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!

It is getting tougher now isn’t it @stilldumdedumming? I have to admit, I’m struggling and I was so hopeful that the Sertraline and everything I’m trying to do to help myself would get me through it but I’m tired and irritable and miserable. I’m just not cut out for winter! I hate being cold and I hate having to get all wrapped up just to leave the house and I really, really hate it being dark by 4pm.

How are you getting one with your husband?

*on not one

How is everyone doing? @Ulysses how is dh now? And @stilldumdedumming hope everything is ok.

It's definitely getting into the tough part of winter. It's starting to get cold and dark and I keep telling myself just three more months, get to end of Feb and you will start feeling more positive.
My gp didn't give me much hope I've been referred to ENT as I'm still deaf with tinnitus and he said this is probably serious and permanent. I'm only 29 how can I have gone deaf when a week ago I was completely fine. :(

Works all over the place now as well wanting me to start at 7.30am where I have to get up extra early to catch the train then I'm finishing some days at 9.30pm. I'm seeing no daylight at all most of the time.

I hope your GP is wrong @shanethethird and the specialist gives you a more positive outlook.

DH is hopefully getting home today. He's been much better over the past few days, though it will still be a struggle getting about. They made him go up and down the stairs at hospital a few times and it really tired him out but still a big improvement already.

I'm looking forward to being able to relax at home again. I haven't been on any walks for weeks and the weather forecast doesn't look to great either for the coming days. I still have my gym membership so can perhaps get out and go there.

I've said to DD I can put up some Xmas decorations this weekend. I do love December for that.

I just noticed that Lumie have 20% off their SAD lights today in case anyone was planning to buy one.

Oh no @ShaneTheThird. If it helps at all, DH has had tinnitus for over 12 years and he only noticed it now when someone (usually me 🙈) mentions it. He is still bloody deaf though! 7:30 til 9:30 of far too long of a day for you!

@Ulysses is your DH home ok?

Thank you! How is everyone fairing with this storm? It's really scary here. Our chimney and part of the roof have blown away as have the wheelie bins. Dp is having a horrid panic attack. Hoping the wind dies down really soon.

I got soaked today and have conceded I need to buy a warm waterproof coat. What's everyone wearing now it's starting to get Baltic?

DH did get home yesterday. He's still struggling with breathing but hopefully that will get better over the coming days. Getting up the stairs to bed was a real battle for him.

The storm was crazy here too last night. We were right in the red zone though a few miles in from the coast. I had to rescue our paper bin with contents and take in a couple of plants but hopefully no permanent damage.

I've got a North Face down coat that goes to my knees. It's really lightweight but warm though not waterproof. I'm going to try to get out for a walk today.

DH used to get panic attacks Shane, they're horrible.

Hi all

Volunteered at parkrun this morning. So cold!!!

Anyway warmed up now home and the day is rolling on OK.

These illnesses sound really hard going. X

Everyone ok?

I've spent the day parked up whilst DD is at the bike park. With some friends so they're having a fine time. I'm freezing and have got my dry robe on in the car

It's lovely that they are just doing their thing. Not on phones just out there messing around (in t shirts 🥶)

I went out to a Christmas party last night and I feel awful today. I don’t drink very often and I really can’t drink wine and Prosecco which was included in the package last night. It took me until 2pm to stop throwing up and til 4 to actually eat anything. It was a good night though but I’ll be sticking a gin in future. DH is being a knobhead mostly because I don’t think he really wanted me to go out on the first place. I still had to walk the dog and he fell in the river so I had to fish him out. He was having so much fun in the snow that he refused to come home even after falling in. I wish I had his lovely thick coat, he didn’t even shiver!

@LadyCatStark hope the hangover has cleared! And hahah to the dog in the river sounds an absolute nightmare!

@PinkStink sounds like you have had an eventful time of late! Hope you had some good down time too.

@Ulysses hope DH is settling back home ok.

Thankyou

I feel like I'm faring better than normal this year.

I honestly think the main reason is staying sober. It's only been a few weeks but I was drinking way too much, too often and my tolerance was really high. It wasn't a 'problem' but life is better for me without it. I think I'll stick with it for now. Certainly until I can run again.

I also think life is easier for me now my children are slightly older. I don't have to do miserable wet play with everyone stuck inside. I would always go out but there would be tears and tantrums with soggy clothes at the end of the day, yuk

It’s pitch black this morning 😭 22 days until the shortest day and then we’re on the right trajectory!

22 days! We can get through this

21 days 🙏 I’m feeling quite festive today now it’s December!

Morning all. DH is improving more and more each day. We went for a bite to eat yesterday and he ended up driving home, which was a milestone.

I really need to make a move with Christmas. The Elves have arrived but we don't have any decorations and DD10 is wondering when we will. I bought more outdoor lights so I'll do them and then need to have a rummage in the loft for the rest. I do love coming home and seeing the house lit up.

Saying that, this time of year can leave me feeling overloaded with things to do, and all the wifework that goes along with it, even more so this year now that DH is incapacitated.

I've had a whinge at DD16 today over the state of her bedroom. I think you said it before @LadyCatStark about things getting left for you and that's how I feel at home a lot of the time. No one seems to be capable to recycle other than me as if I want to spend my time rummage through bins to put it out.

Glad your DH is getting better @Ulysses!

Yes that’s exactly how I feel! No one recycles in my house either, we leave the recycling by the back door on the kitchen counter and DH and DS leave all rubbish in the recycling area including stuffing boxes and tins with other rubbish. They just won’t be told!

I also had to tell DS(12) off about the state of his rooms. He wanted to put his Christmas tree up on Sunday and I told him he could only do it if he tidied them up. He told me he’d done it so I got his decorations out but he’d hardly done any of his bedroom and not even touched his study 🤬. I also have to remind him to brush his teeth, wash his face etc etc and then ask if he’s actually done it to which he’ll reply that he forgot. I feel like I take on all the mental load for everyone!

We’re decorating the living room and outside on Sunday which I’m looking forward to.

@Jane335 definitely. The dark nights are horrible aren’t they? 19 days till the shortest day and then it starts to slowly get better…

Glad DH is improving @Ulysses!

How's everyone doing today? The most annoyingly ironic thing happened at work. Our heating has broken. No idea when it will be fixed so we have been given a fan heater thing and told to wear layers. I've been sweating my arse off for the first time ever at work

Hello all...wandering back in and apologies for the absence. Tomorrow I am going to restart the supplements. I have hardly been out at all and I have found myself really down which helps nobody.

@Ulysses amazing news with your dh - I'm so glad it's going in the right direction.

I am struggling a lot with dp. Tonight was a Guinness, a bottle of wine, and half a bottle of bourbon. He is weak on one side from his stroke anyway and with even a little drink I have to get him up the stairs and on and off the toilet. Tonight was a bloody nightmare. At least he thanked me tonight rather than abuse (he did that earlier). I'm so angry. We disagree over one thing: my ds who is lovely and struggling so much as a traumatic event (too personal to talk about here ) derailed him entirely. He's 20 and needs me. He asks for very little too. Instead I am looking after an oversized drunken toddler.

I've come back down and poured a wine for myself but I can stop at one. Argghhh

Tomorrow I am going to decorate a tree in the back garden. I am pretending it is just for me and I am hoping it'll encourage me to get out there every day for a chat.

@stilldumdedumming sorry things are so rough for you especially right now. Decorating the tree sounds a nice thing especially if it gives you time away from the house.

@stilldumdedumming that’s really unfair on you.

I keep getting colds every bloody weekend 😡. The children I work with are all filled up with germs and too young to keep them to themselves. It’s cold and wet and windy and the wind has blown the cardboard recycling bin over so I’ve had to chase the cardboard and paper all over the garden so the dog doesn’t chew it up and make it even worse 🙈. I bloody hate winter!

Oh no, it gets worse, it’s not a cold… 😭