How gloomy are you feeling?

Monday 19th January 2009, 8:15AM GMT.

GloomToday is officially recognised as the Gloomiest Day of the Year.

According to psychologist and depression expert Cliff Arnall, the reason we’re all feeling so miserable is down to a combination of six factors which come together to zap us of energy and leave us feeling down in the dumps.

Arnall claims these include gloomy weather, low levels of motivation, Christmas debt, broken New Year’s resolutions, a sense of monotony and a “desperate feeling that you need to take action to improve your drab existence”.

But are we all really so likely to feel miserable today? Are you feeling at your gloomiest or do you have reasons to be cheerful? And if you’re actually feeling quite perky, what’s the secret?

Share your woes or happiness tips in our forum below!


  1. 1
    Sandra

    I’m affected by all those things – what’s to feel happy about except for the summer and the end to this recession – and who knows when that’ll be??

    I might even start listening to Radiohead again – that’s how gloomy I feel!

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  2. 2
    merc

    I think the government should give us all a £1000 each cheer-up cheque. It would go staight back into UK Plc, admittedly most probably via the breweries. But it would get the economic cogs turning over.

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  3. 3
    Rodney Nosnail

    I’m too fed-up to comment on this story.

    Report abuse

  4. 4
    nina

    My mother always said that it would all end in tears!

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  5. 5
    Devilschair

    Stop whinging and get one your bikes, it has not effected me yet, or that a bit too Thatcher for you all..?
    Moneterism taught us to put the bunch of bankers and city finance in the middle of our alter – it’s now proven to be no magic bullet (btw the isn’t one!). and now, someone has to pay for their greed and lying. Hopefully we can de-construct the excesses of the 80-00s and save it. (“There it is, now DON’T lose it again” .. a few might recognise the reference to a cartoon of immediate post-war).

    Report abuse

  6. 6
    Lennon McCartney

    Merc, what a fabulous way to save all those threatened pubs. I’ll drink to that!

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  7. 7
    Morgan

    Can someone lend me some money please? I broke my new years resolution of watching what I spend but due to the weather I lost my motivation and need to better myself cos every days seems to be like groundhog day.

    ….see what I did there?

    P.S ~ Yes works slow ;-)

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  8. 8
    devon salopian

    it is really nice writing this at 5pm, the days are drawing out, winter has but 45 days to throw at us. let us be grateful for the good things and try for a few hours to forget about foolish banks, financial chaos oh and, the government. let our glass be half full and not half empty

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  9. 9
    David

    Well now I’m depressed. I’m certain it said on the radio last Monday that that was the worst day of the year, I went round dutifully gloomy all day, and now I find it was the wrong day !!!

    I notice the papers never advise us when the happiest day of the year is so we can all be cheerful.

    Report abuse

  10. 10
    Lou

    I’m doomy and gloomy, but i get it every year at this time, always want a change but when things brighten up it all changes. getting out more works, fresh air and exercise!!

    Report abuse

  11. 11
    neil-aus

    if you stop and think, you don’t live in some other part of the world were theres war or no food and water to hand ,you have a roof over your head not cardbroad box. then you see how lucky you bloody are.
    Then with what you got you make the best of what you have and enjoy everday as it maybe your last..

    Report abuse

  12. 12
    John Smith

    I’ve had my fair share of life’s troubles dumped on me, I have never in my life needed anti depressants, nor sought a doctor out to ‘woe is me to’
    Life is what YOU make of it, laugh or cry, the choice is yours.

    My Nana used to have this saying when things went wrong…”This too will pass”
    She was right, nothing that could possibly happen is that bad that you can’t get over it. (yes I’ve lost a parent AND a son)
    Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get on with it is my motto! Wrapping oneself in self pity does nothing for you.

    Report abuse

  13. 13
    Commenter

    You make it as dull as you want it to be. Don’t blame anything/anybody else.

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  14. 14
    Morgan

    “I notice the papers never advise us when the happiest day of the year is so we can all be cheerful.”

    Most of us get get at least 12 of these a year David, tends to be pay day!

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  15. 15
    Tory Boy

    Every time i remember we have that scottish clown leading the country taxing me to the hilt to pay for his damn social projects I feel gloomier every day

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  16. 16
    David

    I was being flippant Morgan, I didn’t really go round being ‘dutifully gloomy’, I have a wonderful job, I earn more than enough, I’m fit and healthy, life is great, and certainly newspapers aren’t going to get me down with all their doom and gloom reporting.

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  17. 17
    Telfordwolves

    Every day gloomy when you live in Telford just a joke!!

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  18. 18
    Stuart

    The way you go on “Tory Boy” (your’e not real are you?) you are going to put that Scottish clown into power forever and a day. I get more fed up by the day, there’s me fighting against Clown and all he stands for and then there is you, fighting like mad for him to have another go, god, what a day it’s been.

    Report abuse

  19. 19
    wil

    i had a good day

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  20. 20
    Morgan

    “I have a wonderful job, I earn more than enough, ”

    Fancy a swap? I hate my job and don’t earn enough ;-)

    Report abuse

  21. 21
    David

    Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

    Report abuse



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