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 am prone to migraines so I am treading carefully. And I had read about building up your time with them. Thanks for all the tips!

I've just eaten the best jacket potato ever and now feel like a human jacket potato 😝

I was forgetting to take my vitamins too but I’m setting a reminder on Alexa now. I’m thinking of trying 5- htp too, which can apparently help boost serotonin levels.

Honestly, I’d listen to it and then instantly forget 🙈🙈.

I’ve looked in to 5-HTP and it sounds good but would interact with my Sertraline. Worth a try if you’re not on antidepressants though.

Yes I’m not on anything else so I really want to give it a go. I’m also going to try prebiotics, there seem to be so many benefits to improving gut health, I’m wondering if it could help mental health 🤔

I started 5-HTP a week ago. I hope it helps. Let's compare notes

Hello ,may I join .
I've been having an awful week ,not knowing why I'm suddenly struggling so much ,and I feel like someone has thrown a blanket over me .
I reckon it's my SAD ,I get it every year ,and every year I forget I get it ,and I have a really bad week untill I get my lamp out .
Oh my goodness it's 4 pm ,and I feel like I should be in bed

Just saw about 5HTP ..I've got some of that stashed away ..I just forget to take stuff ..will get it out and take some

@Fukcedoff of course you’re welcome! I feel the same. I have to go out (again) tonight and I’ve been dreading it all day 😭.

Ok sorry to post again but does anyone have any tips on how I can psych myself up to go out tonight?? Right now I can’t do it. It’s a darts night at the village hall so I’m going to really need to dig deep for this one!

I’m only going as DH will be upset if I don’t as he’s been away all week but he doesn’t get that what’s fun for him is definitely not necessarily fun for me.

I wouldn't enjoy that either @Idstillratherbepaddleboarding . I guess all that would help is to see it as a distraction from the dark evening. But I'd rather be at home for sure!

@Fukcedoff welcome and sorry to hear you're struggling. You're definitely not alone. I hope the supplements help.

@Idontknowhatnametochoose the thing is if I wasn’t going there I’d be doing my pole dancing now as per my usual routine (which is part of the problem as I’m autistic and do not like my pole dancing routine being disrupted). I really should just say no but I can’t be arsed with people trying to convince me either!

Oh god and I’ve just remembered someone made me promise I’d play tonight too! I don’t even know how to 😂.

Nightmare! I'm autistic too plus have a chronic illness so I understand not wanting your routine changed. You might enjoy playing though- you never know!

It wasn’t too bad to be fair once I got there (as always!). My friend brought her American friend and DS has a good chat own her about politics, I love listening to him chatting away to adults! I did play and won 2 games and scored 2 bullseyes (completely by accident for both). Everyone that was there was having interesting conversations not just annoying small talk.

Another autistic trait though is that when I want to go, I want to go and DH always drags it out for far too long. We’ve only just got home!

Hope it went ok ..was going to give suggestions but then realised your home and dry by now

Thankyou ..
I am not a winter person,I am already so cold and dreading the next few months.i just love a dress ,I'm so comfortable in a dress in summer ,which I can't wear in winter because my legs get cold ,can't cope with the feeling of tights .
So I'm miserable as well because I'm uncomfortable.
I've used my sad lamp for years ,..every single year I end up getting caught out ,not knowing why I feel so bad ,then remember oh it's October ,less light ,need my light box .

I'm diagnosed autistic to x have ADHD assessment soon
Pole dancing sounds fun,you must be very fit to do that

I'm exactly the same ,about when I need to leave ..it's why I haven't been to my in-laws house in a year , because my husband just sits there and doesn't get up when I've packed the car ready to leave ,and I'm getting more and more stressed and he just sits there ..
So I can't cope with going because I can't control when we leave ,and end up sitting in the car for an hour 😩.
But that means no one else has been ,as my husband won't go without me ..god knows why

3 of us autistic
And with SAD
Wonder if there is a link
I have OCD and alexithiyma and dyslexia and autism and waiting for ADHD asessment

@Fukcedoff quite possibly, there are links to lots of conditions and autism that I think are only just being talked about!

Pole dancing is sooo much fun! It’s my absolute obsession. Tonight I have to go out again to help out at the village hall again and this time I know I am not going to enjoy myself. And it means no pole dancing again as I know I could do it this afternoon but I do my pole dancing at 7pm 😂. There is some logic to this as it means I can have a shower and put my pjs on after. If I do it this afternoon, I’ll have to have a shower and get redressed and I don’t like to put worn clothes back on, I’m have to redo my make up and fix my hair and it feels like too much. But if I don’t, I’ll feel angsty all night.

My husband is the same, it’s time to leave so let’s just leave!

Gosh you are very community minded ,you do a lot of helping out ,it's very good of you

@Fukcedoff it’s mostly DH TBH, he’s obsessssed! I just get dragged along. We live in a teeny village with one pub so we kind of have to make our own fun 😂.

I hate the autumn. Now I’ve got a fucking cold, my cat is peeing in the house because he is too genteel to wee in the wet, and life feels unbearable. 😭

@Bonden it really is unbearable isn’t it and it’s only October. I don’t see how I’m going to make it to spring, I feel like I’m teetering on the very edge of a breakdown 😭. I’m sorry you’re not well and your cat is being a pain 🙁. Luckily my puppy is loving autumn and he does look so pretty in the autumn colours as he’s fox red so that’s something to enjoy.

Grey and grim 😰. I feel sick at the thought of months of this 😩