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!

Im glad the medication is having a positive affect on you. I find it really difficult to diagnose my moods and energy levels, whether it's SAD, peri-menopause or being too busy to look after myself properly. The surgery called last night but I didn't hear and they didn't leave a message either. It's been dragging on for years now.

I felt a bit better yesterday and arranged a couple of Teams calls with friends at work to have a natter during the day.

I've been WFH since March and miss the company. We are supposed to be going back to hybrid working but that was withdrawn when the Covid went back up a few months back. I don't think anyone has the appetite to go back in the winter months. My commute was 4 hours a day, two days a week but the plan was to go in once a fortnight which would have been a nice balance.

I know it's a privilege to be able to work this way but I'm finding my world has become a lot smaller and feel isolated a lot of the time. Still I have two social events this weekend which is more than enough. Do you ever find you have too much on at the one time and it takes the enjoyment out of it all?!

Wonder what the deleted post said? Today has been absolutely grim but we’ve had fun carving our pumpkins. I’m well chuffed with mine! (Excuse the Christmas table cloth 🙈).

I was wondering that too. That pumpkin looks so cool!! I need to find decorations for tomorrow but I'm working all day. It's going to be dss's first proper Halloween so we are dressing him up and trick or treating and I want to make a monster themed party buffet.

Today was nuts. We had a sudden storm as I walked to work and literally in less than 10 seconds I was soaked through to my underwear through my winter coat. Luckily it's payday as I had to drop into Primark and buy emergency clothes and trainers to change into and sods law the moment I got into work to change my period showed it's ugly head so I've felt pretty shit all day.

That sounds awful @ShaneTheThird! We got stuck in the storm too in Sainsburys but luckily we only had to run to the car. Your monster party sounds lovely, we’re going to a party in our village hall. We’re on the social committee so have put a lot of effort into organising it so I’m very excited and nervous!

That sucks @shanethethird.

Halloween celebrations are well underway here too. Pumpkins carved (yours is awesome @LadyCatStark, your username has just clicked!) and decorations hung. I've got a Cruella wig and a black and white dress I made myself to wear so it'll do for the Halloween party I've got later on. Kids are excited too at dressing up.

Hi I've been absent and struggled to get outside this week. Dd has Covid and tonsillitis in a joyful mash up so I've been working and looking after her. It's really grim.

Today I have to drive dp's work van onto private land and walk 5 miles back! So at least I'll get some vit D

Its the anniversary of my mothers death just before Halloween. It brings very mixed feelings .Whilst i loved my mother i also hated what she did.I have anxiety and depression.Part is genetics and part is nurture.As i child i was a very free spirit who loved to express them selves.But this made very hard work for my mother.And being in a country away from her family she couldn't cope.And her reaction to me playing,being silly or expressing my self was to grab the first thing in reach and hit me with it.

I cant play with my children because i flinch ,i cant express myself ,i smile and love to watch them play.I so badly want to join them and pretend ,do tea partys and run about.But every time i want to i feel like i am in the wrong.I know i am not but it makes my anxiety flare up so much,I feel so trapped .There is very much a part of me that wants to break free but feels like a bird in a cage.I have no friends apart from my other half.Normal people don't like me because i find it so hard to laugh or relax.I constantly feel on guard to be perfectly behaved

My daughter is asking for me to take her trick or treating this year but i know she wants more than a mother who smiles and encourages her to be happy.I hate this i love her being happy but find it so hard to share that joy with her .

Hello @rosydreams - that sounds very hard. But also like you've come a long way already. Do you have some good help with tackling all this?

this is something i have learnt to carry alone.I tried reaching out getting help.It go's no were apart from medication .Thankfully medication means i can work ,support my family.Its just hard carrying the weight of it.

Depression is bad today. 10'days from period but haven't left the house since Friday and I can't move myself. Ate too much chocolate (like way too much) last night until 2am. Husband is totally unfeeling. Literally feel like crying under duvet all day. I wish I could stop feeling like this.

@roofingexpert expert please get yourself to the docs, there is help available!

@roofingexpert it's hard to get out isn't it. How has your day been. My daughter is a little better. I've got a cold now tho!

Thank you. I feel a bit better this evening, although just low. Its that change isn't it, i really felt it today.

@roofingexpert yes it is the change. OMG, I’ve crashed and burned today! I’m gutted as I’ve been doing absolutely everything I can to combat my SAD but I literally feel like all the energy has been sucked out of me today. All I want to do is lie on the sofa and eat chocolate and scroll on my phone, which of course is the worst thing that I could do! I had to take the dog for a trudge through the waterlogged field at 4pm before it got dark, no more evening strolls for us. Then I had to clean up all the mud he trailed through the house and then I tried to go food shopping in the nearest town but I got 3/4 of the way there and the road was flooded so I had to turn back and get what I could from the village shop, which was not a lot and much more expensive. Has anyone got any other suggestions because I can’t feel like this all winter now that I’ve had a taste of happiness!

Yesterday hit me hard as well despite having an okay sleep Sunday night (after a terrible sleep on Saturday night).

I did find the energy to go for a walk last night but was aghast when I looked at the clock and it was only 6:10pm, it felt like 8pm.

I had a couple of things planned this week that I've cancelled as I just need a break from doing things. I'm hoping to feel somewhat restored after a crazy couple of weeks but worry it's how I'll feel for the duration of winter. It's so cold as well now!

Dd is recovering but now I'm down. Lat flows are negative so I don't think it's Covid. Think it's this cold. Shaking and head pounding I still had to cook last night as I have disabled dp, dd still weak and my ptsd teen ds who I don't speak about on here very often as it's very painful. So that was fun!

I am also on a capability warning at work so no let up there.

I really think the trick is to get out in the winter sun. There is usually some somewhere.

Oh and I've lapsed on the supplements!

God @stilldumdedumming you’ve got a lot going on! Could you take some time off work? This was me last night 😂.

Hope everyone is feeling ok sounds like a shitty week for everyone. Just as things were going ok do ended up in hospital. All I know is he has a blood clot in his heart and it's serious. I was allowed to stay with him in hospital all night until he was transferred and now I don't know what's happening or what the cause/treatment is. I'm knackered but can't sleep as feel so sick and worried.

Dp*

Oh no @ShaneTheThird that’s awful, I really hope he’s ok.

Oh @ShaneTheThird life is a complete prick sometimes isn't it. I'm glad you were able to stay for the night at least. Has dp got a phone and I take it he is able to talk or message you? He's on a ward and now you can't visit him? Or ICU?

I know you must be beside yourself with worry. If it is serious I would think they are keeping a very very close eye on him. He will be hooked up with monitors and they can act very quickly. I feel sick for you though.

Oh that’s dreadful news Shane. I’m so sorry you are going through this. I hope you hear news soon. It must be such a worry waiting. Many years ago my DH was hospitalised for a number of weeks with a serious life threatening infection and having to go though haemodialysis (he’s had a kidney transplant since). I always remember one of the nurses telling me you will get through this because you have to. You’re in my thoughts