2023/24 SAD thread

[Idratherbepaddleboarding]

Hi again, I’m back for another year ☹️. I can’t see that anyone has started a SAD thread yet but today seems to be the day that it’s really kicking in! So here’s another thread to support each other through winter 🥶.

Just to introduce myself, I have regular depression with SAD on top, an eating disorder and ASD (a fun combination).

All are welcome, the only rule is no one is allowed to mention, hygge, snuggling or being cosy!

@EmmaEmerald I hope you feel better soon x
@OrangeDino just do the pudding and custard thing; it really helps and calories don't count in this weather. Honest!

Hope you’re ok @OrangeDino!

We had a disaster tonight as it’s so cold the battery on our electric car drained really quickly and after agility with the dog it got stuck in limp mode and would only go 4 Mike’s and hour😵. The battery has been lower before and been fine but it must be the cold that’s affected it. Luckily it’s on a farm in a horse riding school type building so I had to knock on the farmer’s door and ask if we could put the car in the entrance to the arena and charge it there 🙈. Luckily it’s not far away and DH came to pick me, DS and the dog up. I’ll obviously make sure I pay them for the electricity tomorrow when I pick it up early in the morning. I rang the AA but it was a 3 hour wait. We were already cold from agility and freezing trying to sort it out and I still can’t get warm.

I treated myself to a cup of tea and some dark chocolate digestives when I got home as I have lost too much weight and my face looks ill ☹️.

Sorry I should have said that I was ok in my post, thank you all for your concern. Fortunately it was a sort of slowish fall so just a bit sore.

I'm not ok otherwise though. Feeling totally broken at the minute.

Glad you're okay from the fall but sorry for the rest of it. Are you able to get some rest today?

Well, the sunshine has gone! And taken my lifted spirits with it :(

Today I feel down and lacking in energy and interest! I just wish winter grey would F OFF!

Yes, the last few days have been so sunny, albeit really cold! Today is hideous and the wind is the worst part. I’ve cheered myself up by buying a dress for the 2 weddings I’m going to this year. There’s no crossover in guests so I can wear it for both and it was reduced to a bargainous £11 😵.

I'm relieved that it's no longer horrendously cold. It's not grey here today, bit of cloud but not the really awful kind.

I still feel very unmotivated but the time is going faster now, which is a huge improvement.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding that's a major bargain!

Ran out of ADHD meds and found some old escitalopram in the cupboard, an anti depressant. Took half. Ahh serotonin, my friend 😂 Working on an epic work project this weekend. Plodding through.

I just took the dog out and I could feel the storm brewing. Glad I got him out before it sets in! He stole an actual fallen tree 😂.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding A gorgeous dog with chutzpah! Wonderful!

Thanks @lyingonthebeach he’s a brilliant dog and my saviour! We are both sulking about the weather today though ☹️. It feels like such a waste of a weekend day! DH is planning events for our village hall today (well every bloody day, it’s like a second full time job that doesn’t earn us any money!) and there’s so much to look forward to this year will hall and other events plus the 2 weddings, but it all starts in April and I feel like I’m just sitting and waiting. Gonna go to the gym with DS if he ever drags his butt out of bed just for something to do.

@MistyTrains2 that is interesting because I'm convinced the one anti depressant can have an effect, though I have yet to meet a doctor who agrees.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding I'm glad to hear that re the village hall. Pretty much nothing happens in mine and the one lady working there now says that no one uses it post lockdown. I've recently moved to this area - it's where I grew up so was here till aged 19.

So I am not in a position to try and organise anything as I'd need to get to know people, but I tried in my old area, and found that people aren't interested. Community really fell apart in lockdown. There doesn't seem to be any community here. I had a long chat with the lady at the village hall and she said pre lockdown there was lots of stuff but now they mostly make money in room hire for people who don't want to go into Central London for meetings etc. i reckon the hall will go and be replaced by flats.

Today I was thinking that winter has made more people feel down than usual. But also I think tech is a big factor. It seems to have become a norm to socialise online, do classes online etc.

This isn't exactly SAD related, sorry. But I have noticed that if you ask someone to go to the pub, for example, they often prefer to stay in. I do realise this might reflect my age group getting older as well.

Also, I'm a bit "wrong way round" in finding Nov and Dec hardest and perking up in Jan, most people I know are in hibernation mode now whereas I'm ready to go out now!

@EmmaEmerald that’s sad to hear, we moved to our village in lockdown and the new village hall opened in 2021. That’s how me made friends and now we know the whole village! DH is really the driving force behind it, he’s a little too obsessed TBH but we have mad parties til like 3am 😂.

I can’t believe we’re having back to back storms straight after the freezing weather last week 🤬. I’m so done with winter!

I am also done with winter! The sunless days are just finishing me off! I feel knackered and weepy again! 😫

@lyingonthebeach Sorry to hear that. Are you still using a SAD lamp? I will be on mine till March at least.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding That's good to hear. Can I come and live in your village please?!

In my old area, the lady who was the local organiser found it wound down completely. First she had people asking for lunchtime meetups and we were the only two at some of the evening ones. Then the weekend events became badly attended, including group walks in sunny weather, then she said to me "well, I have to accept there's no interest".

@EmmaEmerald yes of course, we’re a very welcoming village! TBH, I think a lot of it would have fizzled out by now if it wasn’t for DH, it’s a lot of work! The worst part is people complaining no matter what we do but not offering to help in any way themselves 🙈. We’re a wonderful community though, I think there must be an unwritten by-law that says you must say hello to anyone you walk past, even teenagers and tiny children say hello to you! It’s so different to our old small town.

I also agree that one (well 2 in my case) anti depressant can make a difference, I know when it’s getting time to take mine or if I forget, I’ll feel a bit “off” and then remember I haven’t taken them.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding Yes, when I've organised things, I have experienced people complaining when they'd never do anything themselves!

It's friendly round here which is good but there's a lot going on that's no use to me, so tons of mother and toddler groups etc, there's a few groups playing football and basketball at weekends.

We actually have almost no pubs, it's all eating out, but traditional pubs are obviously on the decline.

When the weather's better I will look around more.

@EmmaEmerald we only have one, other than the village hall! Luckily it’s at the end of our road though!

Id dropped off the thread. Mood is very low, have linked in with MH team so just waiting for this month to pass. February and March will be brighter even if I had to set it on fire myself

Good to see you @NotanotherboxofFrogs , sorry you’re struggling ☹️.

I have some exciting news, I’m starting pole fitness classes on Sunday! I’ve been wanting to do it for ages and need something to look forward to!

It was a bit sunnier today, and slightly warmer. It helped my mood and I hope you all felt a bit better too :)

It was sunny here but so, so windy ☹️. I was working from home so the dog got 2 runs on the field, which made him happy while I tried not to blow away.

After being in a foul mood for the past 2 days, I’ve spotted 2 more signs of spring this morning. First, it was light when I took DS to work at 7:45 and then on the way back, I spotted a lamb in the fields. I presume it’s early as there was only one but it looked happy and healthy.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding Lambs already?

Ooh, pole dancing, you must be really fit and strong.

This has been a better weekend - i accidentally spoiled it seeing the most depressing film ever (All of us Strangers) but today I have really noticed how much warmer it is.

I'm still in winter "non productive" mode but the time is going fast, which is a huge improvement on previous winters.

I was supposed to sit down and work on personal plans today, but lack the focus. I'm half tempted to do nothing till the winter goes but then suddenly you're in spring with a heap to do - but there is the argument that it gets tackled faster.

I met a neighbour with a lovely dog, he said she doesn't need much walking. Turns out it's "just" two hours a day - made me feel like the laziest person ever! I haven't done any exercise, it's pants of me, I know.

I bought a big bunch of flowers and dotted them round in small bunches, I should do that more often.

As it is, I'm now in "Sunday night, must prep for working week" mode!!

@EmmaEmerald it was so much fun! I absolutely loved it and I had a literal spring in my step after. My legs and core strength is good but I was worried I wouldn’t have the strength in my arms, but I did 🥳. My arms are sore today though!

Glad you had a better weekend, I’ve heard about that film but I won’t bother watching it if it’s depressing.

Our dog usually only gets an hour of of lead running and day but he got 2 hours yesterday as he was nagging for a walk as soon was I got back from pole dancing and then friends messaged to see if we wanted to go for a walk as soon as I got back from that 🙈. Glad we made the most of the dry weather though as it’s minging today ☹️.