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Original poster

2025/26 SAD thread

821 replies

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 31/08/2025 18:25

It’s 1st September tomorrow so we’re back for another year’s SAD thread.

Welcome all old and new who struggles in the cold and dark months for advice and general moaning!

The only rule is no talk of snuggling under blankets, crunching in leaves (which will realistically be a soggy wet mulch, or pumpkin spiced anything!

Advice from previous years’ threads:

A SAD lamp can help as can a daylight alarm clock.
Try to get outdoors when the weather/ light allows it.
Try to keep up with your exercise routine or start a new one!
Remember to take your vitamin D and multi vitamins.
Try to have something to look forward to.

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mrsdiddlydoo · 07/10/2025 08:50

I've gone wild and instead of buying what I planned to I've ordered these. I like the idea of having the lamp set up in the home office but as I sometimes work from the office, so the mini beurer one will be good to take with me and also on the rare trip away.

2025/26 SAD thread
mrsdiddlydoo · 07/10/2025 08:34

Oo I thought I would have a look on amazon because it's a prime day and there are a few offers on SAD lamps. The Lumie mini is down to £39, and quite a few on offer. Worth a look.

Grey overcast day here in the shire.
I should be getting a wriggle on but not feeling it. Feeling old and creaky with sore joints.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding glad the test results were fine. I'm usually on the low side of normal too. Are you taking vit d and iron? That is a low heart rate!

I hate waiting rooms. Any kind. And waiting for appointments. I go into freeze mode waiting for them.

Hope some of you have sunshine today. I think we're stuck with grey all day, but not cold.

mrsdiddlydoo · 06/10/2025 22:29

Just about to head to bed but managing to move away from being a hormonal mess. To being just a miserable mess with the doom and gloom!

@Goneonholsbymistake I plan to buy a Lumie vitamin L but waiting for a good offer. I missed one once I made my mind up, then had a bad experience on amazon warehouse. I think you need it to be able to do 10000lux and some of them are rated as a medical device. No idea if that makes any difference.

lyingonthebeach · 04/10/2025 13:32

The weather here is hideous 😡🥴. Teasing hints of sun then grey, bucketing rain, hail and repeat. And all the time blowing a hoolie🤬

Original poster
Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 04/10/2025 07:37

@Idontknowhatnametochoose I’m sorry you’re not able to get out in heavy rain 🙁 mind you, not that you’d want to in this! Our dog is a puppy so he really needs to run or he gets a bit manic!

I was woken up at 6am by the power coming back on (must have been a power cut) and I can’t get back to sleep 😭😭. I’m soooo tired!

@Goneonholsbymistake mine is just a cheap one off Amazon but it does the job! It’s several years old now though so I can’t recommend the same one as it’s not there anymore.

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Goneonholsbymistake · 03/10/2025 19:09

Recommendations for a sad lamp on amazon please. I want one but am at a lost which to purchase.

lyingonthebeach · 03/10/2025 18:33

Awful weather here too. I was actually glad to be stuck in a busy office all day.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 03/10/2025 15:31

Rubbish weather here too. My elderly dog won't go out in heavy rain which is just as well as I use a mobility scooter and the battery wouldn't cope well. I just miss the usual routine of getting out. I feel so trapped on days like this. Even light rain would be ok albeit I still feel miserable without the sun.

I think I will start using my sad lamp soon..

MissyB1 · 03/10/2025 15:15

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding oh no! The weather is shit here too. I find being a dog owner in winter really hard! And wet clothes /coats/shoes are a bugger to get dry in the house.

Original poster
Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 03/10/2025 13:50

I’m usually OK once I’m out but o get a full day of dread first 🙈.

We had the most hideous lunch time walk 😭. Even my puppy hated it and tired to run home. We both got absolutely soaking wet. Then I got home and DH asked me to go to the bakery to get lunch and I couldn’t park nearby so I got soaking wet again and managed to step in a massive puddle so now I have 2 wet coats, trousers, shoes and pairs of socks. I literally cried in the car on the way home!

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lyingonthebeach · 02/10/2025 17:37

I make plans and force myself to go out and socialise (day times only) in winter as it's part of my coping strategy. But if i didn't have plans I probably wouldn't leave the house for days

MissyB1 · 02/10/2025 15:42

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 02/10/2025 14:45

@lyingonthebeach thank you!

The next few days are looking awful here 😭. Does anyone else just not want to go out in autumn/ winter? I must be the most rubbish friend ever as in summer, I want to be out and about all the time and then now when people are trying to make plans I want to tell them to fuck off (I don’t obviously as it’s my problem not theirs).

Im sort of the opposite, my mood suffers more if im at home too much in winter, especially in the day time. Being out with other people helps distract me. In the summer I'm happy in the garden.

Original poster
Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 02/10/2025 14:45

@lyingonthebeach thank you!

The next few days are looking awful here 😭. Does anyone else just not want to go out in autumn/ winter? I must be the most rubbish friend ever as in summer, I want to be out and about all the time and then now when people are trying to make plans I want to tell them to fuck off (I don’t obviously as it’s my problem not theirs).

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lyingonthebeach · 01/10/2025 19:09

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding sending strength and solidarity. I'm glad most things were good for you.

We've had some sun and blue sky so it makes the chilly mornings bearable. But I still have that sense of sinking dread for the dark days ahead.

Original poster
Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 01/10/2025 13:31

@Lookingforwardto2025 thanks, he’s growing up fast 🥰. Jealous of Lanzarote!!

@mrsdiddlydoo thanks, the tests went fine, everything is on the low side of normal except, funnily enough my vitamin D and iron which are low. My heart rate was low at 45bpm but it always is, although TBH I thought it was just that my Apple Watch isn’t that accurate. Apparently it is though!

Something about the waiting room, maybe the smell, triggered memories of rushing to the vets with my late dog which made me feel… I don’t know, anxious, sad? Not very nice anyway 🙁.

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Lookingforwardto2025 · 01/10/2025 07:53

Love your dog @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding! What a gorgeous one.

I have been doing well the last couple of weeks as the weather has been good and I have been outside plenty. Some stunning days.

October now which means that Lanzarote is this month!

mrsdiddlydoo · 30/09/2025 19:42

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding hope the tests went okay and the anxiety hasn't wiped you out too much.

I'm a perimenopausal mess but 💪💪i have almost got through the day. Had an unexpected spend today so haven't been able to rebuy the sad lamp yet but I have made sure I've been outside. Had a potter in the garden and walked the dog.

Original poster
Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 30/09/2025 19:40

It was lovely, warm and sunny here too!

I had my blood tests, results will be back tomorrow and my ECG- heart rate is a bit slow at 45bpm but otherwise fine. I went to the desk after to book a next appointment and I thought it was next Tuesday but the receptionist has written down the Tuesday after! So another 2 week wait 🙈. By then it’ll be 5 weeks since I first contacted the doctors and I won’t even be referred to the eating disorder clinic til after that 😡. I kind of hope there is something wrong with my blood, just so she gets me in sooner!

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CalmConfident · 30/09/2025 16:37

Lovely sunshine today . Soaking it up rather than doing the more important things on today’s things to do list 😂

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 29/09/2025 18:54

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 29/09/2025 18:28

It’s been pretty meh here today but I enjoyed seeing the mist over the fields when I took DS to school this morning. I don’t know why but it always makes me nostalgic for my horse ridding days as a child. I wish it wasn’t so expensive or I’d start up again!

I’ve got my blood tests and ECG tomorrow so I’m a little anxious today 😫.

Good luck- really hope the results are positive.

I used to go horse riding too as a child- until the horse bolted with me and although I managed to stay on i was too scared to continue lessons. These days my physical health would sadly prevent it! I used to enjoy cycling up to a nearby field when I was a teenager to pet the horses there.

Original poster
Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 29/09/2025 18:28

It’s been pretty meh here today but I enjoyed seeing the mist over the fields when I took DS to school this morning. I don’t know why but it always makes me nostalgic for my horse ridding days as a child. I wish it wasn’t so expensive or I’d start up again!

I’ve got my blood tests and ECG tomorrow so I’m a little anxious today 😫.

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Raspberrymoon49 · 29/09/2025 15:22

Beautiful day in south east, if only winter was full of bright days, yesterday was classic SADS-inducing, low grey cloud and rain, fills me with fear and dread, hope everyone is coping

Bonden · 29/09/2025 15:16

I’m outside as it’s sunny blue skies and warm in the direct sun. But full of panic at this being the last of these days for hmm eight months or so

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 29/09/2025 15:10

@SerafinasGoose I completely get it. I couldn't live in a country that only sees 3 or 4 hours of daylight in the winter. I would probably end up committing suicide.

Lovely blue sky here today. I love looking at the flowers and hedgerows. Even seeing red berries against a blue sky cheers me up.

MissyB1 · 29/09/2025 14:34

Hi all fellow SAD sufferer here.
Sunny here today but I'm recovering from a really horrible cold /cough virus. Didn't sleep well last night due to cough, and poor sleep can send my mood plummeting. Walked the dog for an hour this morning and going to walk her again soon, got a load of laundry on the line too. Berating myself for not getting more things done today though, I had a big list but no motivation aaaargh! 🙁

@mrsdiddlydoo sending sympathy and understanding 💐