SAD/ feeling low in winter support thread

[LadyCatStark]

Hi all, after reading some unhelpful comments on another thread where someone is struggling, I wondered if anyone would like to join me in a SAD support thread for anyone who is feeling low now that winter is coming, whether you have a SAD diagnosis or not.

Disclaimer: I know anyone can post anything they like on a public forum but please, out of respect for those of us who are really struggling, don’t come on this thread to tell us how much you love winter, hygge, snuggling, hot chocolate or twinkly lights or tell us that we’ll feel better if only we change our mindset.

Please feel free to share your feelings, good or bad, tell us about your day or share tips for things that help (or don’t). Hopefully we can all help each other get through this winter!

@SirChenjins that sounds like a great day. I have decided that alcohol plays quite a part in my MH. Had some wine last night when I really didn't intend to. Just been to the pub on tonic water all night. Hopefully a bit better tomorrow

We had an awesome day yesterday. DS (12) puppy sat and DH and I went out with some friends. We had a few drinks, watched the new James Bond film (not my thing but never mind!) and went to a lovely Chinese restaurant. It was so nice to get out and feel normal again! I decided to relive my youth and bought some skinny flare jeans just like I wore in the 2000s 😂 (and yes they do still soak up water as you walk along 😂).

Have a great day everyone. Looks like I should head to Scotland to get all these amazing jumpers and scarves!

Ah the dreaded flares in puddles! How retro it's a feeling once experienced never forgotten!

I'm working for the next 2 weeks straight without a break so am going to be so tired but hopefully will be worth it until tax hits me lol. I am addicted to my phone so have started trying to read more. I'm reading cilkas journey at the moment which puts work into perspective reading about how awful conditions in gulags are especially during freezing Russian winters :(

Great idea for a thread, OP. We’ve had a pretty mild autumn in my part of NI so far, which has kept my mood up, but seeing woolly jumpers in shops and even a couple of cold mornings have been enough to remind me how much I dread this time of year. November in particular is always really tough for me, with the wet, windy and dark days and pressure of Christmas coming up. I definitely feel my mood improving after that’s out of the way.
I’m on maternity leave until next year so at least I don’t have to work this winter and I’m looking forward to getting gingerbread lattes in Costa again.

I have covid now and feel 💩. The weather didn't appear to be too bad but I couldn't go out.

@DrCoconut hope you feel better soon. I had it about 3 weeks ago it was shit.

Hope you’re feeling OK @DrCoconut!

It’s been another beautiful day today so I took our puppy for 2 slightly longer than he’s meant to walks. I just couldn’t bring myself to go inside when it was such a beautiful day! I reckon I could have worn shorts and been warm enough 😵.

Is anyone else taking Sertraline? I’ve found it’s really affecting my appetite. One minute I’m eating away nicely and the next minute I’m absolutely stuffed and literally can’t bring myself to put anymore food in my mouth. I mean it’s no bad thing, but it’s weird how suddenly and strongly the full feeling comes on!

I’ve had a lovely day. Another walk with a friend and then a sunny run.

Amazon are out of stock for the daylight bulb I ordered. I wonder if it’s worth it? Anyone have one for an overhead light.

Specially for when I’m working at the laptop. Only a few days a week. Never all day. SAD lamp already there.

Any experience?

Morning ladies. I’m so happy to be back out at work, it feel amazing!

Sorry @PinkWaterBottle2021 I only have a SAD lamp not a bulb.

I’m super excited as after nagging DH for a treadmill for ages, he’s not ordered a treadmill but has ordered a cross trainer. Then he’s gone one step further and ordered a rowing machine and weight machine thingy and we’re going to turn one of the spare rooms into a (tiny) home gym! I’m just as happy with a cross trainer as a treadmill and it will keep me exercising when the weather is bad but hopefully allow him to exercise without getting shin splints. DS wants to do a bit too, so we’ll all benefit!

@LadyCatStark that's awesome! Definitely get a good radio in there as well or an Alexa.

Dp has announced to me this morning he is depressed at work and wants to quit. I have told him he can't just walk out of his job without another but he is one of these people who thinks he can walk into a new job same day, although deep down he knows it's nonsense and he would be too scared. He hates change. I'm going to work late tonight so am cleaning the flat. At least we have clean fresh bedding on for tonight :). Weather's not been too crazy here at the moment. My dm has knitted us all matching hats for when winter really arrives. 😂

I'm feeling tired and haven't used my SAD lamp so might sit at that for a while.

DD10 has had to go for a Covid test this morning after spending Saturday with her cousin who is now positive. We are away to London next week for a break so it's putting a spanner in the work.

My friend has asked if I would like to go to Paris with her and her DD next Easter and I've had to say that I'm skint due to birthdays and holidays, but I don't want to go for other reasons too. I should just say no to finalise it but I hate putting a dampener on things.

I am hoping PCR comes back soon as negative so I can get my head into gear. We are away Monday - Thursday and then it's DDs 16th birthday so I am having to plan for that too.

It hate it when life comes at you fast. I like to live in the slow lane!

Clean bedding is something to treasure @shanethethird, whatever else is going on in the world.

I enjoy hearing how exercise helps you guys and I really should get my arse into gear. I might go out for a light jog later on myself. It will be very brief though.

@ShaneTheThird that must be stressful for you, especially when your work are messing you about!

@Ulysses hope your DD manages to avoid the plague! Exercise is the second most beneficial thing to my mood after Sertraline. It’s really important to me to find the time to exercise. Today I managed a 5k run after work while DS supervised the puppy.

@Ulysses

Clean bedding is something to treasure *@shanethethird*, whatever else is going on in the world.

I enjoy hearing how exercise helps you guys and I really should get my arse into gear. I might go out for a light jog later on myself. It will be very brief though.

Without being a cliche - I never regret a run. I never come back wishing I hadn't been out. I never think I shouldn't have bothered.

@Ulysses hopefully dd avoids the dreaded covid and you get to go to London. I can't wait for it to all fuck off now and get our lives back.

I agree re exercise I need to start as I always feel better after even a short walk. I feel productive with it too.

It's pitch black and I'm just coming home from work now because I slacked off fifteen minutes early to catch the train. I'm going to go to the shops and Hopefully cook dinner and chill. Dss isn't staying tonight and as much as I usually miss him I'm glad tonight as I'm exhausted and the last 3 nights he has taken to waking up at 2am and screaming my name for 3 hours. It's his new game.

On the plus side I have 2 more episodes of midnight mass to finish and have throughly enjoyed it so far.

How was everyone's day? It was weirdly warm here today

If I became rich, and I could work out the environmental aspect, I'd have clean bedding every night. I'd also live in a yurt with a compost loo and a great shower.

My day was good and although sunny here it was quite cold. Would rather that than grey/windy/wet.

Wanted to run today but couldn’t fit it in after work before kids yea etc.

I’ve Just got an attack alarm as another way to try and help me keep going once my only chance to exercise is in the dark

@PinkWaterBottle2021 it’s depressing that you have to do that. I won’t run in the the dark as although we live in a very safe village, it’s also very remote and it only takes one dodgy person. There’s be unlikely to be anyone around to help me if I needed it. To be fair I’d probably fall down a rabbit hole or something anyway if I tried to run in the dark here.

Yeah I know. I walk dogs early morning too so I’ll have it for that.

I tried the Hollie Guard app for running but it couldn’t cope with the shaking of my phone.

I don’t really feel unsafe. It’s just like a tickbox iykwim.

Hi everyone - hope you’re all keeping well
Funnily enough I used a compost loo for the first time today! It was on the side of a hill surrounded by a forest, and was a surprisingly pleasant experience - apart from the beetle which scuttled out from underneath the loo roll. Not sure who got the biggest fright, it or me! Perthshire in early October with the sun shining and the autumn colours on the trees is stunning - I highly recommend it. Getting out into the light and fresh air, and breathing in the smell of pine trees has been very uplifting

Oh @SirChenjins that is basically the dream! Complete with wildlife in the loo (and decent wifi!)

I'm reading the wintering. I'm too tired to post but I will later. I was up all last night with dp - sometimes he gets angry and shouty, it's shit and both my teens were here although they seemed to sleep through. Weirdly the brain damage appears to have made him more amiable apart from these outbursts, but I'm having to consider my options, sadly. (They're not exactly out of his control but he's understandably fed up). Needless to say my work productivity was rubbish today. But I did have my office window open and I got out for a quick walk at lunchtime.

@Ulysses thank you for your message- it won't let me reply so far!

Morning, I hope you got a better night last night @stilldumdedumming. I read Wintering in January and really enjoyed it, so hope you do to if it's the book I'm thinking of.

DDs test is negative so that's a weight off my mind.

I did a 7 minutes HIIT video last night but now that I know DD is okay I am going to go to the gym later on tonight for a run on on the treadmill there. I won't last long but it will be something rather than nothing and it will get me outdoors in the evening. I ran 100km last December, indoors and out and in the dark and enjoyed it so much so I do need to push myself back into it.

Hi everyone, can I join please? I've started using my SAD light at work again, but will my mask be reducing its effectiveness?