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.

Sounds like a good decision @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding new season new beginnings! Good luck with the job hunting 🤞

@MissyB1 sorry to hear that wish you better ASAP.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding they were useless with the staged return then?

lovely and sunny here for the second day in a row! Shocker!

I think like in @BramleySweet s posted video I think all sorts of crazy stuff in winter. I definitely think about leaving my job and dh more! And research all sorts of random jobs I could do instead. I have actually changed my post at work this winter to try to help reduce the pressure and continue recovery from burnout. I still think about some of it in summer but not at the same level.

The last few weeks have been pretty heavy and hardcore to get through. Sunshine yesterday and today have been amazing. I've over done it though and need to pace myself. This winter has been so wet and long. I hope the rain stays away for a few weeks.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding sorry to hear you are back off sick but at the same time it sounds like it was the right call. Sorry it's all so rubbish. Lots of new cases on a phased return doesn't sound very phased and definitely not supported. At all. It's one of the reasons I changed posts at work. And it has helped me. I agree with @MissyB1 new season... new beginnings.... New priorities!

Oh and pubs... When I could be on my comfy sofa with a dog doing or watching what I like... No competition. We've been watching Pluribus on appletv and some of Carol's alone time is basically my dream in life!

Thank you, that makes sense. It’s kind of weird what winter does! It coats everything with a blanket of difficulty for me.

Yesterday was bright and lovely 😍. Today is just so, so heavy, cold and soul-sappingly grey. I have no energy or enthusiasm for anything and I want to cry - just need to say it.
I could honestly go to bed now but have to plaster on a smile for a zoom meeting. I'll probably hibernate in bed not long after
😭
I hope you are all ok

Yes same! Horrible grey day, very cold here as well. Zero motivation today. I’ve realised I never really relax until April, that’s a lot of months of the year when I’m feeling miserable and struggling.

It's the third consecutive day of endless, oppressively grey. So it's the third consecutive day when I've hibernated in bed at 2.30 with a sunny book and coconut oil in the burner.

Surely the clouds must be fed up and soon decide to sod off and allow the sun a chance?

Yes, surely the sun is getting pissed off with the clouds constantly blocking it?! It feels like bullying!

The greyness is so wearing and hard. It definitely feels more grey than it should be atm.

I have been checking the BBC weather app and there are pockets of sun next week allegedly. Everyone needs it and is even more so.

Sending you all virtual sun rays in solidarity xx

The combination of drizzle mistiness and grey skies.... 🫣🫤☹️😭

Another grey and cold day here. Woke up feeling very low again, it’s just the relentlessness of it. Everything is harder work in this weather, and I’m pretty exhausted. But I had to go and do the big food shop first thing, now I’m grabbing a cup of tea before walking the dog. Loads of housework needs doing as well - but I’m tired!

Aargh!! I need summer to come and give me my mojo back!

@MissyB1 @mrsdiddlydoo I hear you. When is it going to end?

I've just contacted my Dr to ask for an increase in my dose of sertraline because this is crushing me.

I'm sending sunny wishes and hugs of solidarity to you all.

Another grey, cold day here too 😭. I think I’ve lost the plot at this point…

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding yep! Sending telepathic solidarity

@lyingonthebeach thank you. We’re on day 3 of high winds and rain. My anxiety is through the roof today and I don’t even know why.

Blowing a bloody gale here! And sooo cold 🥶

solidarity @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I had a really high anxiety day yesterday, it’s horrible, especially when it’s for no specific reason because then you start thinking it’s not going to resolve. Hope you have a better day tomorrow.

Well done, you deserve to not feel crushed. I hear you. It’s been very tough xx

I can relate and as Missy said, it’s really horrible when you can’t put it down to anything specific.

X

I hope we all have some nourishing sunshine this weekend. It’s been really windy here which makes it very cold.

My mood has felt a bit better, thank goodness, but it’s very early days in terms of feeling a bit lifted (14 weeks into increasing my antidepressant- I don’t think it would have taken this long if Jan and Feb hadn’t been so harsh).

I can’t wait to feel some resilience, strength and energy. I get a bit of energy then it’s so easy to overdo it as it’s such a relief to have the desire to do things.

Easy does it…x

We have sun and the sky is clear and blue. Such a blissful relief 😁. We are (wrapped up) in the garden getting natural vit d. I hope you all have sun too.

OMG three days in a row of sunshine 🥰. Does anyone else find this part of the year unsettling though as, as much as you’re enjoying the sunshine, you know it could go back to being cold and rainy at any moment?

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I agree. But it's been so wonderful to see sun and blue sky and smiling people 💙. I am soaking it up and feel 200% better than I did last week

What a difference a day/ the sun makes...

I only managed to go and hurt my back gardening though. Doh... Hey ho... Glad people are feeling a bit lighter (and warmer at times!)

I think if we had another windy grey day I wouldn't be writing this now. Eugh... I'm with you @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding i feel like it could all be whipped away from me any moment. Trying to focus on enjoying it and not worrying but it's not easy.

Yes I agree, it’s a little unsettling as we’ve not had enough sun yet to feel topped up and more resilient.

But the sunshine recently has made everything feel brighter and lighter.

I went into central London last night to meet friends and didn’t enjoy it at all. I much prefer lunches and being home in the evening. I had a cry on the way home. I guess it takes time to recover from a hard winter.

xx

Just wondering how everyone is doing? ❤️