For some people, Sunday can be a relaxing day after a hectic workweek and a busy Saturday filled with activities and chores. For others, the quiet of Sunday is a reminder that the stress of a new week will soon start all over again – and they dread it.

The Sunday blues strike again.

Many people don’t like to talk about feeling gloomy on Sundays. They worry that others, such as their co-workers or boss, will judge them, said Hillary LaMontagne, a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified drug and alcohol counselor who is a therapist with Memorial Counseling Associates and Memorial Partial Hospitalization.

But if you don’t deal with the pressure, the Sunday blues can make you increasingly irritable or reluctant to socialize with friends or do activities you enjoy, LaMontagne said.

So when should you worry that the Sunday blues are taking a toll? For some people, the dread of returning to work can become so strong that they’re unable to take pleasure in the present, LaMontagne said.

“They become so worried about Monday, they can’t focus on staying in the moment.”

If that type of all-consuming pattern continues for weeks, LaMontagne said that might be a good time to talk to a therapist. While some people are reluctant to seek help, therapy is a valuable wellness tool that can help you cope.

LaMontagne offers these three suggestions to help you bust the Sunday blues:

1. Evaluate the pros and cons of your current job. Is it time for a career change? Or are you feeling the pressure because an evaluation is coming up or a big presentation is looming?

2. Talk to your family and friends about what’s stressing you. Too many people keep their feelings bottled up.

3. Learn to slow down and relax on your weekend. While other cultures know how to do this, American society is not set up to value down time. “We get impatient because we need to do everything quickly,” LaMontagne said. “We tend to feel guilty if we’re not always being productive.”