THE New Year’s resolution has already gone out of the window, the letterbox is stuffed full of bills and the forecast is wet and miserable.

Today is officially the most glum day of the year according Dr Cliff Arnall, a psychologist at Cardiff University, who argued that a combination of six factors including weather, debt, time since Christmas and time since failing our New Year's resolutions leaves us feeling blue.

And this year there is even more misery than usual with the VAT increase, no pay rises for many workers in the public and private sector and increased fears over job security.

But Barbara Stapleton, head of the Primary Care Psychology Service in Swindon and Wiltshire, said it is the simple things that help beat the blues.

“What people tend to do when they are stressed is stop doing the things that make them feel better,” she said.

“They might lose the will to go and see friends, go to the gym or read a book.

“If you want to feel better it best to do those things, especially when you really don’t feel like it. Like when you don’t want to go to a party but your friend arrives and drags you along – even though it’s a huge effort.

“The other thing people do when they are stressed is to avoid things – they don’t want to open those bills or put problems off. Then it’s like a big black cloud. Even if you just sort one bill out it can help and often our imagination is worse than the reality. When you get really stressed it is difficult to think of options and it’s a rabbit in the headlights reaction.

“That happens when you get anxious because the blood is diverted from the brain – it’s then impossible to make a decision.

“I think stress is a much overused word but what we are talking about here is low moods and mild stress.

“We run courses for people and had around 30,000 visit us last year so it is quite normal.”

Research carried out by mental health charity Mind, which has a branch in Regent Circus, also suggests that going green through activities like walking and gardening can be as effective as prescription drugs in treating mental distress.

The charity offers group and one-to-one appointments for counselling on stress and can be contacted on 01793 432031.

The Primary Care Psychology Service offers courses throughout the year and can be contacted in Swindon on 01793 836836 or on swindon.psychology@awp.nhs.uk.