Thread for anyone struggling at the thought of long dark evenings #hotchocandhyggetypesnotyourthread

[Hobnobswantshernameback]

I hate the long dark evenings.
I know they are inevitable.
But every year is worse. Think it's also coupled to menopause symptoms where my general mood and anxiety levels are dreadful.
During the working week November to T he end of February I barely see daylight.
I try and get as much as I can but it's tricky to get outside during the working day
i take vitamin D. I exercise as much as I can.
I do try and embrace the seasons. But I just feel really daunted this year by the thought of it being dark so early
anyone want to commiserate or share any coping strategies
And no I don't want to snuggle under a blankie with a hot choc
just in case anyone thinks that's what I need 😂

Here we are again for another year. This time of year is so rubbish. I have quite a busy November this year with things going on nearly every week which I am hoping will see me through to the beginning of December, and then it's only 3 weeks to the solstice.

Solidarity to everyone else who hates this time of year and struggles with the twee people with their cosy and blankies and snuggling on the sofa with hot choccie.

My people!

I utterly hate it when the clocks go back. Somehow I can cope better with the dark mornings, I think because they're going in the direction of getting lighter. It's the gloomy afternoons leading into early nights of darkness that really get me down. I am quite sure I have SAD although I've never sought a diagnosis. No amount of hot chocolate and snuggly blankets helps, that's for sure.

I can usually cope with the period up to Christmas/New Year because it's a very event/milestone-filled time to distract myself. All the planning, decorating, cooking, twinkly fairy lights, concerts, meeting up with people, that sort of thing - I know of course many people hate all that, but I deliberately make it busy even through gritted teeth because it keeps my low mood at bay.

But after the winter solstice and New Year's Day, I feel like I'm in danger of crashing down into despair because Jan/Feb are sooooo loooooong and the real worst of winter is actually still to come.

Last Jan/Feb I spent a couple of weeks "home" visiting my parents in the tropics. It was bloody fabulous and really stretched out my coping-with-winter emotional batteries, because after NYD I had that milestone to look forward to. And then the two weeks with my family and a big dose of equatorial sunlight. It was a big expense and a bit of a disruption for DH and DC because we had to re-jig our work/school/home arrangements, but I'm hoping to repeat the same trip next Jan/Feb.

i know it's only an hour but it throws my body clock completely
And this morning was ridiculously light but by the time I leave work it will be dark
Give me lighter evenings any time
In a few weeks it will be dark s I get to work and dark by the time I leave
bye bye natural light for three months 🙄

I am really really struggling already this year. My anxiety is terrible, and gets worse from 4pm when the darkness looms. I need some tips to get through the next 4-5 months.

@sadsufferer2023 Can you do some kind of evening activity out of the house? Swimming, an exercise class, or some type of evening class? I have joined a film club and also swim.

Thanks, I'm going to try swimming. Hopefully that helps somewhat.

The endorphins really help. I am also planning to join a choir if I can find one near me,

I know people say we should get out (and I generally make myself in the day) but I actually can not go out once it is dark. I just can't face it!! I just go to bed ànd pretend it's not happening.

Thank goodness for last minute cheapo flights to Tenerife! I hop this will put me right - even for a short while

Shortest day of the year today, finally there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Spring and summer are on their way! 🎉

I've tried to reset my perspective on it, because I've always hated it too. Animals use it as a time to hibernate, so I try to view it as it's the right time to dial back on social/work commitments where possible and try to rest and recharge as much as you can ready to emerge in spring. I see it as a blank period where I plan limited weekend activities and a time for prioritizing some time in nature during the daylight every day where possible, and lots of early nights and rest. Hope this helps a bit

Spring and summer are on their way! 🎉

Happy solstice!! Onwards and upwards from here, in a few weeks the lighter evenings will be noticeable which always gives a huge boost. 6 hours and 59 minutes of daylight in Glasgow today. By 21 January we are back to 7 hours and 56 minutes which is a huge difference.

I don't think any of us rejoice in the long dark nights but we can't change the seasonal patterns. You just have to get on with it, either stay a misery guts or do something useful like work on self, learn something different, or just relax with it.
Winter is a time of deep rest in nature, maybe we should try and follow that pattern. I read, listen to podcasts and music, browse on line, redecorate, craft.
There are so many thing to do.

No-one has complained about not being able to change the seasonal patterns - what an odd thing to say. Nothing wrong with preferring warmer weather and longer days - I don’t like walking the dog in the torrential rain or on ice and living under artificial light , simple as that - and I’m sure most of us already have various things we do over winter.

Well we've made it to the solstice
Hurrah
and dear god I get sick to death of people who come on threads like this and tell us to pull our socks up and look for the positives.
Fuck sake
Im trying to utilise every strategy I have to boost my non existent energy levels and be as positive as I can.
I'm struggling and I'm very much a "crack on" type
i know my mental and physical health is better in the spring and summer.
Anyway
Here's to longer days and me just possibly seeing some daylight soon

Oh and "deep rest"
ha ha ha ha ha
Id love a deep fucking rest
Maybe you could ask my boss to sign me off for one on full pay
Thanks for the ever so helpful suggestions

I know right? 🤣 How I would love to sleep for 6 months of the year, would wake up a few stone lighter too 😜

Yes, the "pull you socks up / just get on with it" lot make me want to scream! And scream! And then scream some more - just for good measure . They just don't get it. We can't because SAD is real. It drags us down. Our spirits crash and burn. It saps all our energy, motivation and mental clarity. No number of twinkly lights or mugs of hot chocolate are going to make a difference. We need natural light and warmth.

But threads like this, where I can share with fellow summer lovers, do help. Thank you everyone

It has been bloody miserable recently, and I feel as though I’ve barely left the house. Running on a treadmill because it’s too bloody dark and wet. Really haven’t been able to motivate myself to get up at the crack of dawn to swim in an overcrowded pool. And my husband appears to have woken up with flu, literally days after getting over a cold. So I’m guessing the night out we were really looking forward to tomorrow isn’t happening. Winter is shit, and I wish it would fuck off.

This!

I’m so looking forward to the lighter days, I’ve been struggling so much with SAD this year not being a “misery guts” 🤨 I have a holiday booked somewhere sunny for January and it’s the only thing keeping me positive at the minute, I feel low and sluggish and just struggling.

Exactly. The sort of person who cries 'misery guts' is the sort of person who tells people with depression to smile and get on with it. They are clueless.

Sorry to hear that. Where are you off to?

Hello all. Here we are at the turning point again. I've been up since 5.30 chanting in the light. Ha ha - it took a while!

I feel like I've been slightly better this year. I've been on a pretty heavy supplement regime for some months. I have always struggled a lot into the spring and I think it's because winter leaves me so depleted. This winter so far has felt a little better.

Although my mobility has got a lot worse and leaving the house is something I really need to work on x