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.

Up and down @JoJo36 depending on the weather 🙈🙈. How about you?

Gosh I’m totally weather dependent too! The last couple of days have been cold and miserable here and it’s making me cross! I just want some consistent sunshine for a week at least! Probably asking for too much 🙄

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding @JoJo36 @MissyB1 sane here. My mood swings up and down with this utterly mad weather. Fingers 🤞 we get a decent period of sun soon. Very soon. I.e. NOW. Because I sort of feel on the edge. Off to spritz some coconut sunscreen and dream. 🌞 vibes to us all.

I think similar to you all it’s a bit up and down and as it was rainy and cloudy today it’s been a bit meh.

Some consistent sun would be so lovely! xx

This weekend sucks so bad! Yesterday it was dry but so cold and windy and today it’s pouring down. Plus I woke up at half 6 which is really half 5 😭. I think it’ll be too grey to even enjoy the lighter night this evening. I’m so sick of spending a fortune on and taking all this medication and supplements when all I need is a little sunshine 😡.

Hello
I've been alright, so I've not been here for awhile

Unfortunately, I've fallen down a hole and I'm not sure if it's weather related - it's not too drastic. I don't think I'm about to have another nervous breakdown. I think we can all relax there so please don't worry.

I know a lot of of you've got very serious things going on so I hope this doesn't come across as a massive moan

I do have some issues with the time change and around the equinox I get a bit strange. Apparently, it's quite common and it's something to do with serotonin levels

There are other things at play, but I have been so low it's been a real struggle to do anything and I don't want to talk to anyone.

Things are having a disproportional emotional effect on me.

The flat is a complete mess - it's amazing how quickly that happens isn't it? Or maybe that's just me.

I was feeling alright until the middle of the week. Very strange. It's been horrible and windy and raining here. That definitely doesn't help.

I've got some variation of tired but wired... I think I would call this incredibly flat, not tired but wired in a way that can't be explained and therefore I don't know what to do with it. if it makes sense, you don't know whether you need to exercise or have a nap. I tried to do both, but obviously the nap failed. Got about two hours sleep last night. Bonkers.

I also feel very emotionally fragile like I could burst into tears any minute. There's not really anything wrong.

I did make notes for spring and autumn equinox because of this extremely odd feeling so hopefully it's just a case of waiting for it to pass!

Hi all. @EmeraldRoulette I’m sorry you feel in such a difficult place at the moment. I really hope it passes. I know exactly what tired but wired feels like unfortunately. I’ve promised myself I’m going to try a meditation each day, although I’m very sceptical whether it will help. Books are getting me through each day at the moment, my focus was pretty much non existent, so I’ve had to train myself back into reading, literally started with one page at a time.

@EmeraldRoulette I think that the clock change can throw alot of us off 'balance' and along with the weather this winter/so-called spring, it's hard. I'm sending sunny, bright wishes and hope you get back on an a more even keel soon

Sorry to hear that too Emerald. It’s very hard when you hit a low patch. I agree the clock change does strange things to us as Paddle said.

Meditation does have a pretty impressive evidence base Missy so might be worth a shot. I really like Tara Brach (lots of free ones on her website).

I read recently that people who are more sensitive generally (to weather, people’s moods, their environment etc) are like orchids and they need the right nourishment to thrive. This is about 30% of the population.

30% are dandelions and can thrive anywhere and another 30% are tulips who are in the middle in terms of sensitivity.

So to my fellow orchids, I hope you get what you need today to help you feel more like yourself.

I am relieved I have only cried once today and work has gone well after a tricky start (hence the tears).

Thank you, everyone
I appreciate the support

I thought I was better today, but then I had to go and see my mum
That's bound to put me in a bad mood, though

I'm really feeling the burden of that again

@JoJo36 oh dear I hope you're alright now

Such a good point about the orchids! That's it exactly! I wish there was a way to be more robust.

Actually, for anyone who knows the Taylor Swift song "how did it end?"

There's one line that says "he was a hot house flower to My outdoorsman"

And as soon as I heard that I thought, oh no, I am the hot house flower! 😂

Me too! Careful nurturing is needed and I too long to be more robust.

It’s so grey here today 😔. I wish the sun would peak through. When it’s like this I feel kind of lonely.

I also have this groggy head cold thing since yesterday morning. Has anyone else had it? Fatigue and weird dreams and generally feeling tired and foggy headed. A walk in the sunlight last night at about 7 pm helped so much.

Very grey here too today, it’s such a shame because the longer days should surely include more sunshine! I really want a bright warm bank holiday weekend but I’m not convinced it will happen.

As an aside, has anyone here ever tried cbt for low mood? I was thinking of self referring to the NHS one, I just wonder if it’s worth it? 🤔

@MissyB1 sadly, I think it’d be mid summer before you got to the top of the waiting list 🙁.

It’s been grey here too but weirdly warm. I am loving the lighter nights though!

@MissyB1 I had CBT for SAD/low mood. It didn't really help me but we are all different so......

Thanks, I hear very mixed reviews. I think the GPs make you try it before considering anti depressants, so I’m thinking ahead really to try and prepare for next winter!

I’ve been on anti depressants for 5 years and never been offered CBT except for for my eating disorder, which was specific to that. It was recommended in September that I refer myself but it was December before I was even offered a triage appointment 🙈.

Wow! It's sunny and quite warm. I'm working from home- in the garden 😁. I feel like a different person to the tired, moany one I was in the grey of yesterday. I hope you all have sun too

Grey day today and I’ve been really tearful. Trying to not let my thoughts go down the ‘this will never pass’ road.

Quite a few things are impacting me and the feeling like I’ve been fighting a bug.

So just saying hello to you all and hoping you have some sun and moments of feeling brighter xx

@JoJo36 Im sorry that sounds hard. Really hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

Thank you. Me too. Really appreciate that ❤️❤️

Sorry to hear that @JoJo36 🙁 it dos feel relentless doesn’t it!

Its been a horrible and boring bank holiday here, rain and high winds all day 😡.

Thank you. Yes the wind is quite intense isn’t it?

I have been reassured to hear other people are struggling with this strange groggy bug thing. I hope it dodges you all!

@JoJo36 we live by the sea so get extra wind 🤣. My sister lives right on a cliff and sometimes you can’t even open your car door when you visit! I don’t know how she does it!

It looks like a lovely day today, now the Easter weekend is finished 🙈.

How is everyone getting on? I think I’m getting there as I have a party to go to tonight and I’m not dreading it 🤣🎉.