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!

@Idratherbepaddleboarding No could ever describe me as that, even when I was medicated up to the eyeballs! 😂

Weather forecast seems wrong daily, cold and raining. Not at all what was forecast.

I'm struggling to progress the "boring but necessary" stuff and you've just reminded me that HMRC owe me quite a bit, which I need to chase - thank you!

I do write all this stuff down but forget even though I look at it.

I had a rearrange of things and haven't been using my SAD lamp since Saturday but must make sure to set it up by the bed again.

@EmmaEmerald haha I was surprised to be described like that myself!

I’m really fed up again today, I have that horrible waiting feeling again and I’m bored and cold ☹️. It sucks being so up and down!

@Idratherbepaddleboarding Yes, I was fine for most of the day and suddenly began to feel really low about 4pm, it's annoying isn't it....

grey all day.

Really annoying, I’m stuck between wanting to exercise all my frustration away and wanting to hide under my weighted blanket. So right now, I’m doing neither. It’s rained all day here, my moods are so affected by the weather 😡.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding And it's so hard to know which choice is better sometimes.

I'm aiming for a gentle stretching session at 7. Might that be a compromise for you too?

i've just had another coffee but I have a feeling that's okay. Just half a teaspoon of instant, so very little. Sat by my light for 30 mins. Just wanted to get something out of my evening and that will hopefully do it.

@EmmaEmerald I forced myself to exercise and do feel a little better. If nothing else it killed an hour! I can’t get too comfy as I have to take the dog to agility for half 8 😭. Coffee sounds good though!

@Idratherbepaddleboarding

You sound like you're normally pretty energetic, glad the exercise made you feel better

sometimes I don't approach exercise because in winter, I have actually left the gym after ten minutes a few times. I'm not a good judge of my own feelings in winter, it's weird.

I never have been a high energy person, but I do get periods of extra energy in spring and summer, especially if there's a good stretch of sunny days and sort of 20c ish weather.

I've been reading up on this but I wasn't a particularly energetic child either, always preferred to read quietly. I wish I was more energetic generally.

@EmmaEmerald I was that same child and weirdly, I didn’t discover that I enjoy and actually need exercise until I was an adult, it helps me loads. I was always told I wasn’t good at sports except horse riding, but actually I am as long as they don’t involve a ball 😂. It kind of annoys me that I missed out in childhood because I “wasn’t sporty”.

That said, DS and I have put our gym membership on hold this month as we can’t be arsed going out in the cold, dark and wet to actually get there 🙈.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding Would you be driving to the gym? I'd be getting a bus but perhaps I wouldn't go even if I still drove.

I also discovered exercise as an adult - hopeless at at school PE!

@EmmaEmerald yes we live rurally and there is only one bus every 90mins! We just couldn’t be bothered going out in the dark and then running from the car to the gym in the rain 🙈.

I can smell spring today!

Not here 😭 it’s been grey, miserable and rainy all day! Not cold though which is something… it’s funny you mentioned feeling low at 4pm yesterday, so did I but I thought it was because of a busy day at work but I’m off today and I’ve got the 4pm blues again. I think it’s because, although it’s still light thank god, the light is beginning to fade ☹️.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding

hope you're okay.

It was grey but the smell was in the air!

I put my light on at 4pm today. I don't know why that seems necessary, normally by mid Feb I'd drop the afternoon light. So hopefully I won't get a sudden emotional drastic drop!

I am going off for a break in a sunny place in a couple of days so I shouldn't really complain but................ today has been so, so grey and grim it has made me feel like crying. I feel so down, lifeless and disengaged and have no desire to do anything. It feels as if drab, grey winter will never, ever end.

I have had my bag packed for a week in anticipation. I really need to see some sun.

Off to bed now. With a large vino, some remaining Xmas chocs and a trashy novel set on a Greek Island. It's the only way to cope on a day like this.

@lyingonthebeach Glad you are getting away
Sorry you feel so low though

I was actually thinking it might be bed by 9pm for me. I've had 8 hours sleep, done nothing except watch TV, pop to mum's for a cuppa - and I'm still exhausted! It's bonkers but it's like a bone deep tiredness.

@EmmaEmerald Thank you.

I hope you feel better soon. I take iron, vitamin D and vitamin B supplements but winter knocks all energy out of me and, like you, I often feel completely exhausted. Proper, bright, sunny Spring is what we need so fingers crossed.☀

@lyingonthebeach Thank you

I find the supplements seemed to help for a couple of days and then I return to "baseline winter functioning" if that makes sense? I wonder sometimes if the supplements were a waste of money!

Yesterday was minging which was annoying as it wasn’t forecast but I did manage to spot a few signs of spring to cheer me up:

It was light when I took DS to work for 8am
Our first daffodil flower has opened up 🌼
More lambs in the fields

Today is still pretty grey but there does seem to be more light. I’m in a right grump though as pole dancing has been cancelled again 😭.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding Sorry your class was cancelled.

We have lots of flowers out early but I'm pleased about that. I mean, some people go on about it meaning it's not been cold enough etc - I'm not one of those people!

@EmmaEmerald it’s turned into an absolutely stunning day, so I cheered myself up by taking the dog for a nice, long walk. Look how happy he is!

There was a little heat in the air and I even had to take my coat off. I slowed down and tried to appreciate everything, the birds singing, the flowers blooming, how pretty my village is and how stunningly shiny my dog looks in the sunshine 🥰.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding Lovely! Makes it seem as if Spring might actually be on its way.

@lyingonthebeach it feels that way today 😃

Wait, where has spring gone?? 😭

How’s everyone getting on? It’s my birthday today and it’s a lovely day if very cold!

@Idratherbepaddleboarding Happy Birthday!! 🎂

I'm quite fine as I am enjoying a warm place. Dreading the return to cold and grey 😫but focussing on the ☀for now