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.

@Lookingforwardto2025 I hope we can all keep each other on track with our goals. They all seem quite achievable but.... when in the grip of SAD.....

Really dark skies here. It absolutely bucketed down. We've now got thunder 😱😭🥴. Lying b*stards at the Met Office 😡🤬😡🤬

I hope you all have better weather

@Lookingforwardto2025 it seems we all have similar goals 🥰.

@lyingonthebeach it’s been absolutely poring down all day here 😭. Cue instant depression. I’m actually quite annoyed at my body/ brain, like I’m doing everything I can to keep you happy!!

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I totally understand. The change from bright to grey or grey to bright brings an instant change in mood and spirits. So palpable and at times (the arrival of grey) so soul-sappingly crushing.

@lyingonthebeach it’s been awful alllll day. It’s only just stopped raining now. I cheered myself up a bit with a good, long pole dancing session and did manage to get the dog out for damp walk but of I didn’t have the dog, there’s no way I’d have ventured out today 😢.

Hoe it's ok to join you guys.

The sound of the persistent rain made it so difficult to get up this morning. Bit of a oh no not this blumming time of year again 😵‍💫 and woe is me. Obviously it being a work day too sucked big hairy balls.

Today felt like the first day of many grey wet days and I instantly crashed mentally at the thought of what’s to come

Old timer under new name here. I don't have an SAD action plan as such, as looking after my mental health has become a year round priority, but am going to think about 10 minutes of the SAD lamp in the morning, and reinstating the vitamin D.

I'm also planning autumn walks (need to force myself to do them!). Have also joined a sports class.

I've also booked and paid for a short trip to a hot place in November.

The key thing will be keeping up fitness over winter. That is a must. Good luck to us all!

I hear you! 1st September was a much too abrupt end of summer/start of autumn. It's been a shock to the system and a real downer.

I've taken vit D and I've got the SAD lamp on.

I'm sticking to my goals (so far 😉) and hanging on to the thought of a few days of Portuguese sunshine very soon.

🤞 we all get some bright weather in the coming days.

Welcome @user764329056 and @BlueUmberFox 😊.

We’ve been lucky that although we’ve had a lot of rain (last night was torrential!), we’ve also had at least a bit of sun each day, except last Sunday.

I can already feel myself slipping though, so I’ve made an appointment at the doctors.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I hope it goes well with the Dr.

It's the time of year (and the very obvious, too early signs of the end of summer) when we need to know ourselves and 'proof' our minds and bodies ( as much as we can) for what's ahead.

@lyingonthebeach I'm definitely struggling proofing the old mind. I think the weather change coupled with the kids first full week at school has hit me pretty badly. Been out for a brisk walk in the windy sunshine this lunchtime. A weekend of resetting and recharging, hopefully will set me for a better time next week. Keep reminding myself I'm doing a good job. It was always going to be a tough week.

Hope the Dr's helpful @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding

Thank you, I have a few things to talk about with her 🙁.

The weather is mental here at the moment, bright sunshine one minute and then torrential rain the next. No idea where it’s coming from as the dark clouds just seem to appear form nowhere. Of course every downpour coincides with a dog walk 🙈🙈.

Today is not a good day to run out of antidepressants 😭😭.

Oh no @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding

I honestly don't know why they make it so hard to get what we need sometimes. I have to 100 % rely on my dp to make sure I don't run out and to request my repeat prescriptions and do the chasing Dr's and pharmacy. I'm so lucky in this respect but at the same time he knows I won't do it. I wish they could be sorted like amazon subscribe and save and just turn up reliably every couple of months.

How easy or difficult is it for you to get it sorted today?

It's blowing a hoolie here today. I've no interest in getting outside but I reckon I might have a workout in me for the first time in a few weeks.

@mrsdiddlydoo I am able to order on the NHS app, but I forget due to also having autism and executive function issues so I only ordered them yesterday which was obviously Sunday so they won’t be ready till tomorrow 🙈. Honestly I’m useless!

Its awful here too 😭.

Hi all just joined your thread and new to mumsnet. Been blowing a gale here but have also seen some sunshine but starting to feel the gloom of the SAD months on there way. Its nice sometimes to know we're not alone with these feelings.
Looks like a friendly and good support group.

Welcome @Books62 and welcome to Mumsnet! We definitely try to be supportive 🥰. I’m jealous you had some sunshine yesterday, we only had wind and rain 😭. Even the dog hated it!

Ah thank you Idstillratherbepaddleboarding(great name). I'm still getting used to how mumsnet works at the minute not the best with technology🤪 Hopefully the wind and rain settles for you and your dog 🐕the rest of the week. Know seeing and getting out in the sunshine can make such a difference to our moods.

Yesterday was horrid. Today the weather is teasing us with hints of sun but I'll take it.

@Books62 I know what you mean when you say you can feel the SAD months on yhe way. I really am trying (goals, stocked up with supplements, SAD lamp ready, sunny break booked) to be ready but really I'm just full of dread!

A friend mentioned cosy log fires the other day!!! I just about contained the rage!

Lyingonthebeach I've not got myself a sad lamp yet but have heard they can really help so will be definitely trying one this year. Your comment about the cosy log fires and just about containing your rage I can totally relate but did also make me smile.

@Books62 thanks 😊 the sun is shining today and there’s warmth in the air. Doggo got a good run at lunch time and all is well with the world 🙈. It’s like I have bipolar at the moment with all the sudden changes in the weather.

@lyingonthebeach there was a thread yesterday entitled something like, “ you know it’s autumn when…” and people were banging on about snuggling under a heated blanket 🤢. I wanted to add … when you’re depressed, have no motivation, you have to increase your medication list to do life and you suffer from intrusive thoughts of hurting yourself but I thought that might be too much for some people 🙈.

This reminds me I must get my sad lamp out by end of this month!

I'm hoping for a cold sunny winter rather than a miserable grey wet one. I do so much better in the sun no matter how cold it is.

@Idontknowhatnametochoose I agree I can manage cold (even very, very cold) if it is sunny and bright. It is the dark, dank, depressing grey that completely floors me- sometimes to literal tears - and saps my spirits, energy and motivation 😢

I am glad for the support and understanding here

I hope the GP is able to help @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I'm sorry that you are struggling.

I have the first lurgy of the season which is absolutely rubbish. I hate hate hate how I get ill during the colder months. April to August I am usually in great health then September comes and I get something.

The sun was out today though so I sat in the garden and read my book which was nice, hopefully a bit of extra Vit D will help fight off the lurgy too.

I have a cold too. @Lookingforwardto2025 big sympathies to you...

Another day almost done. I've managed to walk a kid to school, work, do the after school club run and am now in my pj's waiting for a reasonable time to go to bed. I have really tough weeks in my cycle but the last couple of days I've felt more human which has been nice. But then I do too much and over compensate for the days I can barely get out of bed. And end up back in a hole.

The lift in my mood means I've managed to get myself sorted winter and cycle supplement wise. It's a biggy. I'm so scared of a mid winter breakdown so to actually manage something for me is a good move. Vit d... Here I come...

I agree with the sun comments. Even if it's flipping freezing if the sun shines every just feels a little more possible. I don't have a sad lamp but have been looking. Does anyone have one they'd recommend? I was looking at recommendations last night on a charity's website and reddit. I struggle buying something until I have researched it to death... Ie have read the entire Internet to help me make a decision. 🙃