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.

I wish light boxes and light glasses were available on prescription.

The cost is really high but they have such a good evidence base.

I’ll let you know how I get on with them x

I agree Jan, Feb and March can be really tough. I’m sorry others ho though this but I can’t tell you how helpful it is to know I’m not alone.

When the daffs come up I can feel a little spark of hope. But I’m often really tired by then.

I am pledging to use my light box/glasses every day to see if things feel softer and easier this winter.

Is anyone else finding light therapy helpful?

Also getting a kitten in a few weeks 😍

Cats are so good at self care. They just lie around resting, basking in patches of sun or lying on radiators and give zero fucks about people pleasing 😁

@JoJo36 dogs too, I’d give anything to be my Labrador! The other Friday, DH and I were both working from home stress out. DH let out a massive sigh and straight after the puppy Lego or an even bigger sigh, rolled over and went back to sleep 😂. What a hard life he has, no work, no cleaning/ tidying, no washing, getting dressed, food provided for him… and humans think we’re the smartest animals on earth 🙈🙈. Enjoy your kitten!

So my appointment with the CMHT has been moved to 28th December due to ‘staffing issues’. How can you know you have staffing issues a month in advance?? I’m done! I’m trying my best to get help and there is none 😡😡😡.

It’s impossible isn’t it? I feel for you. Trying to get support and help via the NHS is incredibly difficult.

I work in the NHS and we all feel it’s held together at the seams with goodwill.

If you felt up to it you could ring them and say that won’t work for yiu.

Hang in there xx

@JoJo36 I do get it as I’m also a public sector worker whose service is literally held on by a wing and a prayer. I mean our building is literally falling down around us which is a good metaphor for the service. But it just feels like I’m supposed to put my all into helping others while there’s no support for me when I need it!

Bloody maries! It's been cold. But bright so I'll take it. I'm about to have a post-work bloody mary to help me cope 😉

@JoJo36 I've been trying my best to use my light and I think it does something. I bought 2 a while back and I get on really well with the one on my desk. The other is like a tablet screen and I can only manage it if I'm not too sleep deprived. Otherwise it seems to trigger headaches. Hope the glasses help. You'll have to let us know how you get on.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding you can't make it up can you! I'm sorry your appointment has been pushed back. That's completely rubbish 😞 I really hope it doesn't change again, and you are managing the best you can.

I'm hanging on somehow. Its just a case of taking it one day at a time and not berating myself too much when it's too much. I wish I could find some mojo to be more active at but it's just not happening.

@lyingonthebeach did the bloody Mary help? I can't tolerate alcohol very well at the moment. Haven't been able to for a couple of years. I don't half miss a glass of wine sometimes but it never seems worth opening a bottle for me to have a glass and then the rest of the bottle go off.

Today has felt very joyless and extremely boring

Not helped by the cold

I wish I still enjoyed going to the gym, but I really don't

I didn't manage my workout last night. Also, I'm dieting. It does have to be done.

I know it's November - the first half went relatively quickly and now suddenly it's crawling.

@mrsdiddlydoo the Bloody Mary was delish but just made me want another......I didn't.

I can see that my car is all iced up outside 😫. I'd really rather just go back to bed but I'd better bundle up and get the de-icer😡. I'll probably think about beaches all day.

@EmeraldRoulette I know what you mean about November dragging. And we have so much winter ahead. I hope you have a better day today

It’s so cold here too. DH was away working in the North East yesterday and got snow but we never get snow here as we’re so close to the sea 😭.

@mrsdiddlydoo it’s crazy, I feel like ringing them and telling them to forget the appointment as it’s just causing me more stress! But I’d be on hold for at least half an hour just to cancel it 🙈🙈. I can see it being pushed back again since it’s so close to Christmas.

@EmeraldRoulette I’ve had to stop going to my pole dancing classes as I cannot drive in the dark. Like I lose all depth perception and get really anxious. Luckily, I have a pole at home that I’m still using but getting changed in the cold is putting me off 😭😭.

-3 here today and won’t get above 0 all day. Unfortunately I’m having some plumbing work done (which has been booked for months), which will mean the heating has to be switched off😱🥶
my plan is to go to town and try and stay out for a few hours. Plumber estimated it would be an all day job. This is not doing much for my mood which is getting worse every day at the moment sigh…..

Really depressed at the moment. Sure that the weather is not helping. Really struggling with my mental health.

Feel like a burden to everyone

Sorry to hear that, I know that feeling and it’s awful. Do you have any support?

@Georgeismydog I’ve seen your other post and I could have written it myself 🙁 all we can do is keep dragging ourselves along 🙁.

Does anyone else really struggle with those husband/ partner at this time of year? DH usually works away all week but he’s been home 3 nights this week and I’m struggling to cope! It’s not entirely his fault, I just have no patience. He doesn’t help my SAD either as he seems to like sitting in the dark and turns the heating off all the time. He doesn’t understand my mental health issues at all. I was telling him that I’m really struggling with my job and it’s going to give me a complete mental breakdown and he said, “no it won’t”. Oh ok then it won’t 🙈 (never mind the fact that I’m already there, I was already playing it down).

I'm the same , January and February are the worse months for me .. mentally this is when I struggle the most
At least with November and Dec I'm busy with planning Christmas
But Jan and Feb are just weeks of grey

I definitely find it harder when he's at home
Im so unmotivated when he's there ..yet so motivated when he's at work .
It's like having an excitable puppy round my feet all the time .
Yes got no concept of personal space ..and also doesn't get mental health issues.
Luckily he's back to work tomorrow and working all weekend..so I can relax a bit and do some cleaning

It’s not easy if your partner doesn’t get it.

Just a little update on the Luminette (SAD glasses). It’s pretty easy to use and light to wear. You can use it with glasses on.

Hoping it will help in the coming weeks.

Still using my bigger light box too as I’m not 100% sure I’ve always got the Luminettes in the the right position (there’s sort of a hologram light and you need to get the blue light to hit your eyes).

I was feeling a bit better yesterday morning but kind of feel like my confidence is really low today. It’s like I can’t access it and I become a bit vigilant around my mood as I’m so scared of it getting low (I had depression this summer which was very tough). Does anyone else feel like that?

It’s so hard. I really wish I wasn’t so sensitive to the lack of light!

Anyway, thinking of you all.

Especially impressed by your pole dancing, Paddle. And anyone else who is managing to work, exercise and navigate November!

@JoJo36 thank you, it’s the only thing that makes me feel better I wish there was a way to make a career of it so I could do it all day long!

To be fair, even DH seems down at the moment and I don’t think he’s ever had an emotion in his life!

Any recommendations on light boxes /glasses? Are they worth it? Just thinking about buying one for Christmas

@Georgeismydog mine is very old and I couldn’t even tell you what brand it is but I do recommend them 🙂.

Recommend Lumie Vitamin L one. It’s quite big (A4 size) but it’s good and you almost feel like you’ve been in the sunshine as it’s bright.

The Luminette 3 glasses don’t seem very bright in comparison but are more convenient as you can put them on as soon as you wake up and get going (on highest setting you only need them for 20 mins).

I have used the Luminette glasses this morning a short session in the Lumie vitamin L lamp this afternoon.

I am almost scared to say it but I am feeling happier.

Unfortunately I cannot use light boxes due to hypertension meds. I have been struggling with SAD the past month or so. It affects my sleep. I was awake 2am last night but went to bed 9pm so got 5 hrs. I really need 7 hrs and my sleep has been erratic of late. Finding it hard to cope. Gone down with a cold now and I also have a broken finger from last week!

Sorry one more thing. I decided to order some homoeopathic to see if it helps. Though very hard to treat my SAD being autistic as well. Cannot afford practitioners so that is out.

Well, it was sunny and I felt ok even though I was inside working- just seeing the sun and blue outside made me feel good. it's just totally greyed over and my mood has crashed 😥😢