If I had heard this before, I'd forgotten it: today is "Blue Monday".
As if we needed any more reason to ruminate over life's daily plights, today (January 20) is Blue Monday -- the third Monday of January, which is rumored to be the most depressing day of the year.
While the notion that 1 day out of 365 (or in the case of 2020, 366) is more depressing than the other 364 is a ruse, the concept of winter blues is definitely a fact.
What is real is the winter blues, more clinically known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. It's a form of depression that people experience usually during the fall and winter months when there's less sunlight. The most difficult months for people with SAD in the US tend to be January and February, but it improves with the arrival of spring.
Psychology Today reported that SAD is estimated to affect 10 million Americans, and that another 10% to 20% may have mild symptoms. For 5% of adults that experience SAD about 40% of the year have symptoms that can be overwhelming and can interfere with their daily lives.
The condition has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain prompted 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 sync with their regular schedule.
Common symptoms of SAD include fatigue despite how much a person sleeps, and weight gain associated with overeating and carbohydrate cravings, according to the American Psychiatric Association.
If you are feeling "down", it's OK. You are not weird. Please talk to a trusted friend about your feelings. Or schedule an appointment with your doctor.
You can make it. You will make it. WE will make it.
Spring is just around the corner.
Grace & Peace & Love to you all -
Matt