{"id":412578,"date":"2026-01-14T15:32:15","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T15:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/412578\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T15:32:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T15:32:15","slug":"bloomington-counselor-offers-tips-for-beating-the-winter-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/412578\/","title":{"rendered":"Bloomington counselor offers tips for beating the winter blues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that the holiday season has passed, January can feel like a letdown for many. Counselors say January is the most depressing month of the year. <\/p>\n

Carrie Company, a licensed counselor in Bloomington, said the winter blues are common this time of year as longer nights disrupt our circadian rhythms. <\/p>\n

\u201cWith less daylight, people\u2019s schedules tend to get off. We see chemicals like melatonin and serotonin go down in the brain. So there are some very real reasons as to why seasonal depression happens,\u201d Company said, adding 1 in 10 people experience seasonal depression. <\/p>\n

Company said the end of the holiday season and the return to work can also bring sadness for some. <\/p>\n

She said depression symptoms can show up in many ways. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people hear the word depression they seem to think [it means] I\u2019m sad all the time. That\u2019s not always what it looks like. Oftentimes, it\u2019s moodiness. Oftentimes, it\u2019s loss of motivation,\u201d Company said an in interview on WGLT\u2019s Sound Ideas<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Resolutions <\/p>\n

Some people will turn to resolutions in the new year to help lift their spirits. Company said resolutions, especially when it involves physical activity, are generally a positive step toward feeling better, even if most resolutions typically don\u2019t last. <\/p>\n

\u201cTwo weeks into it, people tend to fall off a bit. I would encourage people to say, \u2018I may have sat down for a bit but I\u2019m going to stand right back up when I get the chance and keep trying to work on my resolutions,\u2019\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Dry January <\/p>\n

One common resolution is to give up drinking, at least for a month. Company said she\u2019s seen Dry January<\/a> work well for clients, but it typically doesn\u2019t lead to permanent change. She hopes it will lead people to cut back on alcohol consumption. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat people don\u2019t oftentimes realize is that when they drink alcohol, anxiety is usually close by afterwards,\u201d Company explained. <\/p>\n

Exercise <\/p>\n

A new study says exercise is just as effective as therapy or medication at helping treat depression. Company said she recommends all her patients to get some physical activity \u2014 even as little as 20 minutes a day. <\/p>\n

\u201cI will tell people that sometimes, even if you don\u2019t feel god enough to do it, try to put on your shoes and maybe to walk slower, or tell yourself I\u2019m going to go out for five minutes,\u201d Company said.<\/p>\n

Company says movement is especially helpful when you are emotionally tired \u2014 as opposed to physically tired.<\/p>\n

Company recommends social connections, mindfulness and gratitude to beat the winter blues. She says light therapy lamps known as ‘happy lights’ that mimic sunlight can be an inexpensive way to improve your mood.<\/p>\n

She said it takes two weeks of symptoms to receive a clinical diagnosis of depression. She said in those cases it\u2019s best to get professional help.<\/p>\n

We depend on your support to keep telling stories like this one. WGLT\u2019s mental health coverage is made possible in part by Chestnut Health Systems. Please take a moment to donate now and add your financial support to fully fund this growing coverage area so we can continue to serve the community.<\/p>\n

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