2025/26 SAD thread

[Idstillratherbepaddleboarding]

It’s 1st September tomorrow so we’re back for another year’s SAD thread.

Welcome all old and new who struggles in the cold and dark months for advice and general moaning!

The only rule is no talk of snuggling under blankets, crunching in leaves (which will realistically be a soggy wet mulch, or pumpkin spiced anything!

Advice from previous years’ threads:

A SAD lamp can help as can a daylight alarm clock.
Try to get outdoors when the weather/ light allows it.
Try to keep up with your exercise routine or start a new one!
Remember to take your vitamin D and multi vitamins.
Try to have something to look forward to.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding oh yes, I know what you mean. I have that sometimes.

Meanwhile, I'm trapped in inertia. If anyone has any words that might motivate me, I thank you in advance.

@EmeraldRoulette I don’t, sorry. I wish I did. I guess we’ll just have to wait for spring. It was dark at 4:45 today FFS!!

I honestly can't cope with it any more. My Dr has prescribed sertraline. I know it won't be a total cure-all but I feel relieved to have done something which might help.

The trees are almost bare now. The only consolation is that the sooner winter is here, the faster we can all look forward to spring. I love the first signs- the daffs, the daisies, the buttercups. I get really excited. Just love it.

We've still got a lot of really pretty autumnsl trees now

Today has been much better, but it was also really mild. They keep saying that it's about 14 or 15 every day. But yesterday and Monday were really cold. I can't make any sense of it.

Spring used to be my favourite, but we seem to have missed it a couple of years! Also, I get really bad hayfever in Spring now. I can't make any sense of my hayfever, but it's been two years in a row that it's been really bad in March and April.

We have a really pretty one behind our house that I can see through the patio doors in the dining room.

I’m struggling so much with work. It’s terrible times for my service at the moment but the SAD is making it impossible. I can’t focus at all and even driving to work is causing extreme anxiety. I really should be off sick but that would just put even more pressure on everyone else.

The doctor upped my sertraline again yesterday and I’ve been referred to the CMHT but they were meant to send me an appointment today but they haven’t 😡.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding sorry you're struggling

It might have been covered on this board before, but has anyone seen the light glasses? They put a different kind of light straight into your eyes. I was debating one called Luminette

editing to add, I thought of it for people who are particularly struggling. I definitely don't want to go back on medication but I know from experience it's got limits in how much it can help with sad. The glasses seem like a different approach. They're really expensive though.

This is fucking ridiculous, been on hold for 25 minutes to the CMHT to try to find out why they didn’t send me an appointment yesterday 😡😡😡.

Morning all - I was on another SAD thread til Idstill found us there and posted this link to here.

I live in northern Scotland and am really noticing a dip in mood this year, probably the menopause adding it's own moodiness. And works a bit rubbish too both locally and sector related.

Anyway I'm off work today and have been tidying so I'm continuing with that.

Hello, much like Crina I was on another thread until we were found.

mentally I’ve felt a bit better this week but I’m just exhausted. I get home from work and I feel I could go to bed, and I know it’s because of how dark it is outside. It’s passed the point where I’ll be leaving work in the last dregs of daylight and it’s barely light when I leave for work, so I know it won’t be long until I’m just seeing darkness the entire day.

Hello both @CinnamonCrunch33 I think I remember you from previous years 🥰.

Gosh @CrinaCara that’s very busy for this time in the morning. I’ve had coffee, given DS a lift to the bus, fed my neighbour’s cats, cleaned up the mess the puppy made in the 10 mins I was out and made another coffee. Actually that’s very busy too! I’m also having sector related work stress but I’m also off today and going to dye my hair and paint my nails as a nod to self care. I’ve had the dye for 2 weeks and still not had the motivation to do it but my hair is soooo grey 😭.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding sorry it all sounds shit at work. As someone who's pushed themselves to keep going and keep going and keep going and definitely not wanting to let anyone down, especially when everyone you are working with is in a similar position, my advice would be to take some time for yourself to recover before you end up in a much worse position. I speak from experience. Sometimes we have to put ourself first. Otherwise your body will decide for you and one day you might not be able to get out of bed. Obviously my words come from a place of kindness... Not meant to be judgy or anything negative.

I bought paint to redecorate... Back in early 24 and I still haven't started. Putting stuff off - story of my life.

No glasses but I am being pretty strict making myself use my lamp and it does seem to help me maintain a kind of baseline of energy. Those glasses are very expensive. Eek!

@lyingonthebeach I know it can feel rubbish resorting to medication like you are failing but you aren't. Needs must. Worth a try. And fingers crossed it helps.

My sleep has been shit since the clocks changed. You'd think it being dark and the going back it might be easier. It's not. I am a walking zombie that's struggling at work, to function and care, and I want to be able to.

As someone who has made themselves do walks to try to feel better, I think they can but it's not a definite win. Getting outside everyday is definitely good for you. If I make it to sit on our garden bench for a cup of tea, that's a big win. Sometimes little steps are all we can do. Society is too busy and chaotic. Too much info everywhere. That's impossible to avoid and escape. It's ok to have to go at your own pace.

Can you tell I've spent all year in therapy? 😝

Thinking of everyone and I hope you all have restful chill weekend. Be kind to yourselves!

(edited to correct a spelling mistake)

Thanks @mrsdiddlydoo you’re right, yesterday I was on my way to work and got such a strong urge to turn around and come home but I forced myself to keep going. I definitely need a break!

@lyingonthebeach how are you getting on with the medication? My doctor has put mine up to 100mg but I must remember to come back down to 50mg in spring so I don’t go manic again 🙈.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding thank you 😊. It's only the second day and I've just had a shitty drive home in the dark with pouring rain 🌧. But I feel better for having taken this step and hopefully it will help me deal with the SAD.

Did you get sorted

@Fukcedoff nope! 35 mins on hold to be told they haven’t booked me an appointment yet. Still not had one and they said on Wednesday they’d be booking me in that day for an appointment this week 😡. I’m trying so hard to help myself but there’s no help out there. By the time I even get assessed by the eating disorder team, it’ll be 3 months since I reached out for help too. I just give up. All they’ll offer is more and more sertraline even though it’s not working anymore.

@lyingonthebeach I’m sure it will help, it helped me at first but I think my body has just got used to it now.

Sorry to hear this
Can you try a different doctor to push for you

@Fukcedoff it’s not my GP’s fault to be fair, just that the NHS is fucked! By the time I got an appointment with someone else it’ll be almost time for my ED appointment as I waited 3 weeks just for a GP appointment 🙈🙈.

How is everyone today anyway? It’s been so warm here, I’ve had shorts on all day! I’ve also eaten reasonably normally I think as I could feel myself getting angry at DH for no real reason and didn’t want to ruin the weekend. I do feel a lot better for it.

The sun has been beautiful here. I was too hot in my jacket. Really lifted my spirits.

I’ve had a very nice day today. Got out in the sun, made some bread and prepped my first sourdough loaves for baking tomorrow

Glad everyone’s had some sunshine!

We had lovely sun and blue skies (the sun did dip far too early but I'll take it). Such a good feeling