MSNBC - Jan. 24 called worst day of the year
LONDON - Is the midwinter weather wearing you down? Are you sinking in debt after the holidays? Angry with yourself for already breaking your New Year's resolutions? Wish you could crawl back under the covers and not have to face another day of rain, sleet, snow and paperwork? Probably. After all, it's Jan. 24, the “most depressing day of the year,” according to a U.K. psychologist.

Dr. Cliff Arnall's calculations show that misery peaks Monday.

Arnall, who specializes in seasonal disorders at the University of Cardiff, Wales, created a formula that takes into account numerous feelings to devise peoples' lowest point.

The model is: [W + (D-d)] x TQ
M x NA

The equation is broken down into seven variables: (W) weather, (D) debt, (d) monthly salary, (T) time since Christmas, (Q) time since failed quit attempt, (M) low motivational levels and (NA) the need to take action.

Free Prozac for everybody!

Perhaps we should call this "Depression Day" and have a holiday. Happy Depression Day! An oxymoron if I ever saw one.

Speaking as someone who is in the deep well myself, it's hard to say whether "today" is the turning point. My situation is a bit different right now; life events have propelled me to the point where I feel like I'm at the bottom of a HUGE mountain, and I have absolutely NO desire to start climbing it. It's hard enough to even get dressed, let alone actually leave the house and go out into the cold and snow, put on a cheery, positive face, and try to sell myself to some prospective employer. Are you fuckin' kidding me? Seems impossible at this point.

But that's just me at this place in time; a severe loss of hope. Damn, I wish I had some Xanax.