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!

The sun is peaking out of the clouds this morning and I can see glimpses of blue sky!

By the way, I was wondering on really grey days where you don't see the sun at all, does anyone else suffer from brain fog?

The sun is shining !!!

@CalmConfident yes! there is sun here too. I feel so different :)

@Comedycook yes, I get the brain fog and sort of general slowness on the really grey, dark days.

Off for a walk now to make the most of it

Feeling good this morning, did skip the gym to go later as I forgot about a teams call I have 🤣

It’s lovely here too, I’ve had a nice walk with the dog and settled down to write an essay for my new uni course (my first essay in 15 years 😵). I’m not sure whether to still use the SAD lamp or not so I just popped it on for a bit.

@Comedycook I can only describe that feeling as discombobulated 😂.

It's a beautiful afternoon here! I've had my hair done and walked around the harbour which always makes me feel good. Going to make it my mission to get outside more on my days off

I defo feel a bit flat.

Brain fog for me though is mainly caused by stress- cortisol I think - from outside events.

Absolutely gorgeous day in London today
. Sun is shining and it's actually quite warm. Hung the washing in the garden and just had a vest on... didn't feel cold at all. I'm kidding myself it's still summer!

Feel very positive today, booked some things for November which im excited for :)

It was gorgeous here this morning too, not vest weather but there was some warmth in the air! I’m grateful the dog dragged me out early for a walk as it’s clouded over now. I hope it’s nice over the weekend everything is better when the sun is out ☀️.

Hope it's okay to join ❤️ I tried a new yoga class last night. Never one for trying new things, especially alone, but my other half was out and I couldn't bear the thought of an evening at home in the darkness feeling miserable.

Let me tell you, the class was amazing. The instructor was hilarious, welcoming, funny and so positive. We even had 10 mins towards the end just chatting about how we feel about our bodies because she was pointing out how her stomach forms rolls during certain stretches and how this is completely normal and okay and it started a conversation between all of us strangers about how we felt about our own bodies.

I left feeling so positive and really keen to go back next week. Thought it might help to share as I found it really nice and hopefully something that will keep me going a bit over winter.

The dark mornings are really getting to me lately but hoping to find moments of light in the day that I can enjoy!

Lovely sunny day here. 🌞 A bit chilly but that's fine because it is so bright. I'm going to go for a walk and do some gardening 🌻 to be outside as much as possible 😁

Of course @robinsrace! I love the sound of your yoga class and well done for taking the plunge. I started pole dancing in January as I felt I needed a pick me up and it’s started a new obsession 😂. It’s done wonders for my mental health and confidence, I’m even going to be in a show this December! This winter, I really want to go back to horse riding lessons but they’re so expensive 😭.

OMG today has been so nice 🥰. We had a lazy start to the day but I had a lovely, sunny walk in the fields with the dog then sat in the garden and read my book. I had to get changed into shorts! Then we went for another walk with the dog to the beach/ river and a drink in the pub afterwards. I feel amazing after all that sunshine!

@Idratherbepaddleboarding so glad for you. It was similar here and I feel great! Nice to write positive things.................before I go back to the moaning .........

These sound lovely updates. Reaching for caffeine here.

That's amazing, well done you! I'm the same, once I find something it becomes an obsession 😂 It's good to have something to do on the darker days, even if you have to force yourself out of the door.

@lyingonthebeach how was the gardening? I put lots of bulbs in the other day in the hope they will come out lovely in spring!

I was awake at 4am with anxiety and then had a horrible, tearful morning despite double dose light therapy. Not sure if it is SAD or I need HRT adjustment. Pulled myself together and went for a swim.

@robinsrace luckily I have my own pole (in a spare room not in my bedroom or anything 😂) so I don’t have to leave the house for it except Tuesdays when I have to take DS to cadets nearby anyway. Today I went to a special pole day for mental health awareness and it was nice to meet people I didn’t know, oh and best of all it was a free session! I showed some people my show routine and they loved it (apparently it “slayed”, I am much older than most of the others who were there 😂).

@DropOfffArtiste I find 4am anxiety is the worst! Glad you were able to get out for your swim though, well done 👏.

I'm in the good phase of my monthly cycle thank goodness as otherwise I don't think I would cope this month with all the stress going on. Its ridiculous really as I basically only have about 10 really good days a month now. Exercise routine is needed for the rest, struggling to get one but I will do.

The weather is crap today, hoping I can get out for my walk at lunch!!

@itwasnevermine oh no! It was glorious here! I had to get changed into shorts and a vest top! I did my exam this morning then totally skived the rest of the day 🙈, did a bit of cleaning and took the dog for a nice, long walk in the sunshine.

It's a miserable evening, my train has been cancelled and I won't be home till 7:30/8 because I've had to get the bus 😩 not feeling positive tonight that's for sure

I felt much better today. Got out for a coffee and walk with a friend first thing this morning when it was sunny. We've kept up our lockdown habits when we are both WFH. Just been for a run when I finished work. Exercise and bright light are really the best things for me.

Turned it round and dragged myself to the gym! So happy with myself right now