Blue Monday - Battling Depression During the Winter
What is Blue Monday?
And why do people battle depression especially during the winter months? Join our counsellor, Brianne Rivard, as she provides recommendations for fighting a blue mood this winter.
What is Blue Monday?
Blue Monday lands on the third Monday in January and is generally regarded as the most depressing day of the year. It marks a day to bring attention to the depressive experiences of many following the holiday season and the start of a new year. It is a time to reflect, self assess, set realistic expectations and move towards an intention of self care.
There are a number of things that contribute to depressive feelings at this time of year:
the weather
time since the holidays
debt increases due to the holidays
guilt about not sticking to resolutions
a sense of isolation
So how do we go about each of these?
Reflect and Self-Assess
It is easy for anxiety and depression to get out of control and become this big, unnamed cloud that makes it difficult to function. One part of reflecting can be to get the thoughts out of your head and onto paper and then evaluate if this is something that is manageable alone or if it might be time to ask for help.
Set Realistic Expectations for Yourself
So many people set unrealistic New Year’s Resolutions and then feel like a failure if they are unable to stick to them. I would encourage you, as a part of Blue Monday, rework your New Year’s Resolutions to focus on sustainability. Maybe instead of I’m going to get a “beach body” it could mean, I am going to focus on eating 80% healthy a week and moving my body in a way that brings me joy.
Move Toward an Intention of Self-Care
Often when I discuss self care with people it will look like eating well and exercising. While these things are good and a part of self care, they are not the only options. I encourage you to look at self care holistically and consider – what does self care look like for me… Physically? Emotionally? Mentally? Socially? Spiritually? Professionally? I encourage you to think about what could be lacking and to set an intention to prioritize your self care.
These are some examples of ways we can refocus on Blue Monday. If you are experiencing depressive symptoms, I encourage you to contact a medical or mental health professional. It can be hard to make changes alone. You don’t have to - help is available. Contact us at (204) 775-5521 to book an appointment with a counsellor or psychologist today. Or, visit our website for more information.
Brianne Rivard, counsellor, is also the owner of Growing Hope Therapy.
“In my practice, I work from a place of empathy to understand your unique struggle and collaboratively create a plan to address it. I approach therapy from a Person-Centered lens and utilize years of experience both professionally and from education to provide the best care possible. If you think I might be the right fit for you, I encourage you to reach out for a free 15-minute consultation.” - Brianne Rivard