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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Talk About 'Blue Monday'

Tracking Google searches shows low point before, not after, holidays

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(Newser) – Unless you're a Giants fan, it's likely you woke up this morning feeling a bit more than the usual Monday blahs. The third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year, says a Cardiff University researcher. He bases his annual predictions on weather, holiday debt, and broken New Year's resolutions, Time's Bill Tancer notes. But Tancer has a better formula.

By tracking online searches about depression, Tancer puts the "true nadir of depression" in mid-November, just ahead of Thanksgiving. And he notes a similar spike in searches for antidepressant drugs a few weeks earlier. "It's almost as if people anticipate their holiday depression and start shopping early for their drug of choice," he writes.

A British researcher says Monday January 21 is the most depressing day of the year. Time Magazine suggests he may way off target.
A British researcher says Monday January 21 is the most depressing day of the year. Time Magazine suggests he may way off target.   ((c) DMBFreakNo41)
Today might be the most depressing of the year, according to one university professor; or depression might peak a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, writes a Time writer.
Today might be the most depressing of the year, according to one university professor; or depression might peak a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, writes a Time writer.   (Index open)
A British researcher says Monday January 21 is the most depressing day of the year. Time Magazine suggests he may way off target.
A British researcher says Monday January 21 is the most depressing day of the year. Time Magazine suggests he may way off target.   ((c) Kevin Lawver)
A British researcher says Monday January 21 is the most depressing day of the year. Time Magazine suggests he may way off target.
A British researcher says Monday January 21 is the most depressing day of the year. Time Magazine suggests he may way off target.   ((c) Brian Finifter)
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weather • Google • suicide • depression • antidepressant • gas prices • Thanksgiving • New Year's resolutions • Dr. Cliff Arnall • mental crisis • most depressing day of the year • holiday depression • online search

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