Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Anyone else get depressed in Spring?

113 replies

Apologynotaccepted · 24/02/2026 20:40

I get SAD the wrong way round. No one else I'm my life has it , but I find spring really depressing and unsettling . Anyone else?

OP posts:
friendlyflicka · 24/02/2026 23:42

Apologynotaccepted · 24/02/2026 23:27

I love flowers and I love my garden. I even love being warm and sunbathing. It's an odd thing to describe. I just feel a strong sense of dread with the light stretching on longer.

Always have. Feel all my nerves tingling.

bumblingbovine49 · 24/02/2026 23:39

I am absolutely the opposite I am afraid. I love love Spring and mostly like summer though anything above about 32-35deg is too hot for me.

In fact I am already cheering up as we get the odd bright day. Feb is generally a truly awful month. Marginally better then January as it is closer to Spring and the daffs and snowdrops are out

Sept to Dec is awful, and in fact Nov - Jan is almost unbearable to me. Christmas just adds to the misery in my opinion.

MrTwisterHasABlister · 24/02/2026 23:34

Absolutely not. I adore Spring; bulbs coming up reminding me of (and rewarding me for) days spent planting in the garden in the autumn and early winter. New life coming out of the earth - it’s incredible to think I contributed to this and as a result, will for the rest of time 🤯

Not long till the bonkers dawn chorus has me awake at 4.30am - dozing to it it the best alarm call!

Finally, I noticed it was still light at 5.30pm today and immediately felt the physical and mental benefits. I love all seasons but man, could do with some blue skies and heat for a bit.

ETA: TOTALLY agree that the relief that Christmas is over and a long, long, long way away is palpable! I detest Christmas!

socks1107 · 24/02/2026 23:29

Yes, I hate May. Absolutely hate it and my insomnia is always awful in that month for some reason

HoppityBun · 24/02/2026 23:28

Yes, me!

Original poster
Apologynotaccepted · 24/02/2026 23:27

I love flowers and I love my garden. I even love being warm and sunbathing. It's an odd thing to describe. I just feel a strong sense of dread with the light stretching on longer.

OP posts:
JohnTheRevelator · 24/02/2026 23:23

Yes I get a bit like this too. I'm not a fan of very hot weather so I know that as spring progresses,the nearer we are getting to summer and the possibility of a heatwave. And before anyone says we never have hot weather in this country,last year between the beginning of June and the middle of August,we had no less than four 2 week heatwaves,with temperatures in excess of 28 degrees! I really was not happy last summer. I'm in the south east,greater London in case anyone in Scotland is wondering what I'm talking about!

BubbleFree · 24/02/2026 23:21

ilovesooty · 24/02/2026 23:13

I think it's delightful that when I was getting home just after 5pm it wasn't dark. It feels like emerging from a dismal tunnel. And thankfully it's months until Halloween and Christmas.

I agree. I love watching the trees becoming green again, seeing the crocus and snowdrops bloom and everything coming to life. I’ve been diagnosed with SAD for over 10 years and you just have to make the best of it during the winter months, likewise those that suffer similar in the summer months just need to find a way to overcome the awful feeling of seasons changing.

myglowupera · 24/02/2026 23:19

ilovesooty · 24/02/2026 23:13

I think it's delightful that when I was getting home just after 5pm it wasn't dark. It feels like emerging from a dismal tunnel. And thankfully it's months until Halloween and Christmas.

I remember seeing you post on a thread last year and we both felt the same regarding the cold dark months. We hate them 😂.

And yes Halloween and Christmas can piss off far far away 😊.

MyOtherProfile · 24/02/2026 23:15

Apologynotaccepted · 24/02/2026 22:36

This is me !

Show quote history

And me!

myglowupera · 24/02/2026 23:15

Spring and Summer are so much better than “cozy season” for me. I feel relaxed and cheerful when the warmer months are here. I’m not gonna lie I’m glad it’s my turn now. ☀️

Autumn and Winter feel heavy. I can’t explain it. Autumn in particular. I think it’s because it’s the beginning of my worst time of year. By the time we’re in Winter I’m used to feeling fed up so I find Autumn the hardest to deal with.

So it sounds like I’m you in reverse. Autumn will be here before you know it again.

ilovesooty · 24/02/2026 23:13

I think it's delightful that when I was getting home just after 5pm it wasn't dark. It feels like emerging from a dismal tunnel. And thankfully it's months until Halloween and Christmas.

UnhappyHobbit · 24/02/2026 23:10

Yes I have in the past. I used to call it the rude awakening. I never felt ready. I do love spring for its blossom and daffodils though so I soon get over it.

whiteroseredrose · 24/02/2026 22:46

I worked out that the reason that I started to feel stressed in March / April was that my subconscious associated it with exams coming up.

All through my teens and early 20s Easter meant starting exam revision.

Original poster
Apologynotaccepted · 24/02/2026 22:46

darkchocolatebounty · 24/02/2026 22:40

The same pace of change exists at the opposite end of the year, just in reverse (ie the change from summer to autumn). It doesn’t seem that it’s change that you don’t like?

Show quote history

Yeah it definitely is. It's the change. I like the change to autumn as it gets smaller and cosier and there's all the best bits of the year , halloween, loads of birthdays and Christmas

OP posts:
Bonjovispjs · 24/02/2026 22:44

Nope, spring is my favourite season, love it.

illsendansostotheworld · 24/02/2026 22:43

I used to when l was with my ex as l knew he'd spend even more time in the pub while l'd be amusing myself - made me feel really lonely.
Love it these days though!

MyCrushWithEyeliner · 24/02/2026 22:43

AlloaintheMiddle · 24/02/2026 21:42

YES! ME! I love autumn and winter.

Can’t stand spring, don’t get me started on summer…. 🤢

Snap!

I find Autumn and Winter whizz by way too fast.

Hate the Summer as the days seem never ending and loathe the heat. My Depression is worse during that time too.

DinoLil · 24/02/2026 22:42

Me. I dread the clocks going forward, the longer days. Its just too much pressure. Everyone else is going woohoo and I want to crawl back under my duvet.

darkchocolatebounty · 24/02/2026 22:40

Apologynotaccepted · 24/02/2026 22:35

There's no trauma or anything related , I think it's the change that I don't like. I quite enjoy summer , have nice summer experiences each year etc but there's something about the change to more light that makes me feel unsettled. Don't feel like I have to be out more, no pressure etc . I enjoy doing my garden etc but I just feel all unsettled and unnerved at this time of year

The same pace of change exists at the opposite end of the year, just in reverse (ie the change from summer to autumn). It doesn’t seem that it’s change that you don’t like?

Original poster
Apologynotaccepted · 24/02/2026 22:36

loopylocks · 24/02/2026 22:10

Same. I love the Autumn and Winter. Feel a bit down about the long bright days ahead. Weird, but it is what it is.

This is me !

OP posts:
Original poster
Apologynotaccepted · 24/02/2026 22:35

There's no trauma or anything related , I think it's the change that I don't like. I quite enjoy summer , have nice summer experiences each year etc but there's something about the change to more light that makes me feel unsettled. Don't feel like I have to be out more, no pressure etc . I enjoy doing my garden etc but I just feel all unsettled and unnerved at this time of year

OP posts:
Jfieobabco · 24/02/2026 22:33

Philothea · 24/02/2026 21:54

I enjoy the change from winter to spring, but even more so the change from summer to autumn. I dislike the summer - September until end of December is my favourite and I spend the rest of the year looking forward to it.

This is EXACTLY the same for me!!!

Ohyeahitsme · 24/02/2026 22:30

Nope. February almost kills me every year (genuinely, my MH takes a nose dive this time of year). Spring is my reward for not dying.

Abracadabra12345 · 24/02/2026 22:30

loopylocks · 24/02/2026 22:10

Same. I love the Autumn and Winter. Feel a bit down about the long bright days ahead. Weird, but it is what it is.

I’m the same