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2024/25 SAD thread

601 replies

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 02/09/2024 21:25

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!

2023/24 SAD thread | Mumsnet

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...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/feeling_depressed/4919068-202324-sad-thread

OP posts:
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lyingonthebeach · 13/08/2025 11:25

Hello there.

I woke up to dark, depressing grey. At 9am I still needed lights on to see the keyboard. It's like November 😭😰 but muggy. Bring back the blue skies.......pleeeaaasssee. I don't mind the accompanying heat of yesterday

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 13/08/2025 11:47

@lyingonthebeach oh whaaaaat? It’s glorious here!

lyingonthebeach · 18/08/2025 10:50

We had a brilliant, sunny weekend. Now it's so grey I've had to put the SAD lamp on 😫. I already feel dread at the thought of Autumn

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 18/08/2025 18:35

It’s been the same here @lyingonthebeach. Ive tried to come off my antidepressants this month and thought I was doing ok, but gone back on them now as everything was giving me rage and even the simplest tasks made me angry. I guess I’m in the for life 🙁.

lyingonthebeach · 19/08/2025 15:35

@idstillratherbepaddleboarding

I hear you. The grey is either making me angry or weepy.

Let's hope for loads more sun and blue skies before we have to face winter. I'll be very glad for this thread then.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 19/08/2025 18:50

@lyingonthebeach I’m surprised at how early it’s hit me this year despite (or maybe because of) a relatively good summer!

I’ve fallen down a bit of a rabbit hole and now I’m convinced that it’s dopamine I need not serotonin which Sertraline increases. I’m constantly chasing the dopamine high through maladaptive methods (mainly scrolling on my phone) which ultimately makes things worse 🙈.

lyingonthebeach · 26/08/2025 08:03

😭😰 after a lovely, sunny BH weekend it is now dark and grey and thoroughly depressing. I didn't want to get out of bed and actually want to cry!

Lunalara · 26/08/2025 09:10

What would you say has helped you the most to retain your energy levels? Having vitamin d last year helped somewhat, but I still felt very tired.

lyingonthebeach · 26/08/2025 11:34

@lunalara I take full strength vit D, vit B complex and use a SAD lamp. But it is sooooo hard at times and I am dreading winter.

But on a positive note, the sun has now come out and is streaming into my office

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 26/08/2025 12:49

Lunalara · 26/08/2025 09:10

What would you say has helped you the most to retain your energy levels? Having vitamin d last year helped somewhat, but I still felt very tired.

For me, those effervescent multivitamins. Like Berocca but supermarket ones are the same and much cheaper. I just have to remember to take them.

EmeraldRoulette · 26/08/2025 21:01

NGL I have found summer too hot this year

I thought I was quite looking forward to autumn for once. But actually, I have raging anxiety. Basically, any noticeable change in light seems to set me off. It's really a pain.

I think it's manageable when life is going okay but I have a massive stressful thing going on at the moment and it's crashed into this seasonal issue and I am horrendously anxious in the physical sense. Which I know you guys understand. It's astonishing how light sensitive my brain seems to be. More so since stopping medication. That's now nearly 2 years I've been free of medication.

I'm actually glad that it's dark earlier, but I think 830 is probably perfect. Bright sunshine at 9 pm is weirdly annoying. Dark at 8 pm seems a bit early. So I have come to the conclusion that 8:30 is just right.
Clearly, I am the Goldilocks of light! 😂

I wish I was one of these people who just didn't even notice what was going on outside. you know how some people just magically adjust? I wish I was like that.

Hoping the anxiety will calm down. I know I've had it in previous years, but August is early for it.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 26/08/2025 21:18

Shhhhh @EmeraldRoulette you’ll scare it off 😂.

when we were in Mexico it got dark about half 8 and that was just right. I think that’s another good thing about being near the equator, you don’t get the wild swings in darkness/ light so your body probably gets used to the routine. Perhaps a short blast with your SAD lamp if you have one on the early evening would help? Not too much or you’ll be too wired to sleep!

I sometimes get fleeting ideas of looking forward to autumn after a long, hot summer but then I remind myself, it’s not crunching through leaves in crisp sunshine, it’s rain, mud and cold 😭.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 26/08/2025 21:19

PS if you want to talk about the stressful thing, we’re here to listen 🙂.

LeaveALittleNote · 26/08/2025 21:29

I've decided to throw a bit of money at my SAD this year. I'm going to buy a sunrise alarm clock, heated socks, and a heated gilet for dog walking. Anything to make my autumn and winter life a bit less miserable. I think I'll also try and have regular saunas like a PP suggested. The main issue for me is the lack of light, but I hate the cold as well, so if I can keep warmer it should do me good.

EmeraldRoulette · 26/08/2025 21:47

@Idratherbepaddleboarding thank you that's really kind.

it's confidential family stuff, which is a pain because I can't talk to anyone about it in real life either. it is a big stressful thing... suffice to say it involves a lawyer, and someone else who is meant to be like a trusted person, but is actually a useless worker unfortunately. And it currently doesn't have an end date which is a bit scary.

I can't use the SAD lamp at the moment because my anxiety is way too high. That's okay, I don't need it in terms of light levels.

I just really hope the physical anxiety backs off soon, so there's only the big scary thing to cope with. Two things together is a bit much.

@LeaveALittleNote that sounds like a good plan. These threads have been really helpful. I had a much better winter last year than the previous year and I posted a lot less. But to a large extent, I can't work out why. I suppose it will often be tied into what else is going on in life. Or is that just me?

Of course we will have a different experience depending on what part of the country. We only had really biting cold about five days in the south-east last winter.

I didn't know heated socks existed!

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 26/08/2025 23:15

@EmeraldRoulette that sound like a lot, I hope you get the outcome you want/ need.

You’re lucky being down south and not having the worst of the weather. We’re North West and I think we do get the worst 😭 and we’re by the sea so we get bad storms and my god, the wind!

@LeaveALittleNote I’ve already decided to become a Dryrobe wanker for winter dog walks and I don’t care! I’d also stock up on vitamins and consider a SAD lamp especially if you’re stuck in an office/ working from home.

lyingonthebeach · 27/08/2025 07:37

@emeraldroulette I hope things get sorted for you very soon.

@leavealittlenote I know what you mean about light. I can cope with the cold, and even shorter days, if the sky is blue and the light is bright. It's the grey that absolutely floors me.

I have loved this summer; loads of sun, long bright days and lots of heat. I think this is why the odd dark grey days have knocked me because of the sharp contrast and reminder of what is to come.

Sunny 🌞 wishes to you all.

Lookingforwardto2025 · 28/08/2025 15:09

Hi all :) The last two years I have struggled massively with anxiety through the darker months of the year so would love to join this thread :) Mine manifests as health anxiety.

Things I am going to try this year are SAD lamp and sunrise clock. Following Michael Moseley's advice to do a brisk 30 min walk within 2 hours of waking up. I started pilates last year and that really helped so going to continue that.

Am going to try to embrace the seasons and look for the good in them so lots of warming foods like stews, soups etc. Twinkly lights up all winter not just Christmas. Lovely cosy Jumpers, socks etc. Make sure I socialise and exercise regularly and always have something booked to look forward to.

Am coping OK at the moment even though the weather has really turned because I have a UK weekend away with friends booked for mid Sept and Lanzarote for late October so I know I will get some more sun before winter sets in.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 28/08/2025 20:47

@Lookingforwardto2025 welcome, you can join for 2 days until I officially start the 2025/6 thread 😂. But shhhhh cosy and twinkly lights are banned words!!

So jealous of your holidays though, mine feels like a lifetime ago. We always used to go away in October half term and I miss it!

Exercising definitely helps especially if you can get outdoors on nice enough days. It certainly keeps me going!

Lookingforwardto2025 · 28/08/2025 20:54

Thank you for the welcome @Idratherbepaddleboarding and I won't use those words again. Many apologies all!

It is the dark mornings and evenings that really get to me so just trying to think of ways to make them more tolerable. Am building up a supply of books so I can at least look forward to a good read in the evenings.

This is my first time going away October half term and I am really hoping it will make a difference.

lyingonthebeach · 29/08/2025 06:03

I usually have a couple of sunshine breaks over winter. They are such a boost and really help me get through the dark, grim winter. Enjoy Lanzarote 😉

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 29/08/2025 07:20

@Lookingforwardto2025 I’m only messing (sort of 😂) it’s just at this time of year there are so many threads by cosy, pumpkin spiced autumn lovers 😂.

It definitely helps to get some autumn sun, the only thing is it gets chilly after dark so all my lovely dressed for the evening have been ditched for hoodies!

I do need to get some books to stop myself from scrolling on my phone but I never know which to buy.

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 29/08/2025 10:21

Seriously crashed and burned today 😭😭. It’s torrential rain, I’m supposed to be doing my study day but keep seeing jobs that need doing and I’ve come in my period. There’s a distinct lack of things to look forward to in September and DS’s 6th form needs have proven eye wateringly expensive so a distinct lack of spare funds to plan anything.

lyingonthebeach · 29/08/2025 10:55

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I hear you! And snuggle is another word which should be banned!

Idstillratherbepaddleboarding · 30/08/2025 13:25

Urgh, it was red hot and sunny this morning and now grey and windy. I feel like I’m constantly getting changed 😭.