Blue Monday 2021 – Love Island’s Dr Alex shares top mental health tips on most depressing day of the year
THE weather might not be what you want it to be but follow these top tips from Dr Alex to help keep Blue Monday at bay.
Storms do pass: No matter how you feel, don’t forget that things will change. So if today is a bad day, have faith that tomorrow will be better.
Easy does it: If today is a bad day, don’t make things worse by giving yourself a hard time about how you are feeling.
The power of love: Check in with a friend or a loved one and tell them how you are feeling while checking how they are too.
You would be surprised at how many people sit in isolation rather than connect with someone else while having a rough time.
Grass is greener: It is simple but some time spent outside can make a huge difference. Go for a walk or sit in your garden, noticing things you might not normally – bird song, say, or plants and trees. Studies show focusing on nature can really help to improve mood.
High five: A poor diet can contribute to feeling sluggish and tired, so make sure you get your five fruit and veg a day and not too many processed foods.
Glass half full: If you are not having a good day, steer clear of alcohol at the end. It might feel like it will elevate your mood but it won’t in the long term. Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
Golden hours: A good night’s sleep can go a long way to elevating, so try to get the recommended eight hours’ kip every night.
Switch off: We can all be prone to checking our screens and phones out of habit, but take some time away from your devices if your mood is low. Don’t be tempted to have them beside the bed.
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Mind map: Mental health can be like a petrol tank – sometimes it’s full, sometimes it’s running on empty.
Keep a note of your mood and what percentage you are feeling, then ask yourself why.
You will soon see some correlation, maybe between exercise and improved mood, or getting outside. Find what works for you and stick to it.
You're not alone
EVERY 90 minutes, a life here is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching lives in every part of society, from the homeless and unemployed to builders, doctors, reality stars, footballers.
Suicide is the biggest killer of people under the age of 35 – more deadly than road accidents or even cancer. Men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet suicide is rarely spoken of – a taboo that means the deadly rampage will continue unless we stop and take notice now.
That is why The Sun launched our campaign You’re Not Alone.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Ask for help when you need it and listen out for your loved ones.
If you, or anyone you know, need help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations can offer support:
- Samaritans, samaritans.org, 116 123
- CALM, thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Movember, movember.com
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