon-hour walk, particularly if you commute to school or work in the dark hours of the day