If you struggle in the Winter you are very welcome here

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

On the back of my other thread today
Anyone welcome here to share tips for those of us who struggle with our physical and mental health over the winter

I struggled with my anxiety and moods last winter
Am determined to feel better and to look after myself so that the dark nights and lack of sunlight don’t wear me down

A wake up light made a HUGE difference to me. I've got a Lumie and it helps to wake me up naturally, frequently before the alarm goes off.

It’s the cold that gets me and the days getting dark earlier
Hate it and every year gets worse I keep going because I have a sunshine holiday in December and March
I’ve been back from one for a week now
It feels like a month

Thanks for this thread!

Thanks for this thread. I am already feeling the dread of the darkness and the next couple of months (weirdly I generally feel better in Jan/Feb even though it's still dark and cold just because the end is in sight).

I've lit some candles and put my pyjamas on in an attempt to get the 'cosy' feeling people seem to like about winter but I'm not really feeling it. Would rather be warm in the evening sun without having to put seven layers of clothes on.

It's weird that having lived in this country my whole life I still can't deal with this time of year. You'd think we'd acclimatise somehow.

@ilovesooty you’re welcome

Sorry I've realised my last post was just a moan and didn't help anyone. I also have a Lumie alarm clock and it does help in the mornings definitely. I also try to make sure I go out at lunchtime, even just to pop to the shop, as my office at work has tiny skylight windows so I don't really get any daylight in the winter months.

I’m not too good with it although I do love the cosiness, lights at Christmas etc. I do wish we could have double summer time so it wouldn’t get dark at bloody 4pm!

anicelentilhotpot I feel the same, I find January and Feb far more tolerable. Completely agree about not being able to acclimatise. It's getting worse with age.

Thanks OP. So, from the other thread a few ideas
more lights in the house
vitamin D tablets
SAD lamp

I’m so glad for this thread! It’s the cold and the rain that get to me the most. I hold myself very stiff in the cold which results in horrible back and shoulder pain. And rain just gives me the rage! Also cleaning and drying the dog off after every walk is so bloody time consuming and tiring!

I take max strength vitamin D and sertraline (antidepressant). I really hate going out in he evening when it's cold and dark so avoid wherever possible! Cosy sofa blanket and nice pjs cheer me up.

It's harder to entertain DCS in the winter. Parks are painfully cold and indoor stuff costs a fortune and is full of germ encrusted screaming kids.

Hot chocolate, casseroles, roast dinners I can get on with. Winter food is good at least.

Yes, cold rain is awful.

Cold, rain or wind are tolerable individually but together are Not Fun. I'm throwing money at proper outerwear this year for the school run- 30 mins each way with no parking option so always on foot. Ski trousers and jacket plus snow boots shold work!

Yes to more lights. These little battery candles are lovely. Also, fairy lights around the fireplace.

Soup, bread, crumbles!

Hello, I commented on your other thread and I struggle with the winter/dark/cold.

I take medication for an underactive thyroid which I think is at the root of many of my feelings. Since I've been medicated effectively the feelings of impending doom have subsided but I still get that sinking feeling when the nights start to draw in. It's grim.

I posted some things which help me get through on the other thread but will recap:

Vit D high dosage: I have high strength Vit D tablets (cheap as anything from Home Bargains) and take two a day.

Daylight - even though there's less of it, I try to get out in it when I can. 10 minutes on a park bench on a bright sunny morning is enough to recharge the batteries even if it's freezing. If you see a strange woman sitting with her eyes closed, face turned to the sun in the Kelvingrove Park, that's probably me.

Exercise - I am NOT a gym bunny. Far from it. But I do find that it does my a lot of good both physically and mentally to get out for a walk in the daylight wherever possible.

Focus - on the fact that it's only 54 days (less than 8 weeks) until the 21st of December and then it will start getting lighter again. On the 21st December in Glasgow, we get a daylength of 6 hours and 58 minutes. By 15th January, it's up to 7h 38m. And by 1 March, 10 hours and 42 minutes. Doesn't take long to see the benefits. (All the stats on Timeanddate.com).

I go out of my way to avoid all the nonsense around Christmas. Nothing more depressing than a fully decorated house on 12th November. So Podcasts on the radio, Netflix for boxsets, most shopping done online or in the local makers' markets.

And finally, plot evil demises for anyone who talks about snuggling under blankies with the kiddies, talks about "Crimbo" or "the holibobs", or dares to call people who don't like the darkness Scrooge, Grinch or a Humbug. They can fuck right off.

Yes need to stock up on Vit D. Also need to winter proof my house. I need thermal curtains for the lounge and I’m going to invest in a door between the kitchen and conservatory- currently open plan brrrr!

I hate being in work and seeing it getting dark outside at 4pm. Makes me feel trapped.

I don't like walking through the woods in the dark. Or I do like the whispery woods, but I annoy myself by getting scared. Stupid, because there's no-one else there. And I'm the one doing the whispering ...

Thanks for the reminder about vitamin D, I took it last year and I couldn't tell if it helped because I started it at the same time as starting anti-depressants. One of them, or a combination of them both, took the edge off anyway.

Oooh, a thread for me. I was don’t some reading about ways to help with SAD a few days ago. Some places recommended St Johns Wort but then I read something about there being links to cataracts so now I don’t want to risk it. Has anyone tried SJW?

Yes I struggle! I know I'm different in the winter. I come alive in the summer.

Some people said above about a lumie? Is that that lumie alarm clock? I've looked at those. Are they worth it?

Thanks for this thread, today hit me with the hour change. We’ll get through it together

I've found my people! I get v SAD from October to February, with between now to Christmas being the worst. I've tried anti-depressants, vitamin D, light therapy, mindfulness, CBT, but none of it gets anywhere near me. I've spent the last 2weeks wanting to cry and getting increasingly anxious. What does help a little is a winter break for sunshine, but coming home is awful, I get a real slump.

I bought a lovely craft book called Making Winter - worth a look for some ideas if you can be motivated to do anything.
Mostly though I think I'm a hedgehog in disguise, and just need to hibernate.

Can I join you? Really don’t like the darkness of winter. Have been thinking about SAD lamps for a few years but don’t know anyone with one so was unsure what to get. What have people got?

@PiperPublickOccurrences Love the idea of counting down to 21st Dec. That doesn’t sound long at all! Then it starts getting lighter. By the time Christmas and New Year are over, that’s another couple of weeks. Then Jan and Feb, which are often dismal, but the end is in sight! Feeling more positive already!

I have a SAD lamp, a wake up clock and SAD bulbs in most of the lamps. I absolutely despise the dark winter months and find nothing cosy about them or having to layer up clothes. I take high strength vitamin D too. I find myself counting down the days until the shortest day then looking forward to longer and warmer days of spring and summer.

Yes exactly someone told me they love getting layered up and cosy in winter. If I have more layers it doesn't make me feel cosy. I can't never manage to feel cosy in winter.