Category Archives: depression

Blue Monday

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Researchers at Cardiff University have determined that Monday 21st January 2013 is Blue Monday – the most depressing day of the year!

Group of women hugging

Have a hug!

They calculated this by looking at six factors:

  • Weather conditions (cold and grey) 
  • Debt levels (and our ability to repay that debt) 
  • Time elapsed since the Christmas holidays 
  • Time elapsed since abandoning New Year Resolutions 
  • Lack of motivation 
  • Lack of having anything to look forward to in the near future 

I have really noticed since the Christmas holidays were over how subdued people have been in the supermarket and around the town.

But stop worrying now because this year 21 January is also National Hug Day!

I know what you’re thinking, ‘There’s colds and bugs around, why do I want to hug someone?’  Well firstly, having a positive attitude is very good for your immune system.  Secondly, making social connections is essential for boosting your mental health.

And finally giving and receiving hugs causes our body to release the ‘feel good’ hormone oxytocin.  Oxytocin has been credited with numerous body-and-mind benefits, including: giving us healthier hearts; improving our relationships with other people; slowing down the ageing process, and (critically) making us feel happier.

If you’re not ready for that hug yet, you can achieve similar results from giving and receiving smiles and you can do that from a safe distance!

Have a Happy Monday!

 

Spare a thought for men…

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 …on World Menopause Awareness Day.  I’m not talking about men who are the innocent (or not so innocent) victims of their female partner’s mood swings!  I’m talking about the men who experience symptoms of the male menopause which is called ‘andropause’.

It’s easy to joke about this stage in men’s lives and talk about older men buying motorbikes or fast cars or developing new and unusual hobbies.  But some men experience frequent and intense symptoms similar to those experienced by women including hot flushes, mood swings, depression, low libido and erectile dysfunction.


So what’s going on?  Well, as men enter their 40s and move into their 50s and 60s, the balance of their reproductive hormones starts to change.  Levels of testosterone, which is important for a healthy heart and healthy bones, start to fall.  The balance of oestrogen and progesterone changes and this can lead to weight gain and aggressive behaviour.   The hormone DHEA (dihydroepiandrosterone) gives both men and women a sense of vitality, energy, drive and motivation.  Production of this hormone declines over time which can lead to a lack of stamina and wellbeing.


Most men will pass though the andropause with minimal symptoms.  But men who are experiencing these symptoms in a way that is impacting on their lives and relationships should seek medical advice.  There are medications that can help with individual symptoms including hormone replacement therapies.


Lifestyle changes, such as reducing alcohol intake, stopping smoking, improving diet, and exercising, will help to control symptoms.


There is a range of complementary therapies that can help to mitigate symptoms and support men’s health through this period.  Hypnotherapy has been shown to be particularly effective in helping women who experience hot flushes, particularly when hypnosis includes visualisation of cool images. 


Hypnotherapy techniques can also be used to help with weight control, sleep issues, mood swings and to manage stress.  Men can be taught self-hypnosis so that they can take control of their symptoms.  Hypnosis recordings can also be very effective.


A Festive Recipe

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Last week, along with the sales catalogues and Christmas cards, I received a flyer from a local firm of solicitors with a special offer. It was for free initial advice on divorce and family law. The offer ends on 31 January. This is not a piece of random marketing because family law solicitors are particularly busy at this time of year.
Relationships can come under pressure for a variety of reasons; seasonal depression, financial pressure, anticipating spending time with relatives, an excess of alcohol at parties etc. Some people see Christmas or the New Year as an arbitary deadline for getting their lives sorted out.
If you are in an abusive relationship then you need to take action. But if your relationship is just at a low ebb, stop, think again and consider taking some relationship advice or therapy.
There are lots of new and traditional recipes around at this time of year so how about a recipe for  happier Christmas relationships?
Ingredients:
A good helping of patience
A pinch of time spent alone with your partner
An extra helping of laughter and fun
One cup of tea (served hot to partner in bed)
A handful of hugs to increase happiness hormones
A helping of shared exercise for health and well-being
A generous helping of happy memories that you’ve shared
 
Method:
Combine all of the ingredients. Look back over the happy memories and make them as vivid as possible so that you can really enjoy them.  Review the highlights with your partner every evening to ensure that everything is cooking well. At the end of three days review all of the new happy memories and store them away for easy retrieval during the year.
 
Best wishes for a Happy Christmas 2011.