2024-01-14 21:21:02
Tomorrow is “Blue Monday”, the third Monday in January, so called because it is supposedly the most depressing day of the year.
Winter depression mainly occurs when light begins to become scarce, explains psychologist Paul Langevin in an interview with TVA Nouvelles.
“People are very affected by the lack of light, as well as the temperature, the cold. It’s winter, we’re more homebodies, we stay indoors more, so these two phenomena, in addition to the ups and downs of life like expenses, mean that we’re more depressed,” explains -he.
It is therefore completely normal to feel affected by the change of season.
“Everyone is affected to a greater or lesser degree. It is said that around 18% of the population is particularly affected by winter depression,” says the psychologist.
When to worry?
It may therefore be important to monitor your condition in order to know if you are affected by winter depression.
The main sign, according to Mr. Langevin, concerns sleep. If, for example, you always suffer from abnormally increased fatigue, this may indicate that you are affected by said depression. The tendency to isolate is also an important sign, when for example we avoid going out, doing social activities, or systematically prefer to stay at home.
How to get out of it?
Mr. Langevin advises people to be attentive to the signs sent to them by those around them.
“When we notice that one of our loved ones is going out less, we have to encourage them, go find them, ask them to go out,” he explains. The psychologist also points out that if you notice that you are not doing well, “the worst thing you can do is stay at home.”
Light therapy is ideal for overcoming the problem of winter depression.
“The more light we have, the more our system will rest and the more our system will be able to combat fatigue,” points out Mr. Langevin.
It is also recommended to devote 60 minutes per week to walking.
“The more we put ourselves into action, the more we will secrete endorphin, and the more we will be able to fight this temporary depression,” says the psychologist, who insists on the fact that, when we feel depressed, the less physical activity tempts us, the more important it is.
Diet also plays an important role in winter depression, since we tend to eat more carbohydrates, which has the effect of weighing down the system.
“It is important to have a slightly healthier diet, we are talking here regarding fish and lighter and more easily digestible foods. There, we will have more energy,” assures the psychologist.
Leaving the house, doing some physical exercise, exposing yourself to light, cleaning up your diet and reducing your alcohol consumption are ideal ways to combat seasonal depression.
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