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.

Ohh I’m so jealous! It’s raging wind here and the noise is driving me crazy, it’s just one constant gust. It woke me up at 4:30am and it hasn’t let up since. The dog is mithering for a walk too so I’m going to have to brave it 😭😭.

I think we are due snow tomorrow
Last few days here ,both times I went to Tesco they had an ambulance out , because someone slipped over on the ice
Tesco policy is not to grit ,
Town is the same ,ice on pavement and people falling over

I don't know if anywhere grits these days

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I don't know where you are but we're forecast high winds in Essex on Friday.

I had to go out today, but it just made me irritable. All those staying in is making me irritable. I think it's meant to be less freezing cold next week, thank goodness. I'm not sure if that means constant rain.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding well done you! Pleased it was nice to see your colleagues. Just don't be over doing it!

I bloody hate the cold. And the ice. Just did a great big skid walking the dog. I'm petrified of falling over and breaking something.

I got through my work day and dh is on tea duty (although he's gone awol). I just want to put my pj's on and climb into bed where it's warm.

Hope everyone else is surving there abouts x

@mrsdiddlydoo thank you, the first week back has been ok and I’ve been easing myself in gently!

@EmeraldRoulette I’m in the north west but we have our own microclimate here 🤣.

It seems a tiny bit warmer today but the weekend is not looking good.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I feel like the country is made up of little micro climates!

@mrsdiddlydoo I try to avoid walking when it's icy. If I have to, then I do. But I wouldn't go out walking otherwise because it's just too risky. I've already had a couple of big injuries and I'm terrible at walking on ice. I seem to be getting worse at walking on an unstable surface as well. I think that's the result of an old spinal injury.

It's going up to 8 or something next week yay! It will be raining but I'm relieved that the freezing weather has gone. Though it might drop down to below freezing tonight, I'm not sure.

I did a hard workout today! Well hard for me, and it was new to me so yeah... I do keep up the exercise for my sanity, but I haven't done a difficult one since early November I think. I should be starting to perk up now... maybe I am, I just suddenly decided to do a new one this evening. That's good.

A week of Tenerefe sun in January has given me such a boost. It's the one part of my SAD coping promises that I stick to and it is such a help. I know the feeling won't last but ...... it helps me over 'the hill' and we are on the spring side now

A week of Tenerefe sun in January has given me such a boost. It's the one part of my SAD coping promises that I stick to and it is such a help. I know the feeling won't last but ...... it helps me over 'the hill' and we are on the spring side now. Sending sunny wishes to you all

@lyingonthebeach I’m so jealous of your trip to Tenerife! This weekend has been seriously depressing, the weather was shit and we DH wasn’t interested in doing anything except watching YouTube 😡 not that there would have been anything interesting to do if he had. What’s the point??

Feeling very glum and anxious on this dull rainy day. Why do rainy days have to be so dark!

@lyingonthebeach really glad you had a nice week in the sun. What kind of temperatures was it?

I was feeling quietly chuffed with myself last week for getting through it. I wish I was a more steady feeling person without the ups and the down. Meh.

It was around 20 degrees - and sunny. Even when there was some cloud there was brightness behind.
Coming back to this ......😫yesterday I was hibernating in bed at 2.30 (with a book) which is early even for me. But the dark grey was just crushing and couldn't see the point of pretending

That temperature sounds amazing. Just right for me. Whilst I'm bad with winter I also can't handle it too hot! Books are made for hibernating.

At least this week is supposed to be warmer than last week.

Not been a great week, although I normally feel better at this time

This will be the second winter or something that November and December didn't feel so bad, the last January was okay, but I don't know...

I might just be in a mega grump because I'm supposed to be on a workout challenge, which I was really looking forward to.

However, I am one of these people who's physically incompetent - last picked for teams at school etc. When I left school and went to the gym, it was like a revelation.

However, the weekend workouts were fine. But today's one I literally couldn't do. Which was so incredibly disappointing. And now I'm antsy because I didn't get proper exercise. I'm going to have to try and get some in before bed and after my dinner has digested! I can't get a refund either. I guess I've been doing basic gym stuff for so long, I forgot that there are various movements that I just can't master. I have zero coordination. That's why I don't go to classes and stuff. Potentially half of the pack that I bought will be affected.

i've talked on here before about going to see some sort of physical therapist, but I'm staring down the barrel of 50 this year and I can't really be bothered. Plus, if I was physically incompetent as a child, it's not going to change.

I still think I have dyspraxia, but I keep being told that if you can drive, you don't have it.

Sorry that was a total sidebar. But it's amazing how easy it is to have your day spoiled in winter, isn't it? Because there's no sunshine to cheer you up.

I've been struggling a lot with anxiety lately,tried antidepressants that gave me awful side effects,so I'm back to just managing on propropnal.
I'm sure the dark and cold are significantly adding to how I feel
I've bought some dresses in the sale ,that I'm looking forward to wearing come the spring.
I think once we get to lighter mornings I should start to feel better ,I hate the fact it's time to get up now ,and it's still dark and cold
Onwards to spring 🌼 🌱

I always find Nov and Dec not so bad , because I'm looking forward to Christmas.
I'm 52 and I was diagnosed with autism at 50 .
So you definitely can look in to getting a diagnosis of dyspraxia
Having a diagnosis of anything is like a signpost , showing you the right way to go for help and advice.if we don't know what's wrong ,we can't look for the right support to help ourselves

@EmeraldRoulette you know how obsessed I am with pole dancing and without wanting to blow my own trumpet, I’m bloody good at it but I’ve had some day recently where I can’t do any of it or I’m just not feeling it. Perhaps if you go again your body might be more up for it? Or if not maybe at least you can get something from the class.

I totally get the angsty feeling when you haven’t done enough exercise although my new medication is giving me restless leg syndrome so I’m angsty every night when I get into bed no matter how much exercise I’ve done 😭😭. I think I might have to change them again as I’m getting no sleep 😭.

@Newyearsparkle I’m so bored of my winter clothes 😭. I was looking for something in my wardrobe the other day and longing for the days when I can wear my shorts and dresses again.

I had another appointment with occupational health yesterday who declared I am unfit for work… but I’m back at work so now do I stay or go back off sick? I feel that getting out and seeing my lovely colleagues is helping but the actual work and everything that’s going on in our service at the moment is horrific. I don’t feel like I can even make a decision about it which really says I shouldn’t be at work as decision making is a huge part of the job 🙈.

Heck that's a difficult decision
But I guess occupational health have made the decision for you ,are you allowed to go against their advice..

Sorry to hear so many of us are still struggling. Weather is poo here today. I'm hiding away as much as I can.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding at our work managers and HR always go with OH's recommendations so even if you feel like you maybe could manage at work, you wouldn't be allowed to return. Maybe if you truly want to work you could speak to them again about staying on reduced hours and tasks? Its a toughie.

Roll on retirement I say. Which for me will be in about 2 billions years time!

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I'm also wondering if you're allowed to go back if occupational health say no. It seems a great shame if you feel it's doing you good. I think you're the best judge. But of course they'll have laws and things to work with.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my boring rant about the exercise class. I'm not fussed about seeking a diagnosis - it was more like I almost forgot that I can't do stuff and I felt perhaps it was a bad idea to sign up for the month course. Others have now said it's too difficult. I think what's happened is she was trying to do a cardio class that will be okay if you're in a flat - this instructor actually films in her own flat, so she is conscious of not making a noise downstairs. And somehow in order to up the cardio, she ended up putting in lots of complicated choreography

I don't know. I just liked the idea of following a plan because it removes the need for me to motivate myself in a way? But if I can't, I can't. There's now enough people saying they got completely lost so hopefully she will amend classes accordingly.

OH said speak to my manager and my manager seemed ok with me being back but that I should let her know if I’m struggling. TBH I kind of want someone to make the decision for me!

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding if it's helping you then I think you should be back at work. Does that count as me making your decision for you? Not sure I can cope with that level of responsibility 😂

@EmeraldRoulette haha thank you for your help!

Today has been so nice and sunny, it feels like spring is trying its best to peek through. I’ve done my half day at work from home and had a lovely, long dog walk after lunch. It certainly lifted my mood.

The ED recovery side of things is a real challenge though 🙁.

It is nice when spring tries to peek through. I was watching 2 little blue tits this morning. Although it's a bit glum out they cheered me up a little.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding what does ED recovery look like at the moment? Don't feel you have to respond. It must be a hard battle made worse by the long dark winter. I was hospitalised as a kid with anorexia and spent a few years in and out of the local children's ward which was pretty difficult and involved being tube fed at times. The world has changed since then and whilst I wouldn't wish my experience on anyone at least they kept trying to help me get well and I wasn't sent to places far away from my family. I've since realised how much of it was down to my neuro diversity. It's a tough one that will haunt me forever.

I've been pretty productive this morning. Our dog is lame so they can't be walked far. I've managed a short workout. Some housework. And ticking stuff I've been putting off for ages off my list.

Hope everyone has a good weekend... Spring is on its way...

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding we had solid rain on Thursday when you posted that about having bright sunshine!

But then we had a lovely day yesterday, and a moderate day today. Importantly for me, neither day was cold.

@mrsdiddlydoo I’m sorry you had to go through all of that, it sounds awful. My ED is definitely related to my autism too. In terms of recovery, I think it’s different for children and adults. For children they do family based therapy where the family (well it seems to end up being the mother of course) takes full control of food. For adults, you have to do it yourself. Now, it’ll be awful for both the patient and the parents but I feel that I have to be both the patient and the parent as I can’t have my mum come round and take care of me and frankly, it’s exhausting. I think hospital experience is still very similar to yours but fortunately I don’t think that’s on the cards for me. Plus I can only imagine it’s even harder to get a place in hospital these days, like everything else.

@EmeraldRoulette we always seem to have the opposite weather!

Is anyone else really struggling with weekends? I find it so frustrating that we work all week and then need to catch up on housework all weekend, like what’s the point?? And even though DH is a “high earner” and I’m an average earner we’re still always bloody skint as it all goes on bills.

I was having a meltdown about it yesterday an DH said let’s go and do something fun, but what can you do that’s fun for free in January?? We ended up taking the dog to the beach which was better than nothing but hardly exciting.