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Feeling Low? Could Be From 'Blue Monday'

POSTED: 11:16 am EST January 22, 2007

Feeling down this Monday?

You're not alone, according to a psychologist at Cardiff University, who has declared Jan. 22 Blue Monday.

Dr. Cliff Arnall said on the news Web site icWales that a mathematical formula shows how the confluence of post-Christmas fatigue, holiday bills, bad weather and failed resolutions can make people depressed.

The formula is: 1/8W+(D-d)3/8xTQMxNA.

The site said the factors are W for weather, D for debt from Christmas bills, d for monthly salary, T for time since Christmas. Q is the failure to keep a resolution or quit a bad habit, M stands for motivation and NA is the need to take action.

"The truth is a lot of people feel down at this time and a lot of people have depression as well, particularly men, and they don't want to talk about it," Arnall said.

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