This article is so right, it was an incredibly depressing day. I played Solitaire on my Palm Pilot for almost my entire class, my boss crapped on me and I couldn't do anything right. The rest of the week isn't looking so good either. I'm praying for the weekend and it's only Tuesday!
Jan. 24, 2005.
Welcome to the bluest day of the yearMisery calculation says Jan. 24 is rock bottom
Lack of hockey adding to our seasonal woes
ELAINE CAREY
MEDICAL REPORTER
You're cold, miserable, in debt, out of shape, and you've already broken every one of your New Year's resolutions.
Welcome to Jan. 24, the most depressing day of the year, according to a British psychologist.
Cliff Arnall, a specialist in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales, has devised a mathematical formula that pinpoints today as our lowest point.
The calculation for this day of misery reads: [W +(D-d)] x TQ divided by M x NA.
W is the weather, D is debt minus the money (d) you earned in January. T is the time since Christmas and Q, the time since you lapsed back into your bad habits. Divide that by M — your low motivational level — and NA, the need to take action.
It all adds up to the fact that it's a month since Christmas, the bills have rolled in without the money to pay for them, the weather is dark and cold and by now, you've thrown away the nicotine patch, which adds a sense of failure to your lack of energy.
That doesn't even take into account the fact that it's Monday today, which was not planned but a coincidence, according to Arnall.
Winter blues are "very, very common" and affect up to 9 per cent of the population, psychiatrist Dr. Mark Berber, a lecturer at the University of Toronto, said in an interview.
"We're now coming into the peak winter depression season," he said, conceding that today could well be the lowest of the low.
"This is somewhat light-hearted but there's a kernel of truth to what he says."
Winter depression, caused by shorter days and a lack of sunlight, leave about 2 per cent of the population with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is well documented and treatable, usually with light therapy, Berber says.
For the rest of us, there's the seasonal letdown after Christmas, a highlight of the year. And all that promise and resolve at New Year's has faded.
"Sometime in the new year, people begin to feel their dreams haven't been fulfilled," Berber said. "They were full of hope."
Add to that the ensuing debt.
"The bills start to come in and you think `oh my God, I'll never get on top of these.' Financial pressures are big."
Gyms might be popular but in January, people exercise less, walk less and go outside less often, he said.
And Berber adds a new, Canadian-made reason to be miserable.
"In Canada, the lack of hockey is also affecting people, they're in hockey withdrawal" he said.
"It's a pastime that gave people pleasure and it's gone."
In general, "recent years have been very depressing," he said.
"We've gone from disaster to disaster to disaster. It's not getting any easier.
"It used to be `She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah' but it seems much heavier now."
Okay, now that we're all about ready to slit our wrists, what do we do about it?
Exercise is very important, said Berber.
"Get out and about — put on your hat and gloves and go for a walk."
Eating healthy is also a must, although you may feel more like diving into a bag of potato chips.
"Avoid those carb cravings that you're getting and try to eat food that's good for you," Berber added.
If that doesn't help and you're feeling much worse than that, see a doctor, he advises.
But for the rest of us, hurtling from one winter snowstorm to the next, trapped in snowdrifts and traffic jams, think positive thoughts.
Said Berber: "We have to keep our chin up and hope spring comes soon."
Jan. 24, 2005.
Welcome to the bluest day of the yearMisery calculation says Jan. 24 is rock bottom
Lack of hockey adding to our seasonal woes
ELAINE CAREY
MEDICAL REPORTER
You're cold, miserable, in debt, out of shape, and you've already broken every one of your New Year's resolutions.
Welcome to Jan. 24, the most depressing day of the year, according to a British psychologist.
Cliff Arnall, a specialist in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales, has devised a mathematical formula that pinpoints today as our lowest point.
The calculation for this day of misery reads: [W +(D-d)] x TQ divided by M x NA.
W is the weather, D is debt minus the money (d) you earned in January. T is the time since Christmas and Q, the time since you lapsed back into your bad habits. Divide that by M — your low motivational level — and NA, the need to take action.
It all adds up to the fact that it's a month since Christmas, the bills have rolled in without the money to pay for them, the weather is dark and cold and by now, you've thrown away the nicotine patch, which adds a sense of failure to your lack of energy.
That doesn't even take into account the fact that it's Monday today, which was not planned but a coincidence, according to Arnall.
Winter blues are "very, very common" and affect up to 9 per cent of the population, psychiatrist Dr. Mark Berber, a lecturer at the University of Toronto, said in an interview.
"We're now coming into the peak winter depression season," he said, conceding that today could well be the lowest of the low.
"This is somewhat light-hearted but there's a kernel of truth to what he says."
Winter depression, caused by shorter days and a lack of sunlight, leave about 2 per cent of the population with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is well documented and treatable, usually with light therapy, Berber says.
For the rest of us, there's the seasonal letdown after Christmas, a highlight of the year. And all that promise and resolve at New Year's has faded.
"Sometime in the new year, people begin to feel their dreams haven't been fulfilled," Berber said. "They were full of hope."
Add to that the ensuing debt.
"The bills start to come in and you think `oh my God, I'll never get on top of these.' Financial pressures are big."
Gyms might be popular but in January, people exercise less, walk less and go outside less often, he said.
And Berber adds a new, Canadian-made reason to be miserable.
"In Canada, the lack of hockey is also affecting people, they're in hockey withdrawal" he said.
"It's a pastime that gave people pleasure and it's gone."
In general, "recent years have been very depressing," he said.
"We've gone from disaster to disaster to disaster. It's not getting any easier.
"It used to be `She loves you yeah, yeah, yeah' but it seems much heavier now."
Okay, now that we're all about ready to slit our wrists, what do we do about it?
Exercise is very important, said Berber.
"Get out and about — put on your hat and gloves and go for a walk."
Eating healthy is also a must, although you may feel more like diving into a bag of potato chips.
"Avoid those carb cravings that you're getting and try to eat food that's good for you," Berber added.
If that doesn't help and you're feeling much worse than that, see a doctor, he advises.
But for the rest of us, hurtling from one winter snowstorm to the next, trapped in snowdrifts and traffic jams, think positive thoughts.
Said Berber: "We have to keep our chin up and hope spring comes soon."
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