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!

I thought I was taking 4000iu which is 100 microgrammes but I’m actually taking 2000iu which is 50 microgrammes!

Oh right - that’s quite a bit more than I’m taking! I may have to up my dose.

I just take 4 of the ones you can buy in the supermarket (hence why I got mixed up with the amount) but you can buy specifically strong ones.

Thanks - I’ll need to make a trip to the shops later today to pick some up. I’m in the office today after a commute through the rain in semi darkness at 7am - feeling really tired and quite low as I know it’s downhill from here. Hate, hate, hate living in this perpetual darkness and rotten weather .

The chill has finally set in. Winter will be so bleak. I need to get the train to the shops today to get multivitamins but I'm too tired on my day off to leave my bed.

Yes it certainly feels gloomy today! I had a SAD lamp coming tomorrow so we’ll see how that works. Did you manage to get out in the end @ShaneTheThird?

Oh that's good you will have to keep us updated re the SAD lamp! I didn't get out today unfortunately. I just woke from an hour and a half nap feeling worse, tired and headachey. But I'm at work tomorrow so can get my multivits then if I remember to :)

I will do @ShaneTheThird. My multivitamins give me a nice little boost so they are worth getting 😊.

I've also just got matcha green tea from purechimp as it's supposed to be really good for health so will try drinking a lot of that. Plus the little spoon I bought with it has a cartoon chimp on it

Aww that’s cute! I love green tea but don’t think it’s meant to be drunk with Sertraline so I haven’t had any since starting on it. It does give me a boost but I once drank 2 cups and got seriously dehydrated somehow, I guess it must be a diuretic.

I take Adcal for vitamin D3 (prescribed for something else not SAD), I've not noticed it makes any major difference to my mood but I have taken it for a few years all year round so may be used to it. I know some people seem to have a problem with digesting it but it's never caused me any issues. Someone upthread said it's available without prescription?

And I've gone to the Pennines for the weekend and the lower light levels are quite noticeable, like the lid has gone on the sky!

@Iamnotavicar which part? I live near the Forest of Bowland, which apparently is part of the Pennines.

Oh wow I didn't know you couldn't drink it on setraline! Is that for all tea?

We’ll advice does say to avoid all products containing lots of caffeine, including chocolate 😵 but I won’t be taking that advice 😂. Green tea seems to give me a weird buzz and sometimes heart palpitations so it must be different to regular tea. The only thing you absolutely can’t have is grapefruit juice, the rest is advice.

Please can I join!

I hate the winter, I even dislike Christmas time because it’s cold and dark. I can’t bare the nights drawing in right now and really struggling to shift the feeling of doom

I have been taking lots of vit D, want to invest in a lamp but all the ones I’ve seen are quite expensive!

@User1110 of course! The one I’ve bought was reduced on Amazon to £20. It’s only small though but I’ll use it when I’m working on my computer so it’ll be close to me. It has really good reviews but if it turns out to be crap, I won’t have lost much!

The SAD lamp came but sadly (see what o did there!) I’m not sure I like it! I feel like my eyes are strained and I feel a bit… I dunno overstimulated. Maybe I need to wait until the depths of winter to use it?

They do make you feel like that to start with but after a while you get used to it and really notice the difference when you turn it off! I’d start with a short 10 minute burst snd build up - and try with it a bit further away and then move it closer

@SirChenjins thanks, that’s good to know! I’ll persevere 😊

Post an update and let us know how you get on! 😊

Oh wow that's what I would worry about as I suffer chronic migraines the light might be too bright for me. Have you got a link to the £20 one? I'm still tempted to give it a go if it helps.

@ShaneTheThird sorry I tried to link but it didn’t work, here’s a picture of it though. You have to apply the 30% off voucher.

I didn’t use it this morning as I woke up with a headache so didn’t think it would help but I’ll try tomorrow.

Thank you I will look into it. And hope your headache goes quickly, they are rough

How’s everyone’s weekends been? Mine has been good 😊 and very busy!

Oh fab what have you been up to? Mines been ok. But stressful as I only got paid £450 this month due to sick leave from covid and now they have cut my hours from 30 to 24 for no apparent reason. I also need to talk to dp about TTC but it's like talking to a brick wall. Apart from that I have been watching a lot of random shit on YouTube in bed on my first weekend off in years.