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!

@EmeraldRoulette in the North West, kind of near Blackpool. I’m sure we get the opposite weather to everyone else! Yesterday was back to being cold and grey 🙁.

Another day of 🌞. I have felt so much better this week- more positive and less tired. More 'normal'. 😀

OMG it feels like spring has really sprung this week 🥰. I’m on teams training again today and sitting outside as much as I can in the breaks!

Sun! Sun! Sun! 😎 Happy day and I hope it lasts 🙏 😊

@lyingonthebeach it’s amazing isn’t it 🥰. It’s meant to be colder here next week but still sunny 🤞.

How’s everyone getting on? I’m trying my best to be grateful for the sunshine but it’s still soo cold! I really need some time off work too, I’m so fed up of it!

I'm OK. I can cope with cold if we have sun. But I'd rather feel a bit of warmth on my skin too. Let's hope....

Does anyone else reach rock bottom in March? Happens to me every year. I'm not bad until after Christmas. Weight gain also spirals. Get back on track late April. Doing sad lamps, exercise, trying and failing at eating healthily. Any tips welcome!!

@Twobigbabies yes! I thought it’s because my vitamin D was depleted but I’ve been taking loads all winter so I’m not sure it is that 🙁.

So nice to have lighter evenings and blue sky dayz

Our nice weather has been ruined by the wind for the last few days but it’s beautiful today! We’re going to take the dog for a walk then I’m trying out a new activity, hoop! What’s everyone else up to on this (hopefully) sunny day?

On Thursday, I 'worked from home' in the garden. It was sunny, warm and wonderful. I felt so good. @Idratherbepaddleboarding I'm envious that you have sun today and hope you enjoy it. Here it's cold and grey so I'm going to sulk.

Dark grey is back

when do people stop their SAD lamp use? Think I stopped too early.

I'm really sick of documenting everything so I can't recall stopping amd couldn't tell you when I did that. Was exhausted all day and only just realised why.

But have put a reminder in my calendar to use it tomorrow.

I'm still using my lamp on the dull and dismal days but haven't used it on the bright days for about 6 weeks.

Last year, I was using the lamp for a hour or so on some days until June because we had so many grey days throughout the spring

@lyingonthebeach thank you, that's good to know

I have remembered now that it was aggravating my insomnia

I used it this morning, need to use it I think as I've got that "vacant" thing happening.

I haven’t needed mine since February really as we’ve had lots of bright days, I just wish it would warm up a little and the wind would go away!

I've noticed the worst time for me is mid February to April. As the days are getting longer, you'd expect the increasing light to make a positive difference but the few times I felt I just couldn't cope and did go to GP for ADs it was always in Spring. I have no scientific reason to think this but I always explain it to myself like this: Although we're seeing more light as Spring comes, in this country the sun is only strong enough between April and September for us to obtain vitamin D naturally , so if you're sensitive to needing vitamin D for mental health, it makes a kind of sense. I know I also beat myself up on lovely March/April days when I still feel like hibernating and have zero desire to go out, adding to the depressive guilt. The days being longer seems to rub it in too....Why are you wasting all this light? At least in the dead of winter, it being dark at 4 seems to make it reasonable to hunker down early for the night. I do take vitamin D capsules but SAD does still peak those months for me. It does improve late Spring, so I hang on to that.

My friend, whose has even worse SAD than me, always says that she can't shake the need to hibernate at until May/June. It's just become part of her routine and she knows it's mad and not healthy but it's how she has managed.i totally get your phrase 'depressive guilt'

Isn't this sunshine wonderful? I feel so much better. My brain is more able to focus more and i have more energy and enthusiasm for life.

I have been having 10 mins by the lamp since falling in the hole last week. Today I have been feeling unpleasantly manic. Like a racing brain that can't focus. It's such a difficult balance to strike.

tbh I might not have noticed the manic thing as I sort of feel okay, but I snapped at my mum. And I'm always frustrated dealing with mum so maybe it doesn't mean I'm manic 🤷🏻‍♀️

maybe manic is the wrong word.

I won't use the lamp tomorrow.

I was barely out today as I didn't need to be but for my short lunchtime walk, it was very windy.

I suppose the time change might be a factor in feeling manic?

The sunshine is so nice but unfortunately for us it’s ruined by raging winds 😭. It’s just not pleasant to be outside. Living by the sea definitely has its downsides!

Sorry to learn that you are getting bashed by wind @Idratherbepaddleboarding . At least you can see the sun.
I'm grateful for a shady spot in the garden. I absolutely love this weather and honestly feel so, so much better. I am sending wishes skywards for those to continue ( because at the back of my tiny mind, I fear the grey and an associated crash).

🌞 to us all.

It’s finally gone today!! I’m working from home so I’ve been in the garden all afternoon although with the dog wanting to play ball and DS getting the tortoises out, I haven’t got much done. I consider it necessary for my “wellbeing” though! Keeping everything crossed we can go Paddleboarding at the weekend 🤞🤞🤞.

More lovely sunshine 🌞. Such a boost for well-being, eh? I hope you are all enjoying it too.

So nice to see / feel