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How can I stop being depressed about the weather?

129 replies

Stardan · 09/06/2024 16:36

Yes yes I know another weather thread. And yes, I realise this sounds insane but I can't handle the weather in this country anymore. I'm an immigrant, have lived here for over a decade but it's increasingly getting to me. Always struggled with the winters but now it's affecting me year round. The grey and rain doesn't seem to end. Please don't tell me that it's better than 40 degrees and boiling hot. I'm not asking for that either! Just dry and a blue sky, that's all I want. Doesn't have to be warm. It is making me depressed and knowing I have to live like this for the rest of my life (or at least until the kids are grown up) is sending me into panic. There are times where I think through scenarios of what would be worse, leaving the country without my husband and children or killing myself. I check the weather back home or see pictures of my family in the garden and burst into tears.

I have tried the lamp, vitamin D supplements, antidepressants, a gratitude journal to value what I do have. Nothing works and every year it is getting worse. Has anyone found a solution? Learned to live with it? I'm looking out the window right now and it's making me feel so sick and hopeless.

OP posts:
EarthSight · 09/06/2024 22:04

I'm Welsh and I sympathise. Although I don't want it hot for weeks on end, I do want to see more blue skies. It's been such crappy weather since October last year. It hasn't even picked up last month which last year was wonderful.

Do you live in a city OP? And how often do you get out to enjoy nature, and not see loads of grey urban sprawl?

mumpenalty · 09/06/2024 22:05

I hear you OP. I was born here but I come from a Mediterranean background and I have always loved and needed to see the sun. The wet and the grey that makes the sky feel like it’s closing in is just so depressing. This last year or so has been terrible.

I do find though that if we just go out and deal with the less good weather, then it’s not as bad as I think it’s going to be and there’s more glimmers of sun etc. That’s all I can offer. It sucks.

IsawwhatIsaw · 09/06/2024 22:08

I don’t like hot weather at all, but agree a bit of sun would be nice. Still wearing clothes I wore in February.

Bloom15 · 09/06/2024 22:08

Squirrelsnut · 09/06/2024 20:56

I'm puzzled by the 'last summer was shit' comments. It was absolutely roasting, unbearably hot on some days, wasn't it?

We had about a week last year - was at a christening and it was hottest day of the year. It was lovely but this is shit

Stringagal · 09/06/2024 22:08

Just looked at the forecast for this week, and the best I can come up with is “at least the kids won’t get wet on the walk to school” ffs

Noosnom · 09/06/2024 22:10

Trust me, I've only ever lived in the UK and I hate the climate. Too grey and chilly.
I'd go abroad on hols if I had the money.

Stringagal · 09/06/2024 22:14

Squirrelsnut · 09/06/2024 20:56

I'm puzzled by the 'last summer was shit' comments. It was absolutely roasting, unbearably hot on some days, wasn't it?

We had some hot days but it was July 2022 when it hit 40 and we all nearly fried to death.

Gnomegarden32 · 09/06/2024 22:16

Is there a way of organising more trips abroad - one in winter and one in summer so you're guaranteed some sun? Obviously that isn't going to be possible for many people. Other than that I'm not sure what you can do other than move countries 😐

yeenlo · 09/06/2024 22:25

Where do you live OP? I live in London and the weather tends to be better in the south - I always notice that it's often not as bad here when the weather threads get busy grumbling about rain. We've certainly had some lovely dry days out in the past few weeks. We also have a good variety of indoor entertainment for dcs (and adults too) and public transport to get us there. Wet weather just means we get a bit wet walking to the tube or bus stop, we'll often spend all day indoors at a museum or visiting a big leisure centre with several back to back activities to fill the day. Lots of big parks, and easy to get to less urban green spaces (like Epping Forest) on nice weather days too.

PILs live in a hot country and the novelty of endless sunny days wears off - we end up barely spending any time outdoors because it gets exhausting, and we end up doing a lot of indoor activities because we know there will be air-conditioning.

DelphiniumBlue · 09/06/2024 22:25

But last Sunday was hot, too hot for me, and it has been warm enough all week not to be needing a jacket. It's been mainly sunny when I've been on playground duty. Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in the garden in sunshine. I've done shed loads of washing. I agree that the temperatures ( except last weekend) have not been high, but it hasn't been cold and I've seen plenty of blue skies. Yesterday and today have been a bit chilly for June, but I much prefer that to temperatures over 30.
But seriously OP, if you are finding that you don't get on with the weather here, can you consider relocating? I don't know where in the UK you are, but there's quite a big difference between north and south. Would you consider moving further south if you have to stay in this country?

TeenLifeMum · 09/06/2024 22:30

My friends were all reminiscing back to the early pandemic heat wave … which I mostly missed working all hours in a hospital 😭
that said, we’ve had a sunny weekend. Not hot but dry and warm enough for summer wardrobe and light cardigan.
i think it’s important to have moan but not dwell on it or you’ll spiral.

RedYellowPinkGreenPurpleOrangeBlue · 09/06/2024 22:35

Yeah as a pp said, I would feel like you do about the UK - in a very hot country.

This weather is much better than 40-45 degrees C that half the world is getting now!

And it's not been raining too much.

Would be nice if it was 5-7 degrees C warmer I guess. But it's only early June.

Ozgirl75 · 10/06/2024 00:35

I hear you - I live in Sydney and we were back in the U.K. last year and the relentless greyness and drizzle was awful, so depressing.
Now I’m back in Aus and it’s winter but it’s around 16-18 every day and sunny it’s amazing what a difference it makes to mood and just the things you can do.

Ozgirl75 · 10/06/2024 00:37

Squirrelsnut · 09/06/2024 20:56

I'm puzzled by the 'last summer was shit' comments. It was absolutely roasting, unbearably hot on some days, wasn't it?

Nope, that was 2022. Last summer we had nice days in June, then loads of rain in July and August, a week of hot sun in September and then back to winter.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 10/06/2024 00:42

I am incredibly pissed off with the fucking rain as I have a UK break at the coast this week and rain is forecast every fucking day. 🤬

Madcats · 10/06/2024 09:26

There were a couple of weeks in June last year that were gorgeous (they coincided with DD finishing GCSEs and then having a birthday (so I remember thinking how lucky she was with the timing).

I remember being grumpy for quite a while when I moved to Bristol from the Sussex coast many years ago. It took me a while to click that we had more "grey" and drizzly days.

Get hold of the "Rain Today" app and a decent weather forecast app (I use Met Office, which is getting better) and try to plan your breaks and walks. Even a few minutes in the sun can make a huge difference.

MidnightPatrol · 10/06/2024 09:52

It is starting to get me down too.

12 degrees and raining when I went out earlier.

June is usually lovely.

I haven’t even got my summer wardrobe out, what’s the point.

LastTrainEast · 10/06/2024 09:54

I bet the country you migrated from was wonderful wasn't it. Absolutely perfect.

Ozgirl75 · 10/06/2024 09:55

Madcats · 10/06/2024 09:26

There were a couple of weeks in June last year that were gorgeous (they coincided with DD finishing GCSEs and then having a birthday (so I remember thinking how lucky she was with the timing).

I remember being grumpy for quite a while when I moved to Bristol from the Sussex coast many years ago. It took me a while to click that we had more "grey" and drizzly days.

Get hold of the "Rain Today" app and a decent weather forecast app (I use Met Office, which is getting better) and try to plan your breaks and walks. Even a few minutes in the sun can make a huge difference.

I grew up in Sussex and was at university in Bristol and couldn’t believe how much it rained there! My mum and dad would be saying “oh wasn’t it a lovely weekend” and I was like “NO, it just drizzled again!”

Walking over the Downs in the rain is one of my overriding memories.

Tinkerbot · 10/06/2024 09:58

I think you have to get out regardless. Get a good long waterproof jacket, leggings, walking boots. You can go anywhere, anytime!!
I live in a wet part of the country. It’s invigorating to get out.

Strawberriesaregoingoff · 10/06/2024 09:58

Squirrelsnut · 09/06/2024 20:56

I'm puzzled by the 'last summer was shit' comments. It was absolutely roasting, unbearably hot on some days, wasn't it?

No, it was not... Roasting? Where? 🙄

Strawberriesaregoingoff · 10/06/2024 10:01

Tinkerbot · 10/06/2024 09:58

I think you have to get out regardless. Get a good long waterproof jacket, leggings, walking boots. You can go anywhere, anytime!!
I live in a wet part of the country. It’s invigorating to get out.

There's always one isn't there 🤦‍♀️

Bumpitybumper · 10/06/2024 10:04

We haven't had an proper rain for a week and a half and have had plenty of sunshine (south coast). It's not been the warmest but I'm fine with that. Hang in there OP, I'm sure better weather will come!

MidnightPatrol · 10/06/2024 10:07

Tinkerbot · 10/06/2024 09:58

I think you have to get out regardless. Get a good long waterproof jacket, leggings, walking boots. You can go anywhere, anytime!!
I live in a wet part of the country. It’s invigorating to get out.

Look, I go outside all year round. I walk the dog multiple times a day. I don’t mind hiking in December. I drag my toddler round in a puddle suit.

But it’s entirely reasonable to be annoyed at the lack of sunshine what is now approx. 9 months since we last had summer weather.

I also like being warm. Drinking wine in the sun. Not wearing a coat. Going out all day without worrying about getting cold and wet. Hanging out on the beach.

Having to wear waterproofs to go outside is far from optimal in June.

Talipesmum · 10/06/2024 10:11

I strongly recommend growing up in Manchester. I now live down south and I’m constantly surprised and pleased at how nice it is weather wise (many bones to pick for pretty much everything else though, I love Manchester). But I grew up basically assuming skies were white-y grey.

Where do you live OP? Can you move to Dorset? It’s much sunnier there than elsewhere in the UK I reckon.

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