Wintertime Blues

This can be a rough time of the year.  It’s winter and the start of a New Year can sometimes cause us to focus on regrets, rather than the opportunities for fresh starts. 

Mental health in the US is in decline.  About 18% of American adults reported experiencing depression or seeking treatment for depression in a 2023 poll, and just over 20% of kids ages 12-17 reported depression in a 2021 CDC report.  Psychiatrist and Professor Charles Raison, a doctor who has suffered from depression, has observed steady increases in rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide for 20-25 years in the US.

If you, or someone you love, are suffering from depression, Dr. Raison recommends:

• Get help from a mental health professional;

• Do things that are good for your heart health because they are also good for depression, such as exercise, sufficient sleep, and healthy food;

• Try a gratitude practice because it can help you shift from pessimism to optimism; and

• Spend time with people, and I’d argue pets, who are special to you.

Takeaway: Fresh starts like exercise, healthy food, better sleep, gratitude practice, therapy, and spending time with special people and pets can help with wintertime blues.  A new year, new month, or new week is a good time to embrace a fresh start. 

Wishing you a happy and cozy new year!

Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix.

Source

Andrea Kane, 5 Things to Do When You are Depressed, CNN, Nov. 17, 2023, 5 things to do when you’re depressed | CNN.

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