SAD winter support thread

[AutumnScream]

Apologies i can't find last years threads but they were a massive help checking in or just reading how everyone was doing day to day to get through the difficulty of winter. So many of us suffer from SAD and no amount of hyge and cosyness makes up for it.

I thought I was doing surprisingly well this year but I've just hit a wall. It feels as though it barely got light today and everything is so damp and decaying.

The house is damp because of clothes drying inside, I've got a shit load of work to do because we're so short staffed, the Christmas stress has just kicked in with the having to decide what everyone would like and provide lists for everyone on everyone else's behalf nonsense.

But the thing that just tipped me over the edge was bloody passwords! Need a password to return something and another password to make the printer work to print a label, and I can't remember any fucking passwords so have to go through the whole resetting rigmarole every single shitting time. That's the thing that brought me to tears.😂

I can absolutely relate to this. In a very similar state. I’ve just ordered a dehumidifier to at least help wirh the damp. The damp just makes everything so much worse.

My new dehumidifier is sucking up astonishing amounts of moisture so I'm hoping it will keep on top of the damp here too.
I've had a better weekend, it was brighter here and I managed to get some gardening done.

I'm away with work this week and am dreading it, especially trying to motivate others when I'm walking in treacle.
Sending positive vibes to everyone for the week ahead.

Morning, I can’t face another Monday at work! I can’t get into Christmas this year which is not like me 😢.

Snap. My flat is cold, damp and full of mould i need to wait until i have money to buy a dehumidifier. But absolutely the damp makes everything seem worse!

Has anyone decorated for Christmas yet? I havent and tbh i have no desire to but will have to this week for dss sake.

I’ve just received a dehumidifier. It is very heavy and very noisy. Not sure about it to be honest.

How’s everyone’s weekend been? Mine’s been OK actually 😊.

Yesterday was lovely for me as I travelled up to the midlands to meet up with siblings, their partners and kids. Had a fab time.

Not looking forward to this week though, the forecast is grey and very cold.

Just joining the thread to say I've gone for a walk every day for 5 days which I know doesn't sound like much but is more than I've ever managed in previous winters (depression + SAD) so I'm actually feeling a little bit pleased with myself. I've always started winter with the aim of exercising/getting out and it's always gone to pot pretty quickly but this year feels different, like something in my subconscious has finally realised I HAVE to get out. The key was also buying some really warm indoor clothes that look ok with a coat over them so I can leave the house without any faff.

to everyone who is struggling this week

@WeeMadArthur1 tech fails can really push one over the edge I find

@Cakemonger well done on getting out each day, it really does make a difference doesn't it. I realised after I'd been struggling last week that I hadn't left the house for a couple of days so this weekend I made myself go out and I don't feel anywhere near as bad as I did last Sunday.

I need to have a reason to get out though, I'm not very good at making myself go for a walk for the sake of it (even though I know it'll help) so I keep trying to find things we might need from a shop to have a 'destination' to walk to.

@WeeMadArthur1 Thank you and well done to you too for getting out. Having a purpose helps I agree - I've abandoned my weekly online supermarket shop in favour of 'little and often' trips to the local grocers, partly to save money but also to force me to get out. I work remotely and have realised I need to build in more things that will force me out, or I will start to lose my mind.

Incidentally it was this video on the BBC website that inspired me to start my daily walks: www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/why-morning-light-is-so-crucial-to-your-health/p0bl8d5w I respond well to stern scientists telling me I have to do something 🙂

Well I’ve done a swim and a dog walk so far today, and now I’ve written a list of housework jobs to get through. Just ticking each one off seems to help and being busy stops me brooding on how shit everything feels.

Sorry u don't come on here much at the moment. I hope everyones doing ok now the cold weathers really set in.

I’m trying to prioritise looking after myself better, physically and mentally. I could have worked today (I do 3 different zero hours jobs), but I turned it down. I went to the gym, swam, and I’m getting some jobs at home done instead. And although it’s freezing I’m just glad it’s not raining.

@MissyB1 the exercise sounds excellent! Is it helping? I need to do more but between work and trying to declutter the flat im pretty tired. Havent taken vitamins in ages as well so i need to buy some this week if i remember.

Can anyone recommend a good SAD lamp? The one I bought a few years ago is far too bright /!: hurts my eyes. It only has one setting.

Exercise definitely helps, it’s a mood booster. Also gives a sense of satisfaction, and helps pass the time on a miserable day.

Hows everyone going? It looks like i have gestational diabetes but my official test and results is in 3 weeks. Ive been very depressed since this and trying to eat bland healthy food for the last few days and need to exercise more even though im underweight already. Feels a huge lifelong burden now and i feel so guilty and am worried about longterm effects on me and baby.

But i guess its the kick up the arse to live healthier. Its been so cold and icy here i havent been able to go out to exercise at all yet for walks because its black ice everywhere. The cold has been something else entirely!

Hi there sorry to hear your update.
Surprisingly I haven't felt as depressed as usual.
I'm putting this down to having a new job ,fairy lights glowing everywhere and keeping a sleep wake pattern even though it is 430 am...ouch.
Magnesium and Vit d has been a game changer for me.
I hope everyone is doing ok and finding reasons to be positive however small.

The weather has been incredibly difficult. we have had snow and ice for 7 days now, very difficult to drive or walk anywhwere. In fact pretty dangerous to walk. Can't get my house temperature above 17.5 despite heating being on full blast!

Hard to feel positive when you are cold. @AutumnScream Im sorry to hear about the gestational diabetes, thats a bugger, especially at this time of year!

Sorry I haven’t been on much recently, DH and I have both been having a shit time at work and it’s very stressful 😢. It’s been very cold and icy here too but we haven’t had any snow. I’ve had to keep getting our with the dog so the fresh air and Ealing has done me good but my exercise has fallen by the wayside due to being so stressed. Everyone I know including us is ill and FIL fell on the ice yesterday and broke his hip. He had to wait for 2 hours in the cold and rain for an ambulance as he couldn’t get into a car 😡. My mum also had a fall in the ice and is in a lot of pain but didn’t need to go to hospital luckily for her.

Oh and yes @MissyB1, our house won’t go over 17° either no matter how much heating we use.

My God im so sorry are they both ok?! Absolutely shocking he had to wait so long in the rain and cold for an ambulance with a broken hip! This country is fucked. I hope he has a speedy recovery and your mum.

Thanks @AutumnScream FIL is in a lot of pain and can’t weight bear on his hip for 6-8 weeks which will be hard for a verrrry active 70 year old. Apparently as he was getting out of the ambulance (after another 2 hour wait outside A&E) a call came through asking if any ambulances could attend a cardiac arrest in the next county which would take an hour even on blue lights I’d guess. Even my basic first aid in the workplace would tell me that that would be too late 😡. My mum still can’t get any treatment and her job is to do emergency care for elderly people who are coming out of hospital, so that’s another carer of the system who can’t take on any “bed blockers”. The NHS is absolutely fucked!