To feel depressed by it getting dark so early

[Poetrypatty]

... And only going to get worse. I think that Boris press conference today didn't help. Feel miserable going into another winter of all this crap and the effort of keep trying to keep mine and dcs mood up.

Best time of the year.

We live in the Highlands of Scotland. I love where we live. I love looking out of the window and seeing the loch and the mountains when it’s light. I hate the dark nights when the darkness encompasses everything except the mountain rescue helicopter lights looking for climbers on the mountains. I hate watching the snow coming in over the mountains, although I love walking in it with the dogs.

Spring and summer are my happy months. I honestly can’t understand people who prefer darkness (and fucking twinkly lights) to feeling the sun on your face, being outside until late at night and seeing the garden bloom.

I hate layers of clothes, hats, gloves and not being able to wear my flip flops outside. It’s just so depressing!

The earliest sunset occurs a couple of weeks before the shortest day - usually around 8 Dec. It always cheers me up to pass that, as I mind the dark evenings much more than dark mornings

I didn't know that. I'll check out when it is in Melbourne, as that's where I am. We certainly get the dark morning and evenings, but our winter is shorter.

@Burtknowsbest

I think I have the opposite of SAD - I don’t like summer but love Autumn and Winter and like that it gets dark early, but I’m sorry that you’re struggling OP.

I think I have this too! Hope you manage to keep your spirits up over the winter this year OP:)

@ilovesooty

I'm with *@SophieHMS*

There aren't many things that propel me into feelings of rage but cosy does.

How about a lovely bit of hygge?

@LukeEvansWife

It goes quickly too though.

I am okay til about October usually - once the Christmas things go up in the shops, I want to put my head down until January

The Christmas things ARE up in the shops! I took this today and there was lots more

UANBU OP, I felt it in the last week or so too...the persistant grey days get me down.

Some good tips on this thread, thanks to those who shared! Mine are:

If it's sunny outside and you can get out ...go out, don't put it off until later.
Vit D
SAD light - use regularly, make it part of daily routine.
Get outside, no matter the weather. Really didn't want to go out for a walk yesterday as it was drizzling but got the coat on anyway...and the rain stopped and I really enjoyed the walk and chat.
Do a challenge- eg 5,000 steps a day for a month, there's a lot on at the moment for fundraising.

My job was working in a windowless office (shouldn't be allowed build windowless offices!) but I've now changed jobs and have a window so I'm hoping that will make a difference.

💐 OP

How about a lovely bit of hygge?

Not to be outdone, some marketing bod here in Scotland has come up with ‘coorie’. I know it’s a Scots word but it’s not exactly the lifestyle trend they’re trying to persuade us it is

Weirdly I like it when it’s cold, I just hate the run up to Christmas, and Christmas itself.

What is coorie?

‘Coorie in’ means to snuggle down - but Visit Scotland are trying to position ‘coorie’ as a lifestyle trend similar to hygge, so they can brand things as ‘coorie’ and up the price tag.

You know it’s a pile of keech when even The National (usually a lover of all things Scottish)
www.thenational.scot/news/16990051.wont-bother-coorie-book-non-existent-trend/

*The National raises an eyebrow

@Burtknowsbest

I think I have the opposite of SAD - I don’t like summer but love Autumn and Winter and like that it gets dark early, but I’m sorry that you’re struggling OP.

Me too but I have a friend who has SAD and her feelings are palpable.

Apparently it is very, very common in people who live around the Arctic circle, with dark days as well as nights. The feel better when it is the other way around.

I'm so sorry, op.

I haven't seen or heard BJ's press conference, I'm scared to delve now!

Oh god no. No more. No more trying to make a trend out of the shivery pits of winter despair. We need specialist bunkers with sad lights and a fake sun where we have a simulated beach and lots of nice summery things.

The only time I want to be cosy/snuggling is if I’m actually ill. I want to be outside preferably in shorts and flip flops on a balmy summer evening.

If you enjoy the cold and damp then you can get your fill for about 9 months in this country.

Hate the dark evenings and mornings. So restrictive. I don’t like running in the dark. I don’t like taking the dog for a walk in the dark. Driving kids to evening clubs in the dark. Can’t do my evening lake swim in the bloody dark! Don’t get the love on here for dark. I guess if you are lazy and basically lie on your sofa under a blanket from
4pm with your hot chocolate.
So boring.

I hate summer in the U.K., either hot and humid or rainy and cold. This summer has reminded me of why we go abroad. Spring can be lovely but Autumn and Winter are my favourites.

My sister is opposite however and suffers from SAD. Like others have recommended, she bought a lamp a few years ago and she finds it really makes a difference to her mood.

That's weird, I was saying just today that I'm grateful it's light when I'm leaving work at 5.30!

My best friend loves in south America and I'm honestly debating switching houses for a few months.

@Burtknowsbest

I think I have the opposite of SAD - I don’t like summer but love Autumn and Winter and like that it gets dark early, but I’m sorry that you’re struggling OP.

Me too! I bloody love it. But I can understand your feelings, OP

@ShaneTheThird

Oh god no. No more. No more trying to make a trend out of the shivery pits of winter despair. We need specialist bunkers with sad lights and a fake sun where we have a simulated beach and lots of nice summery things.

That’s a brilliant idea - there would absolutely be a market for that

YANBU I suffer from seasonal affective disorder and my anxiety is rising more and more.

It is noticeably darker now in the evenings.

I particularly hate from mid November to end of Feb. As dark a lot and what feels like constant grey sky.

Yanbu.
It was almost dark when I put the bins out at 19:30. I could have sobbed.

Agreed feel ducking horrible. Not been on holiday for two years (I know, first world problems) still feel like shit though