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!

Had the most stressful week but so glad I joined this thread. I'm back using my lightbox and it's definitely helping.

@PamperGoals2024 same, I was walking round the house in a right grump last night turning light on and off and moaning about the dark!

It’s boiling today though so now I’m home from work, I’m making the most of the sunshine in the garden!

You’ve reminded me to go and find my light box… I keep forgetting to get it out! 😂

I thought mine was broken at first as I forgot it had an on switch 😂.

We've had three days of dark skies and almost non-stop heavy rain 😭😫

@lyingonthebeach oh no! We literally had a freak heatwave on Friday! Not so good being stuck at work in a jumper dress, but lovely sitting in a beer garden later on 🥰. Yesterday was nice too but today the rain has hit us. I’m grateful for a few days of sunshine though and I made sure I made the most of them when I wasn’t working to try to get some vitamin D. Today is so boring though due to the rain, the most exciting thing has been a trip to Booths 🙈.

It's been fairly grey and wet but refreshingly more cool.

I don't mind now I have the SAD box out although I am worried I am slightly addicted to it - it's not a replacement for going out!

However I've been having a hard year and the important thing is to maintain a positive state.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding hello and thank you for the thread.

it’s hit me like a truck today. I can’t wake up. I hope it’s just the suddenness of it. We have had a good summer in the SE but I’m shocked at how I feel today. It’s only September!

@EmeraldRoulette I’m so jealous of your good summer! It’s definitely feeling autumnal now 😭.

I started on the mini pill today but I’m really worried about the side effects of mood swings, I really don’t need to be moodier (and weight gain but that’s for another thread!).

@Idratherbepaddleboarding sorry about summer. Hope the mini pill goes okay.

I do wonder if a good summer has made the transition harder. It’s been grey for four days now and I feel like I fell in a hole really suddenly. Normally that doesn’t happen till November. It’s a bit like when you come back from a winter holiday and think there’s been no point to it. I have learned not to make that very expensive mistake! It’s great it works for some people but not for me.

think tomorrow is allegedly going to be better.

@EmeraldRoulette I can relate, it’s been a dark and dreary week. Lights stay on longer in the mornings, curtains closed earlier in the evenings… last weekend was supposed to be nice but it was overcast and rained for most of it. Hoping for a better one this weekend! Went for a long walk earlier today and feel better for that - ache like anything now but I’m happier for it

We just had a hail storm while I was dropping DS off for his school bus 😭😭😭. So done with this already! I must have muttered, “This is fucking ridiculous” a hundred times already.

We had a few days of grey, soul-sapping skies and heavy rain. Yesterday there was only a little rain but a real autumnal feel. It was all a bit depressing and sort of filled me with dread of what's to come.

But today is bright and sunny. Still chilly but bright! I feel like a different person and am going to make the most of it by parking work for an hour or so and going for a walk. I hope the sun manages to find its way to you all too.

Lots of people struggling with the abrupt weather here too.

I'm in full on SAD box mode.

I need to buy a second one for work - can anyone recommend? My other one has gone up £15. I found one on Amazon half price at £15 but it is from China - last time I bought one from China it lasted a month. So I spent about £30 instead on a better one.
I may check Ebay and Vinted.

Good plan on the pill.

I tried the progesterone pill but I was too hungry and too calm. I could probably have gotten used to those except I still think I had a mood drop. The straw though was that it made my skin dry. I can't take estrogen either :( Evening primrose here. I also need to try some overpriced perimenopause supplements 😂

@PamperGoals2024 my SAD light is old so I can’t advise but I often think it’s luck if something lasts or not.

I did 40 minutes in front of it this morning. How long do others do please?

That sounds a good amount. You can sort of work it out, if you are wired and cannot sleep later! I think they say 10 or 20 mins or so as its quite powerful.

I'll be honest I've had it on for much much longer in the past but it does tend to disrupt sleep patterns at higher levels.

@PamperGoals2024 thanks. What I did in the past was 20 mins morning and early evening but I thought it might be better to have the longer session in the morning after falling in the hole yesterday. I’ve known colleagues who have kept it on for hours, they had an office to themselves so it didn’t matter.

I think this might be the earliest I’ve ever started with it.

every winter I seem to forget what I did the previous winter.

Same, I've never started this early before. It's this thread from last year that has helped me with the annual SAD amnesia!

@PamperGoals2024 yes, I’ll have a look tomorrow but pretty sure I was late to it due to moving home stress.

edit - just saw was on it from 29th Nov so no clue when I started the lamp but I’m sure it wasn’t September.

TBH I leave mine on for most of the day while I’m working at the computer, I know when I e had enough as I start to feel a bit wired! Mine’s only a cheap one though so may not be as good.

I leave mine on for most of the day when I am working - I try to remember to take it to the office so I can do the same there. Mine was also a cheapie so it's probably not as powerful as some. I might try and get a better one for home and just leave the other at work so I'm keeping my eye out for recommendations. I am holding out before using it so that I really feel the benefit.........won't be long, I am sure.

Yes or I get hay-fever like symptoms.

I think the timing is important - as soon as the shut in feeling appears then start it lol. I've waited because usually I've forgotten about it and then it's an uphill battle. Of course I may be wrong and the uphill battle may appear anyway! I'm also on 10mg citalopram so it may be hard to judge if starting early helped or not. But don't want to self experiment by stopping citalopram this year!

Thanks for this thread. I have my SAD lamp on for most of the working day (WFH)- am wondering if this is too long as have had some hay fever/cold symptoms. Currently googling lumie alarm clocks. Have also started taking vitamin D.

Really like the idea of having morning tea/coffee outside of light and dry.