I hate this time of year

[Chasingup]

I know I probably sound ridiculous but I really do feel this way and I wish I didn’t. As soon as it gets to the end of October/beginning of November I always get really down. I already suffer with low mood/anxiety but this time of the year it gets worse. I can’t even put my finger on why exactly. I know the dark nights are one of the reasons. They make me feel really lonely even though I have dp and my dc. A thing I’ve recently been doing is going to bed earlier than normal just so the next day can come faster.

I am probably not normal but would be interested to see if anybody else feels the same at this time of year

I think a lot of people struggle with SAD at this time of year OP. I absolutely hate the dark evenings and all the rain this week has been miserable. I don't suffer from any MH issues the rest of the year, but as soon as the clocks go back I feel like hibernating. The lovely warm weather we were having until recently had kept it at bay, but this past week it's hit me. SAD is very common though!

Me too, I have SAD on top of regular depression too. It makes me so sad (no pun intented) that half the year is ruined because of weather and dark nights.

Same here OP, dread it every year and have yet to find effective ways of dealing with how awful I feel from October through winter, SAD on top of regular depression as PP said and it’s so difficult to deal with, feel like I live underground for 6 months of the year

I'm exactly the same op. I wrote a post about it recently...I cannot understand how anyone can enjoy autumn/winter. I hate the dark mornings and how dark it gets in the afternoon.

And I've always felt like this.. around October I start feeling that sense of doom. I feel like a totally different person in summer

Ou don't sound ridiculous at all.
I hate this time of year. So much dark, gloom, lack of sunlight. Life seems more expensive with trying to afford heating the house and budgeting for Christmas. Just nothing to cheer me up.
No answer but sending solidarity.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=sad+lamp&adgrpid=59977769184&hvadid=259144047539&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1006524&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11453651353673593055&hvtargid=kwd-301389810436&hydadcr=234701807923&tag=hydrukspg-21&ref=pddsl9a4quk8okdde

The very same op. It's so miserable. I feel drained and tired.

I suffer extremely badly from anxiety more or less from October onwards.
This year I've given up alcohol which seems to be helping a bit. Also keeping my home warm and cosy and to hell with the heating bills as being cold just makes my anxiety a thousand times worse.

I wish I wasn't so badly affected each and every bloody year but I've been this way for a long time so now I'm just going to be very kind to myself. Lots of Early nights, nice dinners and a nice warm home. That's the best I can really do.
Christmas being in the middle of winter almost pushes me Iver the edge with all of the stress of the season. I can't wait for January and the promise of lighter days...
I do really empathise with others who feel the same. It's all a bit shit. Just got to get through it and appreciate nice moments when they occur.

I’m with you OP. I was diagnosed with severe general anxiety disorder early last year. It improved a lot with the spring and summer months, then hit hard again in January this year. I’m starting to feel it creep in again. I’m taking myself off to bed early most nights atm.

Things that helped me:

SAD lamp (I use it for an hour in the morning)
SAD lightbulbs
Lumia clock
Getting out and about every day
Vitamin B12 injections (I pay for them privately)
Taking vitamin D from August - April
Having winter interests, I plan the garden for the summer, I sew, I use the treadmill in winter and I help at the local school running netball. I basically fill my evenings.
Exercising at home
I count down until the shortest day, it’s only 49 days until the shortest day then the evenings start getting lighter.

I hate ‘twinkly lights, hot chocolate and cosying in with blankets’, which is often trotted out on here.

Please everybody go out and get a SAD lamp, the best you can afford and take a Vit D tablet every day.

I bought a Lumie (one of the better makes) about 8 years ago. My SAD light comes out every October and I use it everyday. The one I have is the Brazil and is 10,000 lux. I’ve been able to replace the lights in it (2 years ago) as they dim down over time. I use it every morning October to March.

I won’t say it makes me a bubbly energetic person in winter but it helps me make it through.

I don’t hate, hate winter but I know the darker days really affect me. In the summer if I can spend the whole day in the garden, I feel good like you do when youve had a really good nights sleep.

Yanbu op, and you aren't alone. Winter is shit.

Wow interesting that a lot of you feel the same way and makes me feel a bit better that it’s an actual thing. I do try and focus on Christmas but Christmas for me is a bit ‘meh’ I don’t hate it but I don’t love it either. I find myself glad when it’s over even though January is still dark and miserable I feel I can start counting down to spring/summer

yes agree...i know a lot of people hate January but I like it...Christmas is over for another year and we have had the shortest day by then...I start to feel hopeful

I'm another lover of January.

'All I want for Christmas is new year's day' is something I have often said over the years.

I love it when the snowdrops and crocuses start to appear from mid to late Jan and spring is on its way...

But November and December are so bloody hard to navigate.

Everything just seems so much better. My mood lifts so much

November and December are absolutely the worst months.

I feel exactly the same OP.

It also coincides as being the anniversary of when when my postnatal depression and anxiety took hold.

I hate it. Roll on spring...

I love January too as by the end of January the nights are an hour longer than December. It feels light the end of the winter is in sight for me.

I feel for you OP. I was thinking about this the other day...I'd actually been feeling really good for a few weeks after getting my HRT dose sorted out. Then suddenly after last weekend I felt utterly shit again - I couldn't work out why because nothing had happened but then thought maybe it was the clocks changing.

My plan is to make sure I get out for fresh air and exercise every single day no matter what the weather, arrange to see friends throughout the week for walks/catch up, and eat as healthily as I possibly can. Hopefully that'll help.

I know January feels bleak for so many but I feel relieved shortest day has passed and evenings start very slowly becoming lighter, I dread this time of year, the run up to Christmas always makes me so anxious but worse than ever at moment as can’t afford to live and won’t be able to buy even one present for anyone, can’t wait for it all to be over and for me at least in January we’re on the right ‘side’ of winter instead of hurtling into the dark hole of Nov and Dec

I've had a change of heart about January in the past couple of years. I used to HATE it - so long and gloomy and cold - but now I see it as a fresh start and actually once all the stress of Christmas is out of the way it's nice to look forwards and see all the flowers start coming out in the garden. I've purposely filled my garden with lots of bulbs that come up at different times so there is always something flowering and I have a couple of lovely, scented plants (viburnam and witch hazel) that flower in the winter and smell amazing. Plus, by the end of January you can see the evenings drawing out again. It also really helps (if it's an option) to go away for a little winter holiday - either at new year or in the Feb half term. A little dose of sunshine and something to look forward to makes a huge difference to how gloomy I feel the rest of the time.