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Original poster

To feel sad every year around this time

74 replies

whichone343 · 06/09/2021 09:25

I don't know if it because I have the 6 weeks off and then back to school/work and they are another year older, but every year, around this time, I have this overwhelming feeling of sadness/depression

OP posts:
FangsForTheMemory · 06/09/2021 11:01

I hate December to February. I'm already missing the light evenings and mornings, though, and anyone who says they love the autumn can do one. It's the death of the year.

starrynight87 · 06/09/2021 11:14

I am the opposite, summer makes me feel so low.

The fresh air and sense of Autumn is wonderful.

Hope you feel better soon OP xx

gottastopeatingchocolate · 06/09/2021 11:16

Yes!
I felt down in the middle of a week off. Not consciously thinking about back to school or anything. Realised that it was September 1st, and that I always seem to get "September blue". I think I always have.

Crunchymum · 06/09/2021 11:18

I actually (used to) like this time of year.

A time of new beginnings and possibility. We are well rested and happy and ready for the year.

However my mum died in September last year and it's now a shit month for me.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 06/09/2021 11:19

I get it more in march - tired of winter and ready for warmer weather.

Love autumn, I feel ready for the changing seasons and start looking forward to winter & christmas!!

Annasgirl · 06/09/2021 11:25

@drpaddington

Yes. I work term time so I get that feeling of dread at the end of each half term break- but going back in September is always by far the hardest. It's like sadness that the holiday has ended, anxiety about having to go back to the rush and stress of work, school runs, after school activities, homework battles, bed fine battles... Also for me it's frustration that I'm still trapped in a job I don't really like!

I get it around New Years too- I'm always so sad that Christmas is over, and I question what I've actually achieved in the last year. I struggle to find any positives!

And another for yes this is me too!!! I've had this since childhood - the earliest I remember feeling it was when I was 6Shock.

And now one of my DC is also like this - I feel even sadder as I know he will be like me, a life of feeling everything deeply.

RobinPenguins · 06/09/2021 11:28

I love September. But I feel this way in Jan/Feb so sympathise.

NoraLuka · 06/09/2021 11:38

I get this, especially when the DC were younger and we had lovely fun summers, although I never had more than 2 - 3 weeks off in the summer, and the DC had 8 weeks off (French school holidays, yay!). It was a pain to organise childcare but I still loved the holidays. I am not quite as sad this year because DD1 is going through an awful teenage stage that I quite frankly can't wait to see the end of. I have to say "Do NOT speak to me like that" far too often Grin

The DC are coming up to the last few years of high school and I can see the time coming when they will leave home and all the rest of it. We were buying stationary and I wondered how many more times we'd be doing this and felt really sad right there in the middle of the supermarket!

I think back to when I had 2 toddlers having toddler tantrums and couldn't wait for them to grow up and now they almost have (at least toddler tantrums can sometimes be resolved with Peppa Pig or whatever!). I wish my Mum was around to see them grow up but she died years ago and I always think of her when there is any kind of new chapter event. I had them quite young and only had a year or two as an adult without DC and I wonder what I'll do next.

September seems to make me think about all of these existential questions for some reason.

I've found making time to go out walking/cycling/running helps with warding off the sad feeling, even if the weather is miserable.

elQuintoConyo · 06/09/2021 11:38

Its Jan-Feb-March that I hate.

Sept to Dec is getting back to normal, there are a few days off here and there, DC's birthday is always a long weekend and we get away for it (somewhere super cheap), then Christmas which is really quite calm for us.

But the loooong weeks between January and the Easter holidays can be depressing (in Spain schools don't have half term, and only 10 days for Easter). Schools are back next Monday after 11 weeks and I don't want them to end, but DC happy to go back to school.

User135644 · 06/09/2021 11:41

It's when all the bloody fireworks start I get fed up.

ddl1 · 06/09/2021 11:43

Not usually, but this year am a bit nervous about the possibility of serous increase in Covid and resulting restrictions. But wouldn't say I was depressed.

I am not strongly sun-dependent, but do find it inconvenient - not depressing, just a nuisance - when the days get very short.

What REALLY gets me depressed in the way that some of you are describing is my birthday (not at this time of year) and the resulting emphasis on the fact that now I'm 'a year older', etc. Some years ago I made the decision to never mark or celebrate my birthday, and to keep it secret where possible; and I now often manage to forget it myself, and don't get the birthday depression.

LindaEllen · 06/09/2021 11:46

I have got it at this time of year for about 15 years now. Not linked to school etc because I always loved going back to school. I think it's as soon as things start feeling like autumn.

It got worse a few years ago when my parents split up. It was a very difficult time for many reasons, and that was this time of year. In fact, we had just dropped my youngest brother off at university (I was still living at home too, at 24) and we got home, and Mum and me went to Asda. On the way she just said oh me and your dad are splitting up, he's going to have to look for somewhere else to live.

Let me tell you, it came 100% out of the blue. I had horrific depression and anxiety for a long time after, which ended up being medicated and still hasn't gone away.. but I think this time of year reminds me of that time, and how I felt back then.

80sMum · 06/09/2021 11:46

Ah yes, I get that feeling too, OP. For me, it's because September heralds the end of summer and the beginning of the long drag down into the dark, grey, dismal days of winter.
It's a feeling that increases throughout September and October. Then when the clocks change at the end of October I kind of shut down for about 4 months. March 1st is something to look forward to!

the80sweregreat · 06/09/2021 11:48

I am like this at Christmas : it always makes me cry. I understand how you feel though op

Motherhubbardscupboard · 06/09/2021 11:58

Me too. I thought it was just me! My worst ever year was when my youngest went into Y1. I think it was knowing that my baby wasn't even the youngest at school any more. My kids are now all much older, in fact the youngest is now in sixth form. I haven't had the sad feeling for a few years now, I think it's because once they are mid teens it is less obvious how quickly they are changing and they are just their own grown up selves now, which I love.

MiaMarshmallows · 06/09/2021 12:03

I get this feeling at the beginning of Summer. Just feel really anxious and unsettled.

Foolsrule · 06/09/2021 12:32

I love September, fresh starts and back to school and the smell of Autumn in the air. I get what you’re describing post-Xmas though. Pre-Covid, we always went somewhere hot and sunny at Feb half term to combat that one!

scarpa · 06/09/2021 13:04

I get melancholy around autumn. I call it the autumn sads but it's not quite sadness because I like the dark, moody vibes in a way... kind of like a weird hypercharged nostalgia and melancholy but ...also cosiness? It's hard to describe!

No kids, so not about that. I think it's just the feeling of another year winding down, the days getting shorter.

Suntrap · 06/09/2021 15:43

I will settle down again in a few weeks ,once I've forgotten how lovely the summer was. And I love Bonfire night and Halloween and xmas.

Then I'm all sad after xmas again.
I just overthink everything.
I was the same too after school hols as a child
Loved being at home with my family.

I'm the same with my DC. Im never one if those parents who cant wait for them to ho back to school. The opposite.

Suntrap · 06/09/2021 15:45

@NoraLuka

I get this, especially when the DC were younger and we had lovely fun summers, although I never had more than 2 - 3 weeks off in the summer, and the DC had 8 weeks off (French school holidays, yay!). It was a pain to organise childcare but I still loved the holidays. I am not quite as sad this year because DD1 is going through an awful teenage stage that I quite frankly can't wait to see the end of. I have to say "Do NOT speak to me like that" far too often Grin

The DC are coming up to the last few years of high school and I can see the time coming when they will leave home and all the rest of it. We were buying stationary and I wondered how many more times we'd be doing this and felt really sad right there in the middle of the supermarket!

I think back to when I had 2 toddlers having toddler tantrums and couldn't wait for them to grow up and now they almost have (at least toddler tantrums can sometimes be resolved with Peppa Pig or whatever!). I wish my Mum was around to see them grow up but she died years ago and I always think of her when there is any kind of new chapter event. I had them quite young and only had a year or two as an adult without DC and I wonder what I'll do next.

September seems to make me think about all of these existential questions for some reason.

I've found making time to go out walking/cycling/running helps with warding off the sad feeling, even if the weather is miserable.

Yes middle paragraph is me!!!!!!!
TheYearOfSmallThings · 06/09/2021 15:48

I love this time of year! I get all the feeling of new starts and turning over a new leaf, without actually having to go back to school.

However New Years Eve gives me the same feeling of slight sadness you describe, OP, so I know where you are coming from. Luckily I'm over it by New Years Day.

Whatafustercluck · 06/09/2021 15:48

Same here op, the lyrics to the Greenday song resonate - wake me up when September ends. Nights drawing in, summer and time with the kids behind me for another year, made worse from not really having had a proper summer this year weather-wise. Eldest going into Y6, youngest starting reception, I just want time to slow down.

MinesAMassiveSalad · 06/09/2021 15:48

Yes. I get a shock in August seeing the berries appearing and suddenly anticipate the winter and the gloom.
At that point I try to arrange to go see people and organise trips out😂. And I'm relieved to get my now teenage children back to school and college so it begins to balance out a bit.

I have found that vitamin D and being outdoors in daylight help get me through autumn / winter better too.

Remmy123 · 06/09/2021 15:49

I usually love it but not this year - no idea why

PurpleParrotfish · 06/09/2021 15:55

Not usually but this year I feel sad that there hasn’t been a proper summer and now it’s another year to wait. Currently stuck inside in our flat with Covid as the lovely weather finally arrives so that’s obviously not helping my mood!