SAD 23/24 support thread

[canwetalkaboutcake]

Are there any further SAD sufferers out there?

It's only 1 October, the weather is still nice, but I'm dreading the winter already. I want to fast forward at least 5 months.

I hate the feelings of anxiety with the darker evenings. It feels like the nights will never end and when it's daylight it will be cold and gloomy. During the winter I develop a strange irrational worry that this will be it, and spring will never return, but of course it will.

I don't mind autumn so much, but it's the darkness I hate. It really affects my mood. I've tried to embrace autumn more this year, but actually the weather is still nice so I don't think we will have the usual autumn transition, we will just have nice weather, rain rain rain then bam, winter is here.

The clocks will have gone back in 4 weeks and I'm just at the thought.

Me too. For many years now I've actually feared winter coming, rather than just disliking it. I hate both the cold and the dark.

I used to love autumn and I still like it (it can be so beautiful), but I can't stop thinking that winter soon follows it. I was just saying to a friend the other day that my ideal would be a three-season year: spring - summer - autumn, then back to spring again.

I have a history of MH problems and winter just worsens them.

A three season year would be ideal. The problem is how bloody long winter is, with darkness from November, and it doesn't feel like it's getting better until at least mid-March. I love the first signs of spring, the daffodils and snowdrops. I don't mind autumn as it is, but we don't seem to get much of one before it's dark dark darkness.

I love the first signs of spring too, especially as I've got older. Daffodils have been my favourite flower for some years now and I'm sure it's partly because of what they represent, rather than just how they look.

Love trees too: cherry blossom in spring, full greenery in summer, then autumn colours and berries. I still like them in winter, after all it's not their fault, but it's not the same.

I am with you. The grey and the dark just drag me down. I can't wait for Spring (said that last year and Spring and Summer were pretty bad and the grey days just made me crash). I have tried everything (getting out, healthy food, trying to 'embrace' it) and nothing helps. It seems worse than ever this year. I know I complain a lot but it seems better just say it.

Oh sorry I started the same thread as you 🙈. I’m really struggling too. The doctor has upped my Sertraline to 100mg so hoping that will help! It’s the dark for me too, I’m soooo tired by 4:30pm and I only get home from work at 4 🙈.