“Blue Monday” is known as the “saddest day of the year.” It arose from a marketing campaign created in 2005 by a travel agency (Sky Travel) and the idea behind this day is that factors such as the debt generated by Christmas, the cold winter weather and the absence of motivation to face The arrival of the new year makes this day the most depressing.
This formula has no scientific basis and has been criticized for its lack of validity. Currently Blue Monday is considered a cultural and media element It is also important to remember that depressive symptoms or feelings of sadness are not linked to a specific day. Mental health is influenced by factors such as genetics, environment, experiences, among others.
Feeling bad on Blue Monday: why is it the saddest day of the year?
The concept of “Blue Monday” can provoke suggestive effects in some people since the idea of a particular day being known as the “saddest day of the year” sometimes influences people’s expectations about their mood. In this case, we are talking about suggestion and it involves the influence of expectations on people’s perception and experience.
The idea that people feel bad exclusively on “Blue Monday” cannot be considered normal when we talk about a universal experience and is generalized to all individuals. Not everyone experiences sadness or anxious and depressive symptoms on this day, or on any other particular day.
When people know and are continually exposed to the idea that “Blue Monday” is the day when people feel the saddest and have the most depressive symptoms, they will begin to anticipate and keep those feelings in mind that day even if there is no reason for it.
This idea that one day of the year is the saddest of all can have a negative impact on your mood But it must be taken into account that this statement lacks scientific support. It is important to remember that mental health and emotional well-being are influenced by different individual factors and emotional experiences should not be reduced to one day a year.
If there are people who suffer significant changes on an emotional level, it is advisable that they seek support from a mental health professional to carry out a correct evaluation.
Tips to avoid feeling bad on Blue Monday
Although the idea of “Blue Monday” is more of a social construction rather than a scientific reality, some people may experience feelings of sadness due to the expectations generated about that day. Some tips to avoid having feelings of discomfort:
Work on suggestion to avoid sadness on Blue Monday
When talking about suggestibility, it refers to the tendency of some people to accept suggestions more easily than others. You can work in therapeutic contexts, in educational or personal development contexts with certain useful strategies.
First of all, foster self-awareness about beliefs, since this will help the person reflect on their beliefs and attitudes towards suggestibility. Additionally, when educational information is provided, one understands how suggestibility works and creates more awareness about the responses that are given automatically.
As for critical thinking, it is advisable to encourage it so that people evaluate the information they receive before taking it for granted or accepting it without questioning it. When a stressful situation appears, suggestibility can increase so the management of stress-related symptoms is recommended through relaxation techniques, for example.
On the other hand, reinforce critical thinking with rewards and praise since this way self-efficacy can be strengthened. It also helps people work on personal empowerment and control of their decisions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be effective to address certain patterns of unwanted behaviors or thoughts such as suggestibility. You can also offer gradual confrontation with softer suggestions and gradually increase them rather than exposing the person directly to stronger suggestions.
Finally, in situations where suggestibility is linked to anxieties, the most useful technique to address it is systematic desensitization (behavioral therapy technique).
It is important to know that suggestibility must be worked on ethically and above all with respect for each person’s individuality. Working with a mental health professional is the best way to address these issues effectively.
