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!

Dh and I suffer badly. Dh noticeably gets a lot worse after Christmas. We've never had a SAD lamp, maybe willing to try.

I realised how much I'm struggling this week and rang doctors. They put me back on ADs now. I'm desperately hoping they help. We're massively in debt and I struggle to sleep at night.

We're trying to go out more to take DD out. Dh on way home soon from work and we're going to a park near us for a walk and DD can ride her scooter. We're also planning on a cheap break this Easter camping. Something to look forward to.

Bella
Sorry to hear that
I think SAD lamps are good, and if you can have bright white light generally, that's good too. I have the lights on during the day when it's grey. Mum suffers badly but for some reason, won't switch on lights.

@BellaTheDarkOverlord anti depressants are really helping me this winter, I actually even think I feel a little warmer! My SAD lamp seems to help a bit but I need to remember to use it.

@ladycatstark thanks. Hope mine work too then. I'm trying to do something worthwhile everyday even if that's just cleaning the house. At least I'll hopefully start to feel a bit better then.

The weather was gorgeous here yesterday and I went for a walk along the beach where everything was bathed in golden light. I also topped up my bird feeders for the first time in a while so I am hoping to see activity there while I work.

It's nice to have little moments of joy. I've been hunkering down and reading a lot too, usually under a blanket as it's so cold.

The forecast is a sunny day today so I am going to get out for a lunchtime walk. I manage it most days now, make it a priority. I bought cashmere lined leather gloves in the John Lewis sale so I am hoping they keep my hands warm.

That's my aim too is to clean the house each day and keep on top of the laundry. I wish I could do walks and relax but as I work 6 days a week and mostly finish and get home by 9pm it just doesn't happen sadly.

Apparently it’s blue Monday today, the most depressing day of the year. Let’s have a well-being push to get through it as best we can. So far I’ve taken my vitamins early and put my SAD lamp on while I checked my emails. I’m off to work in a minute and I think I’ll treat myself to a nice lunch at lunch time.

Hope everyone's doing okay

I had a busy day - in a good way - and lots of walking about in the sun and someone gave me a massive chocolate brownie so can't complain!

Did you get your nice lunch @LadyCatStark?

Ooh @EmmaH2022 brownies are amazing was it a home made one? My work colleague gave me a triple choc cookie today so I can't complain

@ShaneTheThird only if you count a McDonalds 😂. My second appointment was cancelled as their older child has Covid and Monday afternoon is for paperwork so I just did my first appointment, got a maccies and came home.

That's sounds like my perfect kind of day! it was absolutely freezing this morning so I sent dp out to take DSS to nursery instead of me lol I start work in the afternoon so hopefully it isn't as bitter out.

How is everyone? Today is a great day as I’ve been given a big promotion at work 😃😃😃

Congrats @LadyCatStark! That's great news! So pleased for you, are you going to celebrate?

Today was a bit shit for me. Dp relapsed with drinking last night and went extreme with it. It makes me really anxious and upset but not a lot to say. Least we still went out and did pleasant things today regardless. Got to cuddle a massive kitten! Also ate out twice today lol.

Thanks! I’m really excited. The role doesn’t start til April as it’s a brand new role that didn’t exist before.

That’s annoying about your DP, is he getting any support for his drinking? Glad you managed to do some nice things.

Lady congratulations! What a day brightener! New roles are good, you can carve them to suit you. So pleased for you.

Shane I'm sorry to hear that, glad you have kitten cuddles.

I am so tired, I'm honestly just getting about 3 hours productivity and faking the rest.

I have had an offer accepted on a flat, which is great. Yesterday
I had so much adrenaline but I couldn't harness it the way I would in summer, if that makes sense?

And today I was just knackered. I didn't go to the supermarket after work, which I was meant to.

I've sort of done a schedule so I don't get too behind on essential life admin but am two days behind...not horrific, but not great.

Thanks @EmmaH2022. I wasn’t that fussed about it before the interview (mostly because I’m usually terrible at them!) but now I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve long had lots of ideas for making us more of a team but no one in charge seems interested in change. I might as well be the one in charge rather than get frustrated when nothing changes again 😂. This will be a new team so it’s the perfect time for change.

Glad you’ve got your offer accepted, I always find going for a run is the best way to work off adrenaline.

Lady I am too fat to run without wrecking my knees, but this cold weather, I hate just walking to the station.

I would have needed to work out that adrenaline in summer but yesterday I was so tired, I got a few Ribena berry "woo" jumps out of it and was back in SAD mode!

Well done @ladycatstark and @EmmaH2022, that's brilliant news for both of you.

I've had an okay week, the weather was smashing yesterday and I got a walk in the woods at lunchtime. There's 3 trails that I would normally do, but with it being winter you can see other ones that are more off the beaten track and I've really enjoyed exploring these.

The birds are coming back to my replenished bird feeders. Does anyone else look and hope for a second magpie in case of bad luck?!

Ulysses yes, it's my habit too! Did you see any snowdrops? I feel like they're late.

Another day of getting the essentials done and nothing else. I can't seem to wake up!

This is the pot at my front door! I was so excited to see it in flower today. I haven’t saw any other snowdrops yet. I planted them in October along with daffodils and tulips.

@Ulysses

This is the pot at my front door! I was so excited to see it in flower today. I haven’t saw any other snowdrops yet. I planted them in October along with daffodils and tulips.

Aww, lovely.

Not grown that much in mum's garden, the daffs are looking early.

@EmmaH2022 we have snowdrops out 😊. I’ve even noticed the first daffodils pushing up through the soil too!

I love snowdrops! I tried to plant them on the balcony but no luck.

I feel really tired and out of it today. I have had some sad news though and it's weirding me out a bit as well. But I was feeling exhausted before I heard it and all I did today was clean the flat.

Winter is just so weird. I don't feel in the mood for a book or TV or anything. Weird.

Can I join you? I have been really struggling over the last few weeks. I work from home every day and employer ultra cautious about us going back into the office. If we ever go back I think it will be 50/50 home/office but in the meantime not helping my mental health. I joined the team I work with and at the start of the pandemic and met them all for the first time last Christmas, I feel incredibly isolated and winter does not help. It is dark when I wake up and take the dog out, come back home and start work. I am entitled to a lunch break and sometimes I take the dog out but usually I end up working as so busy, then I switch straight back onto mum mode after work, cook the tea, run around after the kids etc. The only time I get out of the house in daylight is at the weekend when we go food shopping, sorry for feeling sorry for myself but only current enjoyment in life is going to Aldi on Saturdays.... I told DH that I wanted to buy myself some house plants (to cheer myself up), he looked at me like I have two heads and thought I was mad, ended up buying myself some daffs from Aldi and silently put two fingers up at him. I try and talk to DH about how I feel and he just says that it's winter and everyone feels the same way I do and he doesn't go out other than to work either. (but I say he does go into the office most days) we have a ddog which does bring me much joy but he is a puppy and I am home with him all day I am his target to bite, feeling a bit of puppy blues too. Because of puppy and autistic DD I don't really want to go back into the office as I feel I have to be at home for them. I know eventually ddog will need to be left and we are building up to it by leaving him for 30 mins, but DD needs someone at home to constantly prod her to get her out of bed and get to work.

Sorry for the ramble, the daffs are starting to open and have cheered me up a bit

Sandwiches77

I have had a couple of people say stuff like that to me. I don't go on about it, but the responses when I have mentioned it are quite bizarre.

Sorry you have to join us but welcome along.