Research has not proven that one day there is more depression than all the others, but it is actually a PR stunt that is unfortunate entrenched itself in modern culture. Every January, blogs share their tips on how people can save themselves from the gloom, and businesses take chances to promote their feel-good products and services. and social media follows.
Blue Monday started with a news release.
In 2005, the now defunct British TV channel Sky Travel sent an excited advertising announcement to journalists that with the help of a psychologist calculate the most miserable day of the year.
The formula was meant to be analyzed when people booked holidays, assuming people would probably buy a ticket to paradise if they were disappointed. Arnall was asked to find the best day to book a holiday trip, and he thinks of reasons why people might want to go on holiday – and so the gloomiest day of the year was born.
“There is generally more sadness in the winter time and January is not at all uncommon for general sadness among people,” said dr. Ravi Shah, a psychiatrist at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center in New York, said. “So, rather than turning to one specific day, I think, the more interesting question is what it’s about winter that affects our mood.”
Blue Monday is not scientifically sound
Arnall’s formula looks like this: [W+(D-d)]xTQ / MxNA. On closer inspection, however, the variables involved are subjective and clearly unscientific. W stands for weather, for example. D is debt and d is monthly salary, while T means time since Christmas and Q is the time since you gave up your New Year’s resolution.
None of the factors he included can be measured or compared with the same units. The formula cannot be adequately assessed or verified. For example, there is no way to measure the average number of days since people slipped on their New Year’s resolution. And the weather in January varies between different countries, countries and continents. In short, there is no scientific merit to it.
“I had no idea it would gain popularity,” Arnall told CNN. “I think a lot of people recognize that themselves.”
Arnall also claimed that he was campaigning against his own idea of Blue Monday as part of the ‘activist group’ Stop Blue Monday. But the group was, as it turns out, also a marketing campaign – this time for winter tourism to the Canary Islands.
Now, he told CNN, he will do it again.
“I do not regret it at all,” he said, adding that he had used “the media” several times with the aim of starting conversations about psychology.
“My problem with academic psychology and peer-reviewed publications … it doesn’t really make that much of a difference to ordinary people,” added Arnall, who was paid £ 1,200 to come up with Blue Monday.
However, this is not a popular view in the profession.
“This is not the right way to raise awareness,” he said. Dr. Antonis Kousoulis, director of the UK Mental Health Foundation’s efforts for England and Wales. “By saying this single day is the most depressing day of the year, without any evidence, we approach how severe depression can be.”
“Mental health is the biggest health challenge of our generation,” he added. “Its redevelopment is completely unacceptable.”
“Depression is not a single day,” Shah said. “Depression is a clinical syndrome that should last for at least two weeks, usually most days.”
However, the winter blues are genuine
Critics of the concept of a ‘Blue Monday’ believe that attributing clinical depression to external causes – such as the idea that the number of days since Christmas could adversely affect people. influenced by this – by suggesting that their condition can be resolved with something as easy as booking a vacation to a sunny beach.
What is real is the winter blues, more clinical known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It is a form of depression that people usually experience during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight. The most difficult months for people with SAD in the US are usually January and February, but it improves with the arrival of spring.
The condition is linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain caused by shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter. As seasons change, people experience a shift in their biological internal clock, or circadian rhythm, that can cause them to be out of step with their normal schedule.
Other signs include feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, thoughts of death or suicide, and even suicide attempts.
The onset of SAD can occur at any age, but usually begins between the ages of 18 and 30 and is more common in women than in men.
How to combat seasonal affective disorder
The easiest way to start taking action against SAD is to focus on light exposure, Shah said. “If you can’t get natural sunlight, buy a light box,” he said.
Light therapy involves sitting in front of a light therapy cabinet that emits very bright light for a minimum of 20 minutes a day. Most people see improvements in this method within one or two weeks of starting treatment.
In anticipation of the return of symptoms in late fall, some people start light therapy in early fall to prevent it.
Increased exposure to sunlight can also help improve the symptoms. Those who are prone to symptoms may want to spend more time outside or arrange a sitting area in your home that is exposed to a window during the day. Antidepressants and speech therapy are also effective in treating SAD.
It can also help to look after your health holistically: exercise regularly, eat well, get enough sleep if you can and keep in touch with family and friends. Also talk to your doctor, as SAD can be a manageable condition with the right diagnosis and treatment.
“If you keep yourself physically, mentally and socially active and use a light box, it’s going to go a long way,” Shah said.
The concept of Blue Monday was at best a relative idea and a travel marketing scheme that probably did not work. But why stop there? Arnall later devised a formula that determines the happiest day of the year, sponsored by an ice cream company, even though many find solace in the treat when they are least happy.
So if you are feeling well today on Blue Monday, do not expect the day to bring impending doom. If you are struggling with SAD, know that you have help available.
Allen Kim of CNN contributed to this report.