2024/25 SAD thread

[Idratherbepaddleboarding]

Link to last year’s thread

Hi again, I thought I’d start a new thread for this season of SAD 😭. It’s definitely starting to feel autumnal here 🥶.

If you’re new this year, please join us for tips to get through winter, chat and general moaning!

Oh dear. I am really struggling. We don't even have snow to make things look pretty. Just horrid, soul-sapping dark and grey and rain 😭SAD lamp is on and the max strength vitamins D has been hoovered up but.......

@Idratherbepaddleboarding amazing picture! Sounds like you had a fab time!! I'm guessing you have snow now?

@lyingonthebeach sending you a big hug. Despite the snow here I'm struggling too. The darkness in my mind feels like it's seeping through me despite my determination to keep on going. Kept myself busy yesterday which helped and had a declutter in the garage. Have you got any plans for today?

@robinsrace thank you and sorry you are struggling too. I have pottered, chatted to understanding friends and and will soon hit the carbs (doorsteps of buttered toast with homemade jam) while watching something comforting on TV.

@robinsrace it was an incredible day! DS was allowed to do so much flying and DH and I sat in the back and took in the views.

We had a little snow this morning but we don’t live in the Lakes, we’re further down Morecambe bay on the coast so it’s very rare we get snow. I threw the somewhat bewildered dog out at 7am to explore it because the last time we had snow he was still a puppy and now he’s nearly 4!

On another note, I’m feeling oddly un-SAD right now. I wish I knew what was causing it so I could make it last but I suspect it will all change when I go back to work tomorrow 😭.

Ok, I was right, the SAD feelings are back in force today 😭.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding

Oh no!! Big hugs!

It's so grey and dreary that I want to weep! I will force myself to go for a walk at lunchtime. I will. I will.

@lyingonthebeach oh no! It’s actually really sunny here but very cold. I decided to dress up for work in a dress and tights so I could wear my new boots but I keep getting a cold bum everytime I go outside 😂.

I think it’s because my natural waking up time in winter is 9:30am not bloody 7am 😭. I feel alright now even though it’s been a stressful day collar work after being off for 2 weeks.

Vile grey here and snow has started again.

I wore a new dress for work to make me feel better but sitting by the window in a meeting and seeing the dismal day took the shine off it.

I'm going to make Nigella's Mauritian prawn curry for dinner and pretend that I am in the sun..........I know, it a lot of work for my imagination but I can try.

Hi everybody

Sounds like we are all having a hard time with snow, ice and freezing temperatures - aargh.

it's really nice to be past Christmas and past the shortest day. Christmas wasn't half as bad as usual, which was an unexpected boost for me.

But I am looking forward to the end of the cold spell. I really hope we don't have another.

I’m sorry people are having horrible, grey weather. We’ve been lucky and it’s been really sunny since new year, albeit very, very cold. I’ve finally got all the right cold weather clothing for this year which makes getting out for dog walks more pleasant and is keeping me going for now.

We've had a couple of days of freezing cold but with bright blue skies. It's been nice for walking and even just being indoors and seeing the sun is a spirit-raiser. I can take this. The difference in my mood between this and the grey is tangible.

I hope everyone else is ok.

I get too much brain freeze to benefit from blue sky. It hit -6 here last night and my neighbour was out running by 8am. I really admire that but my sinuses can barely cope with walking to the station in this cold!

Urgh the sun has well and truly gone today and taken my mood with it 😭.

How is everyone?

Last week, we had a couple of days of lovely sun, cold but bright blue sky. My mood was noticeably brighter and more positive 😀

I woke early today and watched the sun depressing grey come up (again) as I had my morning tea. 😫Cue: major mood / energy crash! Oh well! I'm going to shut out the grey as much as I can. I'm going to play skittles, have wine with a pub lunch and then browse holidays. I feel the need to make an emergency dash to Tenerife but just looking at the photos 🌞 cheers me up a bit.

Hi @lyingonthebeach , I’m up and down. We’ve been lucky with mainly sunny weather but the cold is getting to me now! When I was getting dressed this morning in my multiple layers, I just wished I could throw in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt 😭. On Friday there was a tiny bit of warmth in the air which was promising but it’s gone really, really cold again.

On the plus side, there’s been a robin in our garden all morning and our first daffodil of the year is springing up, which is a good sign. They always come up too early though and get blown down in the wind 🙈.

How is everyone else? It’s very quiet on here but I feel like it goes quieter when people are struggling more 🙁.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding I know what you mean about up and down.

I'm now having a major 'down.' I am WFH today but have only just managed to get up. I just couldn't make myself move knowing it was still dark outside and going to be dismally grey again all day. The attempted positivity has deserted me for now and I feel tired and weepy.

I hope everyone else is ok.

@lyingonthebeach yup, today is a massively down day. I woke up this morning with feelings of rage 😡. I’m sick to death of waking up in the dark and I find it really difficult to wake up. Plus it’s grey, raining and cold here so my mood hasn’t improved as the day has gone on.

Hi all

sorry everyone is feeling crap

I'm in a weird space where I don't seem able to do more than the bare minimum but not even that fussed. Though that's better than being really pissed off.

I was out a couple of nights last week and wished I hadn't bothered. It's really cold and that really takes it out of me, to the extent it takes away enjoyment of most things. I guess if you're driving, it's less of an issue. I can always justify a cab home from a late night but a cab on the way, less so. No sun either. Oh well.

@EmeraldRoulette kind of the opposite, I enjoy being out once I’m out but spend the whole time leading up to it not wanting to go, even if it’s something I’m really looking forward to.

Today is grey with heavy rain again. I just want to go back to bed 😭. Today is my study day at work and I really can’t summon the will to get started!

@Idratherbepaddleboarding it's good that you enjoy it. I wish I did. It definitely doesn't help that you have to factor in layering up clothing because you don't know if the venue will be hot or cold. In my case, it's a safe bet it will be too cold because I'm always cold.

Couple that with the whole "layering for the journey there" and that's before you've even thought about hat, scarf, gloves, boots that can cope with whatever weather conditions - it just makes going out seem like such a hassle.

I seem to be having a reverse of last winter. So January is quite isolating so far but December wasn't. Obviously that was a bonus that December was good because normally December is very lonely. But I'm sure I'd be more motivated to do stuff if there was anyone to do stuff with. Sorry, that was a moan.

that said, one reason I haven't enjoyed my couple of nights out - everyone there seemed really down. I do think on some level it's better to go out in order to have a change of scene. Even if I don't feel the benefit immediately, I think there's a collective benefit over a period of time, so doing local things when I get the chance, I will still do.

Btw pp mentioned that the board is quieter when people are struggling more. I don't know if that's the case, but I have been avoiding MN or at least try trying not to be on so much. It is sometimes good "company" but sometimes it really gets me down and I'm finding it's best to limit time here.

@EmeraldRoulette I’m sorry you haven’t enjoyed yourself 🙁. I totally get the layering up thing, it’s not worth the hassle. Even just a trip to the shop at the end of our road requires a minimum of a coat and gloves 😡.

I’m really struggling today. Like I feel the worst I’ve felt since before o started taking sertraline. I feel both unable to do anything and really restless at the same time 😭. It doesn’t help that it hasn’t stopped raining all day again and hasn’t really got light. And that the content for my study day was terrible!

Anyway, I’ve taken an extra sertraline (my dr says I can if I need to) and put my SAD lamp on for a bit longer, oh and forced myself to eat a few biscuits as DH is currently at a job interview and even though I’ll be so happy if he gets it, in my current frame of mind I feel that I’ll struggle to show the appropriate enthusiasm which would be really unfair.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding sorry that you are struggling too.

@EmeraldRoulette and sorry that you feel like this.

Let's hope things get a bit brighter for us all. I've been busy today with little screen time and that has helped a bit. But I am craving sun and warmth and will go to bed very soon - it's the only way I can cope at the mo. Sending sunny wishes.x

@Idratherbepaddleboarding really sorry to hear that. Hope the extra meds help. That sounds similar to the "tired but wired" problem.

@lyingonthebeach do you mean going to bed as in trying to sleep?

sorry if I was moaning. There is actually nothing wrong with me that spring won't cure!

I just wish I was one of those people who has the same brain power and energy level all year round!