Beating the Blues

We all feel down at times. Getting a case of the blues is part of the normal life experience. The blues have many causes-stress, grief, conflicts, dark cloudy days. Sometimes we just feel down with no apparent reason but that can be normal too.

When we feel a bit depressed, there may be an urge to stay in a dark lonely room but this only makes the blues worse. Our brain needs a few things to feel active and happier so we need to fight the urge to be alone, in darkness.

To beat the blues, we need to do a few things to get a mood boost:

• Get under bright lights. Sunlight is best.

• Be around other people. Talking to them is not required.

• Laugh. Watch something funny. Avoid reality-based TV, media, etc. (including the news).

• Do something physical. Exercise, even a walk, can help.

All of these actions increase our brain’s activity and can be natural antidepressants. So, if you need a mood boost, try some of these activities.