To ask for tips in not feeling down as we approach autumn?

I feel the dread too, a real visceral sickening fear.

It is an endurance game. Putting a lot of lamps in my living room helped, I don't cope with dim dreary cold evenings. Electric blanket helped as I don't cope with cold. Saving up some AL days to use in the winter months just to have randomly shorter weeks, I often work in a windowless room and long shifts, so I can go half a week without really seeing sunlight otherwise.

Humans have always celebrated midwinter because they're halfway to surviving winter again. Solstice is more important to me than Christmas for that reason.

I haven't cracked it yet to be honest. It's really hard.

I love the autumn and winter time.

My now late MIL used to be like this from about July to March..

Try not to wish your life away. It's nice to have a holiday planned, but counting down is not ideal.

Watch less news - that's what I am doing currently..
Set a budget for Christmas now, and tell relatives / kids etc. Wind Christmas in, and reduce pressure.

Our only DC goes off to Uni in 5 weeks. I'm really excited for her, but not sure how I will be feeling. Changed jobs this year, not through choice, and am finding work very dull. Pleasant though, so must be grateful.

A school friend died last year (at 52) so I really make an effort to see the positives.

We go to the pub every Sunday - but drink non alcoholic. Feels like a real life community thing now.

Remember that by September 21st we will be halfway through the 'days getting shorter' phase.

I do go to Aqua Aerobics several times a week and will certainly keep it up in the winter. It always lifts my spirits.

Sign up for an evening or weekend course that will take you through the autumn/winter. Pottery, art, craft, Pilates, and so on.

I'm not interested in cosy and all that stuff and I don't like Christmas either. I've got a holiday booked for the end of March and I'll be counting down the days.

I used to hate summer. So I thought about all the aspects I hated about it and put in place things to mitigate that. As an example, I hate light evenings so I now have a combination of blackout blinds/curtains, so I can make it dark when I want to. I also tried to really focus on the little things I did like, like being able to eat outside and tried to fully appreciate them.

I think it is possible to change your mindset but it takes some work. Really think about what it is you don't like about Autumn, what can you do to lessen that impact? What little things can you do, that you do enjoy. I now have things I look forward to in every season.

I feel the same. October, November and December are so difficult for me. I hate the spiders, the feeling of things winding down, the dark nights and the intensity of the run-up to Christmas. I want to back out of doing Christmas, and run off to Spain for a few months, but that’s not realistic. I have no advice. Light box, medication, cosy clothes; I do all of that already but I still really struggle with it all.

I was actually thinking the same thing today, sad summer is also over and the cold dark nights are coming. My plan is buy some nice new throws/candles/lights so my house is cozy. Get outside a lot all through winter ( easy for me as I have 2 nursery age children) bust out my camel coat and red lipstick. We usually do a September holiday (just a uk caravan this year) so there is something to look forward to. Embrace your inner Pinterest basic bitch!

I share your feelings. For me, once I get to September I'm just waiting for next March and that feeling gets worse every year. I wish I had tips other than gritting your teeth and realising that the next few months will pass.