Clocks going back, SAD and The Dark.

[OtraCosaMariposa]

I know there are several of us on here who struggle a lot with the darker evenings so thought I'd start a thread to see how everyone is getting on.

Clocks went back today and this is usually for me the start of the gradual slide into crapness until the Solstice when we turn the corner and start heading back into the light. November is hell. The first three weeks in December is more hell. But I'm determined this year will be better.

I have my light box. Today in my part of Scotland is bright and sunny so I'm off out for a walk in a bit to get some sun on my face. I've been taking high dose Vit D for a month already.

(Oh and if you're looking for a thread to witter on about hygge and cosy and snuggling on the sofa with hot choc and the famalam piss off. This thread isn't for you.)

@ThisMomentIsMyLife totally agree with you re finding kindred spirits! It definitely helps not feeling so alone with it.

I too agree with the whole Christmas thing. You're made to feel like some sort of leper for despairing at the joy of it all. I feel sad that I don't enjoy it anymore, dread it even. I used to love it but the last few years I wish I could skip it completely. Doesn't help having one DC with severe SEN..Christmas is not good for them AT ALL. Stresses the hell out of them and therefore the rest of us. Ruins it really but feel sorry for my other DC who probably miss out a bit now 😔

What strong Vitamin D do folk recommend please?

I think Xmas can be grim even if you don’t have SAD. It was all right when it consisted of two days but now it’s like commercialism on steroids.

I buy whatever vitamin D3 is on offer. I only take it because my doctor is adamant I should.

Sorry if this has already been posted but what dose of Vitamin d is recommended
The lack of light and the awful weather is really getting me down
I could cope a bit better with a little bit of sunshine

I’m on 3000 ug, not sure how to do the symbol

I think some people take 10,000

Today I realised that my mini sad lamp is not really that good. I did have a better one, need to get another.

I'm a bit worried about downing large doses of Vit D. It's ok to do so without seeing the doc, isn't it?

Hi, can I join in too please?
My SAD lamp has given up the ghost and I don't have the funds to get another one just yet.
I do have a daylight lamp for crafts that I guess might help.

I struggle every year with SAD but to add to the fun I have an injury that prevents me walking properly and is causing me dreadful pain. I am very active politically usually so the timing is rubbish too.

I am going to ask for tests for underactive thyroid and pernicious anaemia too. I could stay in bed all the time which is making me depressed and anxious. I have just started Sertraline so I am hoping that will kick on and help.
And the rain, the endless rain!

I bet you are all so glad to see me! 😊 I am just glad to find somewhere to talk about it

I hope everyone is having a fairly decent day.

My energy mood have gone off a cliff edge. It's just rained non stop and been so cold. I can't get motivated like I can in summer. I'm going to the dr the week after next to see if there is a physical cause such as a deficiency or thyroid problem.

I'm a GP and a fellow SAD sufferer, so I do get how awful it is at this time of year.

Please don't take high doses of vitamin D bought online, it can cause harm. Vitamin D affects calcium metabolism, as high doses cause extra calcium to be absorbed into the bones, and can cause a drop in the calcium levels in your blood, which in turn can affect your muscles, heart, and kidneys.
Normal vitamin D replacement dose for people who are just taking it to top up normal levels is 800ug per day. Any higher doses than that should be prescribed by a doctor after you have had a blood test for vitamin D and calcium levels, and actually been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.
I have had patients make themselves very unwell after taking high strength capsules bought online!

I take 6000IU of Vit D daily from Oct-Apr. I live in northern Scotland. I use the spray form rather than tablets.

I have been able to enjoy this time of year since taking such a high dose. It was following a R4 podcast with a doctor who specialises in Vit D deficiency. I have been doing it for 4 years now.

I am definitely there with all those who hate Christmas by the way. I'm already made the mistake this year of telling my mum how much I hate it and she's just stressed me out ever since every time we go out with the family she brings it up up it's absolutely doing my head in. She doesn't understand about depression or about this condition and so she thinks it's something that can be solved or that she can do something about it. And she just can't I just wish she'd leave it I know it's coming from a good place but it's really irritating.

I haven't always felt so strongly about hating Christmas. I think it's got worse as the years go on, and it seems to start in early November. It's the way that it seems to take over everyone for 6 to 8 weeks, constantly chat about it, adverts on the telly from Halloween, even online i'm seeing constant banners about it. Even on MN. Christmas eve boxes, advent calendars costing £££££, pantos, santa trains, elf on his shelf, north pole breakfasts - it can all just fuck off as far as i'm concerned.

I don't find the tree cosy and comforting. Just the opposite. It doesn't bring me joy, it just sits there in the corner of the room while I count the days until I get the thing back in its box and back in the loft. Not really a New Year fan either, now that i'm passed the stage of getting totally hammered and sleeping for a week.

Urgh. Did suggest going away one year on holiday somewhere warm and sunny over Christmas but kids hated the idea. Teenage DD has her (pink) tree up in her room already.

But on the bright side - fewer than four weeks to the Solstice!!

yy pineapple. I'm counting down to solstice and the (very) gradual return of light.

It's that rain that is getting me down. I love heat but I'd rather have cold, crisp, blue sky winter days than leaden skies and drizzle. I swear my heating is on more in rainy weather.

I think I might have cracked it.
I take vit D, I go out for a walk in my lunch break but I also started running in the evenings. If anybody told me that running in the p**ing rain and cold and dark from 7 till 8 pm is going to make me feel so much better, I would have sent them to have their heads checked. But it does. I actually quite like it when it’s raining and you’re boiling from the run.

Agree to the exercising making you feel better, even if you have to force yourself out. It's very, very grey and dull in Scotland this morning and I'd really like to just veg on the sofa, but I know I have to leave the house.

5 mile walk and a podcast!

If you are crafty, you might like to try Emma Mitchell's book Making Winter - she's a SAD sufferer too. Lovely cakes (what was that about carbs 😁) and nice things to make, from a sympathetic viewpoint. But only if you can be bothered of course.

And to add - I've been taking prescribed Vit D (for something else) for the last 2 years, hasn't made any difference to me in winter

At the moment I feel the days surely can't get any darker, but if course they do. It's a v bleak feeling day here in Yorkshire, quite flat. I'm going to take the dog out for a walk later, have a hot chocolate and make a cake.

I've struggled with this for years and find keeping busy helps a lot.

The problem is, if I have a plan that just depends on me, I'll find an excuse to back out, however if someone else is depending on me I'll turn up. And if I've paid for an activity in advance I'm too mean not to go.

So since I'm not working at the moment, I make sure there's somewhere I need to be most mornings. If I'm up, showered and out fairly early, I can keep my energy up later in the day. If I have a slow, draggy start to the day it's hard to ever get enthusiastic.

It's a pain.

I have found a break suitably timed helps if you can. Even a day out somewhere.

I had two of the first three weekends away visiting family and it has helped greatly.

Over the years, I’ve found I really struggle with social engagements, am introverted anyway. So now I put as little in the diary as I can!

Thia has affected me badly for the first time ever this year.
I am exhausted, tearful, angry and moody, lethargic and feel useless.

I'm getting married to DP in 6 months, this should be such an exciting time and I can't wait, but I feel like I'm drowning all the time.

How’s everyone doing?

The last couple of days have been awful but I think I might have that weird 30 min productivity thing that happens occasionally with SAD. I’m going to use it to blitz the flat!

Desperately waiting for the appointment from the crisis team to come through tbh.

I don’t seem to be able to concentrate properly on anything.

I take vits d3 with k2 spray
It’s meant to help it absorb

Haven’t started mine yet as I had a sunshine holiday till e d of October and going back next week so will start after Christmas

If a bit of blue sky counts as a bit of sunshine ( not really) it’s the first we’ve seen in a week

Rafa, are you on any meds?

Hope you get your appointment soon

Same stuff I’ve been on for years, Autumn. It needs changing really so I’m waiting for a referral for that too.

Rafa, I see. I have a double dose in winter!

I've just rung the bank about something that I didn't need to ring them about

I have done some chores, finally - I was imagining it would take hours and it didn't. I just literally couldn't see what needed doing, if that makes any sense.

rumours abound of actual sun in London tomorrow.