Weather, Blown Resolutions Make Blue Monday

By: Bonney Bowman - Email

Updated: Thu 3:34 PM, Jan 24, 2013

CLICK HERE for a free, online depression screening from Bryan Health

If you've noticed yourself feeling a little down lately, you're not alone.

Today is Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year.

One of the contributors may be the weather!

Doctors say this time of year, they start seeing more patients suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD.

It's a type of depression.

Symptoms include hopelessness, lack of energy, changes in weight, trouble sleeping and irritability.

Bryan Health Doctor Dave Miers says, "If that goes on for a period of two weeks or more and it's impacting your daily life, it's impacting your school, it's impacting your work, it's important you take a screening tool perhaps, go in and see a professional."

Doctors say SAD is very treatable but you need to get help.

If you think you might be at risk, get a free, online depression screening from Bryan Health.

Another Blue Monday gloom contributor: now is the time we start falling off the wagon with our New Year's resolutions.

Trainers at Madonna ProActive say they've already noticed smaller crowds at the gym, but it's too early to quit.

With weight loss, you won't start to see results for four to six weeks.

Madonna Wellness Expert Sharon Duffy says, "We can have lapses, we can have relapses, but we don't want to have a collapse so you need to know that you might have a few hours, a few days that you fall off the track but then the important thing is to just motivate yourself."

Experts say think back to January first and remember why you wanted to make those changes in the first place.

Also, set attainable goals and celebrate small victories along the way.

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