The third Monday of January has been given the title of Blue Monday as it is (supposedly) the most depressing day of the year! With the cold nights, short days and post Christmas-blues, it’s easy to see why we start to feel a little low. It’s also the time where a lot of people are starting to fail in their New Years resolutions and feeling low motivation levels. However, the team at the Vale Practice are on hand to help! Did you know that recent studies have found that acupuncture can have a strong positive effect on patients suffering with depression and stress. It’s been found that acupuncture is effective in lowering activity in our HPA axis (Hypothalamus Pituitary Adrenaline) which gives the fight or flight response- our physical and psychological reaction to stress. 

Massage is also great for elevating mood. It works by increasing activity in the parasympathetic nervous system which calms the body and brain during times of stress. Research has found that after massage, cortisol (stress hormone) levels reduce, meaning that massage can have a positive effect not just physically, but also physiologically! Did you know, that as a result of relaxation, the immune system also boosts. Meaning having massage can also help to fight off those nasty winter colds! 

Counselling can also help with coping with difficult feelings, such as depression and anxiety associated with Blue Monday. Counselling has been found to be effective in helping people with mental health issues in numerous reports and studies.