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Are you suffering from January Blues?

TMS Expert Blog

by Chloe, TMS Technician, Birmingham

In our first ‘TMS Expert Blog’ of 2019, TMS Technician Chloe looks at the January Blues.

What are January Blues?

January can make the most energetic of us feel down in the dumps and experience the “January Blues”. It is a form of depression that many people feel after the Christmas holidays and sometimes before. There is a build up to the festive time of year so when January comes there can be an adjustment to our mood.

Some reasons to why people may be feeling blue at the start of the year are that the festive holiday is over, meaning it is time to go back to work for many people, you may not have done everything you wanted to in the break and it’s winter so the days are shorter and the weather is colder.

How can I boost my mood?

  • Recalling positive things, you experienced over the festive period, memories or even positive experiences throughout your life which could put a smile on your face.
  • You can make plans for yourself to have a better year than the last one so self-improvement projects, being more social able or helping others who are in need.
  • Eat well during the winter as during the winter months you can crave sugary food and carbohydrates such as pasta and bread but don’t forget plenty of fruit and vegetables.
  • Go outside and explore – exposure to the natural daylight is good for us and we often become depressed in darker months due to our limited sunlight exposure.
  • Avoid unrealistic new year’s resolutions so make sure they are achievable, as you want to set yourself a goal you can achieve and feel that fulfillment when this resolution is achieved throughout the year.
  • Plan a holiday and have something to look forward too, it will help to fill your day with a sense of purpose, excitement and joy
  • Exercise releases endorphins which are your feel-good hormones in your body which will lift your mood after completion and if you can exercise outside you are exposed to that natural daylight too, gaining the benefits mentioned earlier.
  • Try something new!  Aim to spend one or two hours a week doing something different. Volunteering is a great idea as you can help yourself and others in the community whether it is a befriending scheme or helping a neighbor of yours.
  • Treat yourself every now and then whether it is a new series on the television to binge on, a new haircut or a day doing absolutely nothing – do something that makes you feel good.

What if the January Blues don’t go away?

Although the January Blues are likely to lift, if you are suffering from depression each winter, there is a chance you may be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), otherwise known as “Winter Depression”. SAD is usually more apparent and more severe during the winter and tends to come and go in a seasonal pattern.

Treatment for SAD can include amendments in lifestyle measures, talking therapies, antidepressants and rTMS treatment.

TMS stimulates the area of the brain that is proven to cause depression and can lead to remission in approximately 60% of patients, without the use of any medications.

chloe tmsChloe, TMS Technician

Chloe is a TMS Technician at the Smart TMS Birmingham Clinic.

Her qualifications and experience include:

  • Degree in Psychology (BSc) from The University of Birmingham
  • Masters (MSc) in Counselling Psychology MSc from Keele University
  • Work experience includes Mental Health Assistant at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust and Counsellor at Solihull Mind and WPH Counselling

PRIVATE RTMS FOR DEPRESSION TREATMENT

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a technological breakthrough in the treatment of depression and anxiety without drugs.

Additionally, there is clinical evidence for a variety of further potential treatment applications including: addictions (alcohol, cocaine, meth, nicotine, gambling) as well as DPD (Depersonalisation Disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), BPD (borderline personality disorder).

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment at Smart TMS

Smart TMS

Smart TMS was established in 2015, dedicated to providing TMS treatment in London at their South Kensington/Brompton Cross centre. The company opened a second clinic in Birmingham in September 2017 and also has a base in Northampton.  The first Irish clinic was opened in Dublin in October 2017 and in 2018, Smart TMS opened further locations in Manchester, Bristol and Havant (South Coast).

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