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 agree that helps April. I find it helps to have something to look forward to, especially once January hits and there is still a lot of dark mornings and dark evenings to get through.

Hello. I used to love this time of year but it’s coming up to the 2 year anniversary of DH’s death. Unfortunately I feel pretty hopeless about the Spring too when I’ll be turning 40.

I’ve tried - I am trying - SO hard, but I feel as though the happy bit of my life is over. Nothing I do works.

Sorry. How miserable.

Bumping for @Cantchoosenickname, fellow sufferer

I’ve just started a thread about this and was pointed in this direction- room for one more?

Sorry research that sounds so painful :(

I’ll be on better form in the morning. Dark silent evenings with the kids fast asleep are rough.

Yes I agree that exercise is good. And getting out. And day trips.
I think I am going to get one of those lumie alarms. Let's just hope it works...

Lots of people have mentioned lightbulbs, can anyone recommend any? I’ve never heard of them before.

I loathed winter so much I emigrated to Australia. Which, believe me, helped a lot, but is kind of extreme. I even hate Australian winter, even though its not cold, and we still get blue skies a lot. If I won the lotto I would follow summer and sunny weather around the world. We've had a fairly long winter here in Perth and the temps are staring to rise again and my mood is lifting with it. So I do sympathise with you all a lot!

Thank you for the thread - can I join?

Oh Research , that sounds so so tough. If it helps at all, I found the run up to 40 absolutely horrible but as soon as it was over it was hugely liberating - no pressure to celebrate or party or anything else.

I'm another who finds winter hard. I'm actually okay up to Christmas with the lights and music and more reasons to go outside, but I completely crash in January and am always v depressed by feb / March.

I know it's SAD rather than real and it only lasts 8 weeks or so but I can sense it waiting for me from Boxing Day onwards.

I find avery thick blanket over my quilt on my bed really helps me feel safe and secure. I too hate the dark winters.

I also take vitd3 from Holland & Barrett.

@ShivD I’ve been taking St. John’s sort for a month now and I definitely feel better. I’m not as anxious and I haven’t been as snappy with DH 😳. It helped with my PMT tooThink I will start taking vitamin d as well now.

Forgot to add, I have SAD and reynauds syndrome, a great combination in winter...

Get plenty of exercise which always improves mood.
Be outside in daylight whenever possible, even when cold/rainy

Well there’s a cookie as big as a pizza in the oven because DS wanted to see if it was possible to make one 😂. Then we’re off to meet friends at an arboretum

Broken up Easter egg and orange oil to make the chocolate orange flavour 😀

Everyone welcom and great to see new faces
This thread has helped me already in two ways
Tips and ideas
Knowing I am not alone
Hopefully we can keep each other going til the lighter nights and longer days

A couple of points. A PP much earlier on the thread was suggesting St John’s wort, as an over the counter seasonal herbal antidepressant. May I just warn you that it interferes with the function of oral contraception, so don’t take it if you rely on the pill for your contraception.
Secondly, several PPs have mentioned SAD lights. These can be helpful, but vary wildly in price. Don’t feel you have to spend hundreds - there’s one for just £40 on Amazon that is medically approved, and I can vouch that some of my own family members (one of whom has a serious depressive illness and history of two suicide attempts) find it effective.
Anyone living north of Watford should probably be taking vitamin D supplements between at least October and March - the sunlight is too weak in the winter to generate much, even if it was warm enough to expose your skin to it. Swaddled in coats, gloves and scarves, or huddling indoors by the fire - no chance!
Finally, try to find things to enjoy about winter. Christmas, New Year, frosty walks kicking leaves, making a snowman, warm casseroles, a cosy fire, planning holidays, or looking for the first snowdrops as a sign that spring is on the way!

I just wish I enjoyed Christmas! Anyone got any ideas how to get that magical feeling back which you have when you are young? I don't have kids.

Being vague but I live up north on the west coast. Summer is ace as it doesn't get too hot.

Winter is shit. Cold+damp+arthritis = pain+++

Was out with the kids at the weekend and spent the day Sunday in a forest which also has an almighty play area. I'm still feeling it now.

Balls.

Thanks for this thread OP.

I find November the worst month.
I've been trying to find ways to ease the experience for decades.

What works for me :

Vitamin D supplement
Go outdoors every day for a 30 minute walk, preferably in the morning when it's light, if not possible due to work commitments I try to get out at lunch time.
A wake up light - my current one is 15 years old, analog and losing time so will look at replacing with a Lumie
spend 30 minutes with a Lumie light at my desk

I've now finished reading the thread and am in with some other posters who say it's the lack of light that bothers them more than the cold.I'm not hugely keen on cold but it's the darkness I can't bear.

Does anyone else experience serious carb cravings too?

Milk tray maybe look on piterest and do your house up with nice decorations go to movies do a Xmas fun run go to Xmas markets

Full fat milk porridge with a splosh of cream.

You might put on a bit of weight, but it's worth it for that cosy feeling it gives you in the morning.

I start work at 5am every day and my porridge gives me motivation to get out of bed!

I use a lamp I've had for years, but they seem to have moved on a lot since then, so i'm looking for a replacement.