Weekend depression is most definitely a real thing. In fact, it is more common than what you might think. Not everyone lives for the weekend and for some, it can be the loneliest time of the week.
There are a few explanations for why we sometimes suffer from weekend depression and this post will look at why, as well as offer a few possible solutions to the problem of weekend depression.
Why Do We Get Weekend Depression?
One of the main reasons for suffering from depression on a weekend is the simple fact that often weekends lack structure and purpose.
We spend our weeks with a structure and are often busy with work, school, household chores and running errands. Having all of these tasks to get through gives us a sense of purpose and worth, even if we don’t enjoy what we are doing. By the time the weekend rolls around, we tend to keep the structure to a minimum. Keeping ourselves busy often takes our mind off the negative thoughts and feelings too.
Another reason for weekend depression can be social isolation. Usually, our weeks are filled with social interactions at work or school and we are feeding that basic human need of connection. After a busy week spent socializing with others, it is quite common to want to do the opposite once it gets to the weekend. This self-isolation can make depression symptoms worse and have us feeling low during the weekend.
Weekend depression can also be brought about because we spend our time comparing ourselves to others. On Facebook and Instagram for example, everyone seems to have the perfect life filled with exciting adventures and fun. If we are at home and alone, often we find ourselves doing a comparison and feeling lower because we aren’t out there living the good life that our friends seem to be living.
Another possible explanation for weekend depression is that you may actually be suffering from depression, but being busy all week keeps you distracted from your symptoms and feelings. Then when the weekend comes and the distractions are gone, all we are left with are our low feelings and depressed mood. We spend the week focused on everything else and the weekend is spent focusing on ourselves and sometimes feeling miserable about it.
One other factor that may or may not play a part for you is alcohol. For some people the weekends are for drinking, but the alcohol tends to only worsen our symptoms of depression. Alcohol is a depressant, and combined with an already depressed mood it can leave us feeling lower than we otherwise would.
How To Deal With Weekend Depression
Fortunately, weekend depression is very treatable. Sometimes just making small changes to your structure can be enough to overcome those weekend blues. For others, the underlying depression needs to be treated which may require a little more effort to get on top of it. Here are some tips to help combat weekend depression
Make a plan. As mentioned, often our weeks are full of structure and plans and the weekends are completely lacking in it. So, create a plan for your weekend and give yourself some things to look forward to. If you are feeling especially depressed on the weekends, then just plan little things like having a shower, eating breakfast, going for a walk, buying a coffee, spending an hour reading etc. As you do each of those things, tick them off your list as that will help to give you a sense of achievement and accomplishment.
Start your day with a walk. Exercise is a great natural treatment for mental illness including depression. In as little as 5 minutes of exercising you can experience a boost to your mood. Starting the weekend off with a walk can put you in a great mental place to deal with those weekend blues, and have you feeling more positive and also have more energy to achieve other things on your list for the weekend. Read this post about 7 benefits of exercise for mental health.
Plan to socialize. Sometimes it can be difficult when all you feel like doing is staying inside and isolating yourself from other people. So start small and push yourself to make plans with others for the weekend. Even if it is just something small like catching up with a friend for coffee, you’ll be giving yourself the positive benefits of social interaction which is often missing on a weekend.
Do some charity work. Volunteering for a local charity organization can be a great way to meet new people, socialize and give you a sense of accomplishment. It is also great for your self esteem as you are doing something that you can feel proud of yourself about. Charity work has many positive benefits to help you fight against weekend depression and do something good for your community.
Take it easy on yourself. Sometimes we think we are expected to do certain things on the weekend and end up feeling anxious or depressed when we don’t do anything. Try to remove any expectations of yourself and work within your limits.
Remember weekends are meant to be fun, so don’t push yourself beyond your limits. Just make a few small changes and hopefully that momentum will put you in a place of wanting to do more. Small steps to start with is ideal. If your weekend depression still persists or maybe starts to impact you during the week, then you may need to speak to your doctor about treating your depression. You may need further psychological treatment or perhaps medication to treat your depression symptoms.
How I Overcame Depression
I didn’t just have weekend depression. I had major depressive disorder which impacted me nearly every day. I tried many different medications but nothing seemed to help me. I feel I was very fortunate when after 10 years of fighting depression I found a way to overcome it without expensive medication.
What worked for me was a course called Destroy Depression. If it worked for my severe depression then it can work for anyone who is fighting the symptoms of depression. It is a step by step guide to getting on top of your depression and staying there. I’m in the best mental place I have been in a long time and it is thanks to this course.
You don’t need to suffer from severe or long term depression like me to benefit from this course. In fact, you don’t even need to be suffering from depression. Any person in any situation can always benefit from improved mental health and that is what this course will give you. It also has a money back guarantee, so there is nothing to lose by trying it. You can find out more by using the link below.
Click here to learn more about Destroy Depression
Please note – the product links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission if you make a purchase through that link. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps me to keep the website running.
