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!

Glad you had a better day today. Works same as usual very frustrating. It will be so much worse in the run up to Christmas, last year was horrific. At one point everyone called in sick it was literally me and my manager in for over a week with crowds. 2 of us. In the end we had to get the company director to come in and help and we struggled terribly I ended up with an infected wisdom tooth because of the stress. Now I'm ttc I'm trying not to let the stress get to me as much but it's hard as dp is a pain in the arse now with refusing to see a Dr for his health issues. He also seems to be challenging me a lot about dss, like he has decided that because I want a baby I'm going to push dss out and not love him anymore. Today it pissed down something awful luckily I managed to miss both downpours to and from work and finished early today 😊

It’s our last day in London. We’ve had a great time but it’s been non stop so I’m at that point where I’m looking forward to the 5 hour journey ahead. We walked 10 miles yesterday, more the day before!

Hope all well with everyone

@Ulysses that sounds like a fab time! You must be knackered now!

Amazing the mileage you cover in a city! I woke up in a grump - I think because I have counselling today and I will have to face a few things.

Still after a slow start (day off), I made a delicious soup. And then went for a lovely long walk in the sun. I find a lovely wide vista and then a spell in a bird hide is just right.

@stilldumdedumming hope counselling went ok today!

@ShaneTheThird it was cancelled! I do feel the weight of it all, but what beautiful sunshine today. That definitely lifted my spirits

I'm feeling down today, it was so dark so early. My energy levels are on the floor.

@stilldumdedumming oh no have they rescheduled it? But yay for a bit of sunshine, I always feel a glimmer of hope when the sun comes out hope the same for you.

@userxx sorry to hear today's not been great do you use a sad lamp?

Sorry I haven’t been on for a few days, it’s been so busy! I’m off for half term now and we’re going away for a few days next week. It’s our puppy’s first time away so could be interesting. We should be going to Turkey tomorrow but moved it to next year (again!) as we weren’t sure what the situation would be but I think we could have gone in the end 🙈. I don’t think I can bring myself to put the puppy in kennels though so maybe it’s for the best!

Morning all it's been wild and windy here but I am determined to get out for a walk later on as they forecast is showing that it'll be sunny too in that mix. I agree that a bit of sunshine raises your sprits.

It's been manic this week with being away to London, then DDs 16th birthday so I am looking forward to a change of pace. Kids are back at school tomorrow and it will be nice to have the house to myself during the day.

Have a lovely time away with Dpup @ladycatstark.

Thanks @Ulysses I’m looking forward to it! I realised that the fact that it’s the pups first night away on the 5 months we’ve had him means that it’s my first night away in (actually a lot longer than) 5 months, I think it’s my first night away all year actually! My main worry is that we’re going with friends who have a dachshund, so we have to be really careful with them when they’re together due to the size difference.

It’s pretty wild here too, but we’ll need to get out for a dog walk and the cross trainer is really keeping me going.

Starting work in the dark. Finances also looking a little murky. Sulking dp.

Sorry to hear things still aren't good @stilldumdedumming.

It's so chilly here this morning. Work have increased our hours this week which Im not excited about because it means nearly ten hours out of the house and the shift pattern means leave for work in the morning, too early to get any house work or writing done and get home at 9.30pm too late to do it then either. Plus no sunlight and feeling cold with the doors all wide open at work. Also what's with customers being so rude and ignorant lately?!

Thank you @ShaneTheThird . It's ok - it will be difficult for a whole yet but I'm pretty good at the long game (I've had practice!)

Plus I have both my teens living with me at the moment and that is quite unusual and I love it.

Everyone is losing their mind at the moment. Honestly? I think it is the Covid stuff from the last 18 months and the realisation that it hasn't gone away. The lockdowns affected people in so many ways. Often quite subtle but significant all the same. Almost everyone I would say.

And now dd has Covid. Ironically she had recurrent tonsillitis and so actual feels a good deal better than she has all week!

My energy and mood have just tanked. We all caught covid a couple of weeks ago and now I can just about be bothered to crawl out of bed and keep everyone alive. The early darkness and poor light quality is really getting to me, it's like a hungover sort of feeling. Why anyone prefers this to nice weather and daylight I will never know. I think it's the sudden change as it seems to have closed in rapidly since before we were ill.

It's definitely got colder here. I changed to the winter duvet last night. Had a wonderful sleep.

I will be in a hotel next week when the clocks change which will be weird.

Lovely afternoon run with my dog as I'm off work this week so no head torch required.

@DrCoconut I agree completely. These dark mornings are rough. The sunshine though is like a gift! I managed to get some sun on my face at lunch time - it was epic!

The weather forecast is depressing here, rain for the next week it seems. Around the corner is November, possibly my least favourite month as well.

I did get out for a walk at lunchtime yesterday but it will require more effort when its leaden grey skies with spells of pouring rain. I need to go and get more iron tablets. I'm peri-menopausal and have horrific periods and my ferritin levels are poor at the best of times.

Hope everyone is keeping well as can be. It's looking bleak out there today and will only get worse. My full on depression hasn't kicked in yet but it will. Currently ttc and am already feeling a failure there alongside work stress. They now expect me to do absolutely everything whilst monitoring my every move and it's a nightmare. Pulled several muscles lifting delivery boxes yesterday and customers are an absolute nightmare, half term ain't helping!

I hope you have a better day today @ShaneTheThird, people can be so thoughtless. I know TTC can leave you feeling fraught so fingers crossed that turns to joy soon.

Wild and windy here today. I’ve been enjoying my walk in the woods nearby when I can. There’s a few pathways some longer than others and it’s nice to even do a quick trail like I did last night before it got dark and the leaves were coming down in droves.

Thank you! Woodland walks sounds amazing!
I had a pretty wild night. Found a man unconscious in the street and me and my partner were attacked (but not hurt!) By someone else as we tried to help. So I didn't sleep at all and am having a shift from hell, have already dealt with 2 staff members crying (as I'm senior staff) one gone home, overcrowded and understaffed but it is what it is

Gosh @ShaneTheThird that sounds like an awful evening! And day actually.

We’re back from our little trip. The days were lovely but the night was a nightmare as our puppy isn’t used to sleeping with us and he couldn’t figure out what he was meant to do and settle. He tried to dig us out of the bed as he thought we were buried 😂. It wasn’t funny at 1am though!

That's a horrible thing to happen Shane, one that rocks your faith in humanity. Well done on going to someone's aid, I hope you get paid in good karma. Did you sleep better after all that last night?

That's quite an amusing picture of Dpup rescuing you @ladycatstark . Holidays can often be a compromise of doing exciting things but not getting adequate sleep.

My energy levels are really low so I have asked to speak with GP as it's related to my periods. Have been planning on putting up halloween decorations this week but come 6 o'clock I'm pooped. I finish at 3pm today so hope to get it done then.

@Ulysses definitely speak to the doctor. I was so exhausted some days I’d have to crawl up the stairs! Now I’m taking Sertraline, dare I say it, I’m actually enjoying my first ever autumn!