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!

Hello! I'm trying to see if I can get through this year without Sertraline... I've been on it for about 7 years Sept-Feb and I feel like I might be able to manage my SAD without it. We'll see, I might feel very differently this time next month!

I've upped my vitamin D, started using my lamp in the morning this week and am making sure I get out for a walk when it's light and eat better (though I will still be supported by chocolate digestives).

I have to admit to loving everything else about autumn and winter though, big fan of all the cosy, candles etc! It's just the need to sleep through it that's the problem

Can I join please? I think you’re my tribe. I’m getting that tired and sad feeling that hits me this time of year - tearful at stupid things and overly irritable.
I’m getting my (figurative) ammo prepared:
Vit D max strength
Berroca
Vitamin B2 & iron
Magnesium spray
Epsom salts & lavender oil for baths
Weighted blanket
Ordering a heated throw
SAD lamp on the kitchen table
Downloaded couch 2 5k (for the umpteenth time and not yet tried it)
Signed up for swimming at local swanky health club - hoping a swim, sauna and jacuzzi can stave off the murderous reds
Ready to batten the hatches, hunker down and pray for Spring.

Hello to the new people! Welcome.

The shop was conquered. I got salt and vinegar squares, mint buttons AND happy hippos

Welcome @Mufflette and @inthekitchensink! I definitely recommend Couch to 5k 😊.

I was feeling rubbish about not being able to run today again so I did Insanity tonight and feel much better. I was on a wellness thread that seems to have died but a poster recommended Joseph Clough on Spotify. He’s supposed to be a hypnotist and I’m not convinced I was actually hypnotised but he’s certainly relaxing and I think his motivational words help.

Right that’s it! I’m done with Autumn already! It’s day 3 of torrential rain. Last night our puppy went put on the dark and dug in his digging spot. I couldn’t see as he is black and he ran back in the house, doing a full lap of the downstairs of the house leaving big splodgy muddy paw prints. DH and I had to mop the hard floors (that I’d mopped in the morning) and clean the carpets with the carpet cleaner at 9:30 last night 🙈. The rain woke us up at 6am and now DH is going to have to take DS to school again so he doesn’t get soaked before school 😡.

@ShaneTheThird

Hello to the new people! Welcome.

The shop was conquered. I got salt and vinegar squares, mint buttons AND happy hippos

Oh god that sounds good!

We've got blue skies and sunshine here, but it's so damp - I know this because my hair has started to go frizzy in the walk from the car park to the office. Where are all the crisp, clear days that the autumn/winter lovers go on about?! Freezing cold this morning on my commute - the cold weather warning came on in in the car.
Our lovely evening walks through the woods in the light, watching the wildlife and admiring the views, have now been curtailed because we can't see where we're walking and it's just not the same with head torches. We're now walking through residential streets in the dark - lovely.

Morning ☺️ Hello to everyone new that’s joined the thread. It’s sunny here today (hooray!) but the temperature has really dropped. The leaves certainly aren’t crisp, they’re more soggy! Bleugh! I’m going to try and embrace the sogginess and go for a walk. There’s many waterfalls near where I live and I’m going to make it my mission to get up to them this week sometime. That’s one thing that I do love at this time of year, the roar of the water from the falls - I need to speak to DH first though as I’m not sure how slippery the tracks on the way up are.

Argh yes it's raining again here too and very cold! Autumn is definitely here. On the negative side just recovering from covid and now I have a cold! Sods law. Least it's my day off so I can stay in bed in my dressing gown with YouTube worm holes any suggestions welcome. I'm feeling a bit better at the thought of having some money from work next month as this month has been a drag!

I would go out but it's pissing down and grey so no chance of that. Although I do need to go to buy vitamins. I saw TTC vitamins in superdrug yesterday but thought I'm not spending nearly£6 on a month's supply when I could get separate bottles for the same price.

Has anyone got their winter coats out yet? I need a new one and some new winter layers.

I woke up v early naturally today which is unheard of but im so glad i did because although I think it will rain soon, its been a fantastic autumn morning- cold, crisp, and sunny.

Did me good to have time to get out in it first thing

Popped to the shop at lunch and picked up some soup and cheesey rolls so I can have a properly autumnal dinner tonight!

Waking naturally seems a bonus!

I'm about to write my winter to do list. Because of my OCD I write so many lists. I have my general to do list of fixing the electrics and paying off my debts when I'm eventually paid but now I have a winter one. So far I have got:

Buy vitamins (Wilko?)
Buy thermal vests and tights and socks
Buy some work jumpers X2
Stock up on lemon and ginger tea
Clean whole flat ready for winter incl skirting boards

Have also been seeing a lot of adverts for turtle doves hand warmers. Bit steep at £29 but considering it if they work.

I got a pair of upcycled cashmere and wool wrist warmers/fingerless gloves on Etsy for £12 - they’re brilliant, really warm. I find my hands and wrists get gold when I’m working at the laptop but these have been great www.etsy.com/uk/listing/882743974/cashmere-and-wool-wrist-and-hand-warmers?ref=shop_home_feat_3&bes=1

Cold - wish they were gold, I’d retire immediately

Ooh thank you I'm going to get a pair! I'm always on Etsy and didn't even bloody think about looking even though I was looking at winter overalls last night. (None in my size).

Gold wrists hmm on the one hand could make you rich beyond your wildest dreams on the other would you have to insure them? What about theft?

Urgh! Day 4 of torrential rain here. DH had to leave for Newcastle at 6:50 and I can’t take DS to school due to work so he’s going to have to spend the day soaking wet. Even the dog sighed when he looked outside! I thought we were going to make it to October without turning the hearing on but I caved on the last day. Got my SAD lamp on while I drink my morning coffee.

One of my best tips for winter blues is a 4 minute sun bed every few weeks. I absolutely know the risks of sun bedding and this is NOT to tan but honestly walking out after a sun bed you can just feel the boost. This really helps me get through and also helps me keep the acne that seems to crop up in winter at bay too.

Today is absolutely Baltic! I've had to get up early so I can go to town and see if I can get the multivitamins I've been putting off. Might try get a jumper too! Oh no poor you it's been raining here but thankfully not too bad.

Morning, I'd like to join you all to help me get through Autumn and Winter. I can already feel tiredness creep all over me from 6pm onwards and have fallen asleep on the sofa by 9pm for the past few nights. It means I wake up earlier and earlier as well, so a vicious cycle. Today it was before 6am!

I've got a SAD lamp that I'm going to start using and I'm going to order VitD again.

I've got gym membership and went every day a couple of weeks ago but only once since then and it makes me feel so much better when I make the effort.

I was in St Andrews on Sunday @SirChenjins. I had a great day and the weather was gorgeous. I took DD10 and her cousin and they wanted to go to Pizza Express but it was fully booked so we ended up having fish and chips on the beach, which was much much better.

Hi @Ulysses!

I got my vitamins. I bought so many and paid about £15 for me and dp and I still didn't get all the ones I wanted. Oops! . Went into Primark but decided against it today as I don't have the money this month to buy clothes so hopefully that's next month's job.

Glad you got your vitamins sorted @ShaneTheThird!

Hope everyone’s had a good day with less rain than I’ve had!

Oh no! Hope you didn't get caught out in it @LadyCatStark like my poor work mate who was drenched!

And thanks again @SirChenjins for the Etsy link I ordered some green ones, hopefully they keep my hands warm at work.

I went overboard on vitamins I think. I bought 5 different ones .

Room for another?

I actually woke up crying this morning. This sudden change in weather isn't helping. I haven't started taking vit d yet, just my women's multi vitamin thing. I was wondering if any of you had any recommendations for which one to buy. Blumming mine field out there.

Lots of you have mentioned using SAD lamps. Do they really help?

@ShaneTheThird - that’s great you got a pair of the fingerless gloves! I had mine on today, it was absolutely freezing and pouring with rain, and they kept my hands and wrists lovely and warm.

@mrsdiddlydoo - I do notice a difference when I’ve used mine. I don’t know if it’s mind over matter, but I do feel brighter after I’ve had mine on in the middle of winter when it’s dark and gloomy.

The torrential rain has really brought my mood down today - it’s just a reminder of the months of rubbish weather and darkness ahead of us. I love getting out for a walk or into the garden but instead I’m sitting on the sofa, eating far too much rubbish

Hi @mrsdiddlydoo oh no, definitely join in here it's good to chat to people who get it!

As for vitamins I'm not sure. I got vitamin d from boots today but normal vit d as I saw they had a stronger vit d as well I just went normal but maybe should have gone stronger. I went to 4 different shops for folic acid today as well and Wilko had sold out of most things. Wound me up as dp asked for multi vits with iron so I got some in Wilko £3.50 for 60 pills then I went to home bargain 2.99 for 160! So I got him both

@mrsdiddlydoo of course!

The jury’s out for me on the SAD lamp so far. I’ve only had it for a few days though so we’ll see.

Does anyone else have a weird desire to spend money when it gets dark and cold?

Normally I'm a skin flint and never buy myself anything and right now I just want to buy buy buy.

My new winter bad habit has started. I've found myself on twinnings tea website adding loads of herbal teas to my basket.