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

One step - DH bought me a really effective daylight lamp and turned it on for me first thing in the morning at the maximum setting...

He meant well tbf  but if I'd had more energy, he'd have been wearing it!!! I might not like the dark, but still need daylight to appear more gently.

I found a daylight alarm that increases the amount of light slowly much better. But this thread has inspired me to get the other light out from the back of the cupboard and see if it helps at the other end of the day.

I've just arrived in the car park for my run and it is a nice bright morning so I'm going to make the most of it.

Have a good day all.

I think SAD lamps should be used earlier in the day or they can keep you awake at night.
OneStepMoreFun - as for what time of day to drink Valerian I guess the evening but if I am feeling fully stressed then I take it no matter what time of day.....!

I also take vitamin b3 at night for sleep and although not 100 per cent effective it definitely helps. I take 300 mg nightly with a glass of water. I take it all year round though as my sleep was really going haywire two years back when my periods started to play up so that would have been perimenopausal joys ....

From today I am only drinking one caffeine in the mornings! I have done this in the past to combat anxiety. It also helps reduce my blood pressure and stops migraines etc. Since I get all of these issues it can only help right lol.

One day I will be just perfect I really will :)

I used mine in the mornings to mimic sunrise & make getting up easier. But I've heard if people using them on their desks at work - so I think you could try different things to see what works best for you.

Thank you all. I'm going to dust down my daylight lamp and use it at my desk while I work. And pick up some Valerian tea.

My vitamin D spray arrived last week. How long does it take to feel any benefit?

I’m not feeling too bad the past few days but it’s been quite bright if a bit cold so I think that’s helping!

Thanks for this thread. I generally start dipping around November, perk up for December because I have some motivation to carry on (Christmas and the end of the year) and end up flat-out zombie-like for January, February and March. I've started using the alarm on my Alexa which isn't helping since it shocks me awake and every time I hear something similar my heart sinks now I'll be watching this thread with interest to find out what others do to help themselves.

We have a couple of lumie alarms, one really old but still going strong and one very new with various extra features. Can’t recommend them highly enough!

Cantchoose I remember it working very quickly. Within a few days I had more energy.

onestep I’m glad you’ve said you noticed a difference within a few days because I’ve been taking it for about a week and feel I’m less foggy. Thought it may have been a placebo affect.

My dd15 has severe anxiety and is showing signs of depression.
She has said she finds winter and the darker days grim.
I’d like to get her a Sad light but don’t have lots of spare money. I wonder if people sell them second hand at all.

@ihatethecold I can see second hand ones on eBay starting at under £10.

Ooh that’s good.
I could only see them starting at about £23 with high postage costs.

@Ihatethecold you could also ask on Freecycle and Freegle. Sad lamps are exactly the kind of thing that people have in the attic, gathering dust.

Yes I did think of asking on the local FB selling pages. might get a bargain

Thanks for starting the thread OP, much appreciated. Hope you don't mind if I join you. I hate the winter. My four best Novembers were the ones when we lived in E. Africa!

I too like a PP feel like we've only just recovered from last winter. I know it was a hot summer but it felt like we didn't get a Spring and went from -5 to +22 in about a week. I love the heat; I didn't moan once in the summer :)

I have got a SAD lamp but only used it once (got it put up yesterday) - we'll see whether it makes a difference. We have a dog which means I have to go out every day. I've also signed up for a half marathon in March which means I'll have to do some proper training over the worst months which will do me good.

research I'm so sorry - that sounds really tough.

Well I have another health strategy ladies! I started going for a walk. It was principally for my borderline blood pressure and it was for 30 mins. It was good to look at some of the homes' gardens with nice coloured leaves in. Something I wouldn't notice as a rule.

Also fresh air helps the gloom perhaps.

I just hope I can do this four times a week. Well it was a good start today anyway! Hope I find the time somehow.

Polly, I live very far up north and when I moved here I was advised to get out for a walk each day to get some light to help with the winter lows.

I walk a lot anyway and it is better than if you stay in but it definitely doesn't make it go away

PollyPelargonium I've started that too, although been thwarted by the awful rain recently. I'm trying to do approx. 3 miles per walk.

Well done on the walking 🚶‍♀️ I’m finding it ok so far the time is flying by strangely I’m still just getting into the healthy eating and cleaning basically just having some sort of plan for after work.

Yes it would take a lot of motivation for me to walk in the rain!

One thing I really do lack is fresh air too so win win really. Plus I have zero inclination to join exercise classes/sports etc. So walking just costs time and can be done any time (although preferably not in the dark!).

Boy I am finding my legs ache after my half hour walk it must be the ill effects of living fairly sedentary for a long time. I had considered myself fairly fit but clearly I am not.

I am looking forward to feeling fitter soon but right now it is making me so tired!

I hate that at 5pm yesterday it was pitch black.

I hate the cold weather.

I hate when it goes dark and it rains.

I find no joy in leaves falling from the trees just a deep depression.

This summer has been a revelation. I could move. I could walk. I could work.

I am now back to struggling with the pain of arthritis. I can’t go out for a walk as my knees won’t take it and I need crutches to get around for a week after. (One knee is better than the other)

I can’t just stand up from sitting down as the pain is too great.

My one light in sight is we are going somewhere very hot in a few weeks then it will be back to pain when I get back.

Well I survived the working week
Hating the darkness when I leave work though
Have done some exercise and will focus on getting outside as much as I can this weekend
Rainy weather permitting

Yesterday the weather got to me was actually getting pissed if and angry but I knew it was the lack of sunlight.
I had a McDonald’s lol then did a big monthly shop where I stocked up on toiletries cleaning stuff so when it’s crappy out I know I have that stuff handy.
Guns organise it all tonight and clean out the cupboard so that will be another day and task done ✅
Can anyone believe we are halfway through November already though x