January 24 called worst day of the year

British psychologist calculates ?most depressing day?¹

THEREFORE, HOW CAN I TURN MY LOW MOOD AROUND AND CHEER MYSELF UP?

Here's What Nicola said in a recent Information Session for Wirral's Buzz FM Radio.

Low mood can be caused for any number of reasons, and as human beings, we all experience feeling low at some point in our lives. If you find you are experiencing a particularly low mood, one of the first steps is to discover what is causing it.

What is the cause of my low mood?

Low mood could be due to a very specific cause, i.e. bad relationship, debt problems, unhappiness at work, etc. In January it is likely to be a case of all of these!

Or it could be just a low feeling that you can?t pinpoint a specific reason for. We will look at the two separately.

I know specifically what my problems are, what should I do?

If it is a very specific problem, the first rule is DON?T KEEP IT TO YOURSELF! When our troubling thoughts go round and round in our heads, they affect our energy levels and lower our mood and we get caught in a vicious circle that is hard to break.

When you hear your problem said aloud in your own words, quite often you will find you discover a fresh perspective on the problem, because you are breaking the thought pattern. If you truly can?t find a trusted friend or confidante, then speak your problem aloud to yourself!

Write the problems down. Make a note of each specific thing you are down about.

Then ask yourself the question:-

WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE THIS SITUATION IMPROVE?

Never underestimate your own personal power! One of the key aspects of life coaching is to remind you that YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE! Sometimes when we are so bogged down with our low feelings, we cannot see that there are steps we can take to make a difference. COMMIT TO TAKING ONE ACTION TO MAKE EACH SITUATION BETTER. Once you get the ball rolling, you will really feel the difference in your life and a surge in your mood!

I just feel low, I don?t know of any specific reason?

When there is no specific reason for feeling low, it is just a feeling that you are experiencing, then it could be time to get the felt tips out!

When I work with clients who are experiencing a low mood, I ask them to draw a picture of themselves, and to use colours on each part of their body to represent each feeling. For instance, is it my heart that is hurting, or is my head feeling cluttered

Asking the questions ?what colour are my feelings, what do they look like? What are my feelings made of? Where are they coming from??

Seeing a picture of your feelings and where they are placed is really powerful in gaining clarity about what is causing them, and can offer a fresh perspective.

The final 2 questions to ask yourself:

WHAT DO I WANT MY FEELINGS TO LOOK LIKE?

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN FOR MY FEELINGS TO CHANGE?

By asking these questions, you should be well on your way to identifying what is causing you to feel so low.

Write down the things that you take for granted, the things that you are happy or satisfied with that you have lost sight of, e.g. health, friendships, work. And ask yourself:

HOW CAN THESE THINGS THAT MAKE ME SATISFIED OR KEEP ME HAPPY HELP ME TO IMPROVE MY CURRENT LOW MOOD?

Finally, we all experience periods of feeling down, it is a common human experience, but if the feeling persists, and does not change as a result of altering your perspective, it is worth contacting your GP for further support.

Nicola Forshaw of NJ Coaching is a graduate of The Coaching Academy, and holds an advanced diploma with merit. She has been featured in the media, including Sky TV as a relationship expert, and on Wirral's Buzz FM, and 7 Waves Radio giving general life coaching tips.

If you have a problem you would like Nicola to help you with (insert contact)

¹ MSNBC 24/1/05
 

Notes for editors: Nicola Forshaw is available for interview and photographs. She can be contacted on Tel 0151 678 9000 or mail@njcoaching.co.uk

Now is the time for change

Now book your introductory Coaching Session with NJ Coaching, contact me right now, click here for details on how to contact me.