POST-CARNIVAL  BLUES

For some reason this time of year leaves many of us feeling a little depressed – perhaps it is the arrival of yet more credit card bills after over-spending at Christmas and Carnival or simply feeling another year older without having made any memorable changes in our lives!!

Whatever the reason, there are a number of remedies which can help you feel upbeat again.

·                    Eating chocolate.  It has been proven that chocolate, like many other palatable foods, releases endorphins into your system for a mood-lifting effect.  If eating chocolate works for you, eat a little whenever a bad mood sets in.

·                    Doing something nice for someone else is one of the best ways to lift yourself out of a bad mood.  It helps refocus your attention away from your own problems.

·                    Exercise has the potential to lift you out of a bad mood.  Even if you don’t feel like doing it (and you probably won’t!!) just start moving your body towards doing something active.  Try walking, jogging, yoga or even some gardening.  Exercise makes you feel better and improves your health.

·                    Singing your favourite song at the top of your voice will almost certainly begin to make you feel better.  It works especially well whilst taking a shower!

·                    Call a long lost friend.  Research shows that social connection can help all kinds of ills, including bad moods.  Talking things over with a good friend is very therapeutic and will undoubtedly lift your spirits.

·                    If you like to dance, choose an upbeat tune and dance away, on your own, in the privacy of your own home.  The wilder the dancing, the more energised and less depressed you will feel.

·                    Soak your troubles away.  Taking a long, hot bath helps soothe the body and the mind.  With your eyes closed, breathe in the fragrance of your favourite bath essences and feel your troubles melt away.

·                    Pet your way to a better mood.  It is now recognized that spending time with pets, particularly dogs,  helps promote a feeling of well being, even in the chronically ill as it help shift your focus away from your personal problems.

·                    Spending time outdoors should also help brighten your mood as it puts you in touch with nature.  Take time to appreciate all that you see.

Accept that bad moods are an inevitable part of life but also consider that brighter days are around the corner.  Focus on this and the feeling of depression will soon slip away.

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