Monty Don's health battle that 2 million Brits suffer from could improve with five tips

Monty Don
-Credit: (Image: BBC)


A mental health expert has shared five lifestyle changes that could help manage your SAD symptoms, as the UK navigates through the colder and darker seasons.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as winter depression, affects two million people in the UK, including Gardeners' World star Monty Don.

Symptoms can include; a persistent low mood, a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities, irritability, feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness as well as a decreased sex drive.

According to the NHS, these symptoms can be severe and have a significant impact on a sufferer's day-to-day activities in some cases.

Women are also reportedly more likely than men to battle low self-confidence and avoid social situations and challenges when the weather takes a turn.

Depressed girl
A mental health specialist suggests spending less time on social media and comparing yourself to others -Credit:GETTY

Should you be experiencing these symptoms, an expert has suggested positive self-talking, cutting down on social media, celebrating small wins, meditation and saying yes to activities.

Author and women's health specialist Olivia Roberts says "speaking to yourself with kindness has been shown to have many benefits", including an improved wellbeing and performance at work.

Additionally, spending less time on social media and comparing your life to others can also have a positive impact.

Furthermore, the author says "little wins for the things you made happen" are worth celebrating, according to The Mirror's Notebook Magazine.

"Whether it's a big award at work, cooking from scratch, passing an exam, cleaning the oven, running a mike, having a baby or something completely different, small or big, we should always give ourselves a pat on the back," she shared.

The mental health specialist also suggests that taking yourself out of your comfort zone and saying yes to things can "bring you a whole lot of happiness down the line".

Monty Don
Monty Don credits gardening and spending time with his dogs as good ways of boosting his mood -Credit:BBC

As well as this, meditation can be beneficial for anybody, particularly if you need a distraction from the world.

"Taking the time to centre your thoughts and focus on your breath can help you tune into negative self-talk and turn it around," she added.

Such a method, even if practised for as little as five minutes, can help with calmness, overthinking and cultivating emotional resilience.

Famed gardener Monty, 69, knows all too well about depression, which once got so bad, his long-term wife Sarah told him she'd leave him if he didn't get help.

He was later prescribed anti-depressants, but later gave them up and started to use a light box, which helps transition between the seasons.

Monty also credits gardening as a good way to boost his mood, as well as spending time with his loved ones and dogs.