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 fluoxetine gave me none stop restless leg syndrome!

Same here! Although I’m now back on it in liquid form at a much, much lower dose and so far it’s been great in terms of just taking the edge off my anxiety. I’ll see how it works with my depression during the winter which is always my worst time.

@Iamnotavicar I can virtually time it to the changes in the clocks. I get so excited seeing all the spring bulbs come up. It just feels like I can start my life again. The recent nice weather has made no different to the feeling of slipping because I know the time of year is coming. I’m really trying not to become a sort of self fulfilling prophesy this year but it’s exhausting. I can only work part time due to my depression so it has limited my career too. I should have been born a hedgehog or something as I literally could hibernate all winter. I’ve had loads of therapy and am very lucky that I can access it again if I need to but I never feel like I have anything to talk through because I just feel shit for no reason. I’ve recently got sober too and my psych is weaning me off benzos which I’ve been on for about 15 years so I feel quite vulnerable without a crutch to fall back on (even though the drinking just made things worse). I wish I had the answer but I just don’t know what it is.

I read somewhere that the decrease and increase in day length over the seasons isn't evenly spaced, and this helps to explain why the lurch downwards in autumn and surge upwards in spring feels erratic (for me at least).

Ive been described as a hedgehog too. And medically I've been described as not having evolved, stuck in a Neanderthal time, which was supposed to be a joke, but revealed a lack of ignorance about what having SAD is really like. I tried to persuade a previous GP that it would be a good idea to set up a support group for sufferers but got laughed at, as I was the only person they'd ever encountered with it, and that was only because I'd self-diagnosed.

Same GP said if I felt that bad why didn't I go and live in the Canaries permanently, or at least buy a second home there. Yeah, easy choices for those with means and money but what about the rest of us? - if it was that easy I'd have done it 🙄, and if I ever won the lottery....

Such helpful advice @Iamnotavicar.

We’re not hedgehogs; we’re tortoises! I have 2 and they literally live my perfect life! They eat, sunbathe, sleep, repeat 😂

@Iamnotavicar I’m so sorry you had this response from your GP. A support group would be so helpful. I’ve been seeing the same psych for about 4 years now so she’s seen the cycle I got through first hand and is really supportive. I’m trying to get a plan in place but I have so much other stuff going on at the moment and back to commuting to London (3 hours a day) is not helping.

A support group would be pretty good even on zoom or something. Would be something to break up the monotony of dark nights. It's such a shame so many people don't believe SAD is real. I was speaking to my dm about how I feel about winter today and she informed me my grandma also suffers from SAD.

Morning, we’re still having beautiful weather here but man, it was cold when I went for my morning run. My hands were in agony until I’d warmed up by running! I really do think I need my thyroid checking so I’m going to have to ring the doctors and make another appointment. I feel like I’m bothering them though as I’ve never had so many doctors appointments! On the plus side (sorry for TMI) I’ve managed to get through my first period whilst taking Sertraline without even the slightest hint of PMT 😵 I’m hoping this bodes well for keeping me going through winter!

I hate and dread the autumn and winter months. I spent last winter lying on the sofa eating my body weight in chocolate. I couldn't motivate myself to do my artwork. I'm thinking of buying a light, but can't afford much.

@Iwantcauliflowercheese

I hate and dread the autumn and winter months. I spent last winter lying on the sofa eating my body weight in chocolate. I couldn't motivate myself to do my artwork. I'm thinking of buying a light, but can't afford much.

Someone upthread mentioned these which aren’t expensive - maybe worth a try? www.lightbulbs-direct.com/shop-by/colour/daylight/?pt=aw&awc=6331_1632165369_cce4a3a16ace88de83e671042667121f&utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=78888

I think I’ll give them a go and see what they’re like. I had my SAD lamp out today for the first time - didn’t manage to get out for a walk, work was too busy, but I did feel it helped. I’m definitely getting that sense of impending doom again as September is galloping by

And so it's started. My first day back at work and I left work in the pitch dark :(

Marking my place

I have found my people!

Good to know I’m not alone 😊 thanks for the thread

I feel conflicted because I actually love winter
I prefer the darker nights and wrapping up
But something inside me does shift when the nights draw in
Even though I've had what some might consider a shit last 2 years (baby born first day of 2020, mother dies a week later, pandemic, and now divorce ) I've actually felt pretty chipper until the weekend just gone when the I felt the black mist descend and can't shake it. Last night I had awful dreams and have spent most of today crying and not about any of the stuff I mentioned. Well maybe the pandemic as I am sick of working from home now and I think that is taking its toll

Urgh, I took my puppy out for his walk at 7pm and the sun was already going down 😭.

@fedup078 you really have had a tough time!

@fedup078 that's a fucking lot for anyone to handle! Massive hugs to you.

My second day back at work has been awful. I dealt with 3 pallets alone at 7pm. Then I left at 8.30 into the dark again. Before work I bought a new jumper from Primark and I left it in bloody work . I'm going to be buying more winter clothes for work on payday.

Just found this thread and have found my people. Can't stand the 'its all crunchy leaves and crisp mornings' nonsense. It's dark and dreary. Well, it was until last year - I home schooled DD for the entity last year to avoid going in and out of school and we started forest school and spent loads of time outside and I got through the whole winter without any significant lows!

More difficult to replicate this year but trying to get into the habit of a walk every morning.

At rock bottom here. The SAD exacerbates my CFS/ME and it started early this month. Barely mobile now and rock bottom depressed.
My oldestcat is missing and is all too much. My cats are my lifeline and I theirs.

Think I had better sign ut as don't want to drag anyone else down.

Blessings and bye

@SoloISland don’t feel bad, this thread is for support! I hope your cat turns up.

This morning was the first morning I’ve noticed that it’s not properly light when I get up at 7am. Urgh!

I ran 10km this morning which I’m proud of and has given me a big brain chemical dump 😂. I’ve finally got a date for going back out to work which I’m beyond excited about but it’s going to make running almost impossible when I factor in the dog too. I thought about getting up at 6am and slipping out but it’ll be dark then soon and dark at night too. I’ll need to figure something out as running is one of the most important things for my mental health.

I'm a bit more worried about this winter because of the energy crisis/rocketing bills facing us. I have used sad lamps & alarm clocks for a few years but the last couple of winters have found improving general lighting in the home makes a difference. I have 4 lamps in my bedroom...all low energy bulbs but I don't think I can afford to use them this year.

So, need to keep my mood bolstered other ways. I'm taking vit d and going to make an effort to get outside for fresh air every day.

Sorry posted too soon!

Thanks so much for this thread, loving reading about everything you're all doing and feeling inspired :)

@TaraR2020 were ridiculously lucky that we’ve just entered a new fixed tariff, talk about good timing! Obviously if costs go down we’ll lose out but it give us peace of mind on the short term. Maybe try the lights and then stop using them if your bills go up? Or turn something else off that’s less important? I’m wondering how this will work if there’s another work from home order. It’s not fair to expect people to pay through the roof prices to charge their computers and stay warm this winter. We’re lucky that my DH’s amazing company have given their employees £45 extra a month towards increased bills (which I can obviously benefit from too) but the council who I work for have of course not even thought about that!

Afternoon all. Thinking about tips and distractions for the coming months, I'm going to use an aromatherapy burner for a daily ritual, to help uplift me. I'm also going to make a cake today 🐽, no good for carbs but I'm less interested in eating it once baked. I will however ensure the bowl is clean 😁

Good afternoon. I hope everyone is well. It’s lovely to see new posters on the thread.

Autumn has definitely kicked in, it’s windy and rainy here today so I put the fire on earlier and now the house is sub tropical! I tackled the front garden yesterday and had to take out the dying begonias which has made it look dull and dreary. The nights are drawing in much faster now, it was dark at 7.00 last night. There’s no streetlights on the road where we live and the next house is a mile away which I think makes the darkness somehow seem worse.

DH is off for the next few days which is good as the days don’t seem so long when I have company. We’re going to deer proof the garden tomorrow as the buggars have taken to making themselves at home in the garden again. Fearless they are!

Hello again everyone Hope you're all keeping well? The nights really are drawing in, and I've had the heating on more often recently. It won't be too long before I'm commuting in the dark which I hate - it's a very busy single lane rural A road, so the worst combination of boy racers and slow moving lorries, not enjoyable at all. Fortunately I'm still only in the office 2 days a week, wfh 3 days which I love.

Re vitamin D - what sort of dose is everyone else taking to get them through the next few months? I'm taking 15 micrograms (ug) which is 300% of my RDA - that seems quite a lot, but interested to hear what works for others.