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!

Hi @ButterflyAway 😊 if your GP isn’t very understanding, maybe mention that your feeling worse but avoid mentioning SAD as the treatment would be the same I think but they might take you more seriously?

I used my SAD lamp this morning on 50% strength for half an hour and I positioned it to the side so it wasn’t shining right into my eyes. It hasn’t made me feel worse but it’s hard to tell if it’s made me feel better 😂. Im already feeling a bit angsty because I wasn’t able to go for my morning run. Im back out at work tomorrow so need to come up with a new plan for when I can run as that’s the biggest help to me. I did manage a lunchtime walk with my dog though but I live in a village full of microclimates and it was sunny at home but cold and windy on the fields (which are right next to my house) 🤷‍♀️. The wind whipped the dog up into a frenzy so at least he’s had a good run but my steps are waaaaay down today!

@SirChenjins check out Boots for alarm clocks. I have this one.

Hello all thank you for the invite to the thread

My productivity and motivation have really slipped off am glad to be able to read some tips here xx

Thanks @CottageOnTheHill, I’ll take a look at that one

Welcome @cultkid

Ooh its proper cold and rainy today :( I have 2 t-shirts a sweatshirt and a winter coat and boots and I'm chilly!

On the plus side I spoke to my manager yesterday and she arranged for me to have my extra day a week back so I'm back on 30 hours. Also my other job asked me to do a day next week so although it's 6 days a week it's a massive help financially.

How is everyones week looking? Primark haven't started selling thermal vests yet so got to keep an eye out for them.

Ooh its proper cold and rainy today

Feels properly autumnal, I love the change of seasons even if I miss the longer days. Enjoying the sound of the rain and have my lumie light on...Going for a walk later for fresh air and daylight.

I've brought out the winter pjs now tho :/

@ShaneTheThird congrats on your extra hours

Thank you for the thread. I will read through it properly later.

@ShaneTheThird mine is good so far as today was my first day out at work in 18 months!! (Been WFH on a job that doesn’t work from home). It was amazing to meet families and children and socialise with my colleague who is lovely. I think the Sertraline is making me more animated and I wasn’t nervous about going out at all. The puppy slept the whole time i was out (only 3 hours) and I was going to walk him as soon as I got home but it’s absolutely hammering down and he is less than impressed! The only downside is that it’s going to be another day of not running and I need to run.

@ShaneTheThird glad you’ve sorted work out though! I bet that’s a weight off your shoulders.

Jumping on this thread for all these great ideas. Even this early in the autumn, even after geting out cycling yesterday, having just returned from a camping trip (how much more daylight can you experience than being outdoors all day??) I've taken a dive this week. I lay awake for an hour before dawn so really struggled to get up this morning. Feeling low anyway (menopause-related I think) and worried about my 80yo mother who stayed here with us for almost a year over various lockdowns and who is now home on her own. Completely exhausted and often tearful, really dreading winter.

I was always low on iron (not always actually anaemic but in the low end of the range) due to heavy periods but now they've stopped I have no idea if or how much I should be supplementing.

I agree that anyone who really feels the cold should read up on hypothyroidism. One of my symptoms was feeling so cold it made me nauseated, and it was one of the first symptoms to resolve once I was on levothyroxine.

The weather is definitely colder today! It was dry and sunny earlier but the rain has started now. I don’t mind the frost or cold but I loathe those rainy dreary days. I got everything through for my new job today to start on 25th October so I’m looking forward to that. It’s a job share post 2 days one week and 3 the next and I’m hoping not being full time this year will make a difference. I really struggled last year.

Just seen this thread pop up which is good timing as I had a real 'down' day yesterday about winter. I know we can't opt out of it and hibernate but I dread it more and more each year. It lasts so long. I hate the long dark hours and dreary weather. I live in Scotland in a very wet and windy area where it can also get very cold. I struggle to stay warm, it's a standing joke as to how many layers I'm wearing and still cold!!

Will read the full thread for some tips and encouragement to get through the next few months xx

A very rainy, grey day here in Edinburgh with a rotten 7am commute - fortunately it was in daylight (just!). The rain held off long enough for me to go for a very quick walk at lunchtime, so I got some lumens. I’m listening to an audio book on my phone so caught up a bit on that.

@CottageOnTheHill - good luck with your new job

@ShaneTheThird - that’s great you got it all sorted

@LadyCatStark how was your first day back in?

And that's a good point re thyroid.

@sirchenjins that's good is lumens the round light thing?

I wasn’t sure what to call the light you get from daylight - maybe not lumens? I just meant daylight

oh haha! Well that's good! I googled lumens and it told me all about lightbulbs and their varying lumens/ brightness levels.

Fab that you got sunlight though it's been really grey all day here so I'm going to the shop soon for a huge bar of chocolate.

Ooh lovely - chocolate always lifts the mood! What kind are you getting?

Oh I'm not sure you know! Really any suggestions welcome I'm also in the market for a good bag of crisps

Crisps have to be salt and pepper Kettle Chips! Chocolate for me is always a Fry’s Turkish Delight, but I know most people hate it

First suggestion sounds amazing I will see if my corner shop has them! And firm no to Turkish delight which is weird because I love rose flavoured things so it might be the texture that makes me feel weird. Everyone I know is eating mochi at the moment and it makes me want to heave, texture of playdo

@ShaneTheThird it was so good thanks! Just so nice to be back and making a difference.

Oh and I recommend the new mint chocolate buttons. I’m over orange chocolate now that it’s in everything!

PS I’ve never even heard of mochi! It takes a while for new trends to filter up north to us 😂.

My DC love these Little Moons mochi ice cream things - they are a very weird texture!