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.

It's been great down south very mild and sunny. I haven't even got my lamp out yet but I think it will change soon

Sorry for those of you struggling. It feels so long until spring.

It’s not been tooo bad up north either but the dark nights are already dragging me down 🙁.

I'm just so cold all the time as well ..feel so down and can't get warm ..feel uncomfortable in the extra layers ,I'm much happier in a dress ,but can't wear tights ,so I feel restricted in jeans and jumpers and a coat , especially compared to all summer in a dress and bare legs.
I know that's not exactly SAD ,but it just all ads up .
I've upped the vit d and got the lamp out

@Fukcedoff you're autistic too right? I’m the same except I’m only comfortable in shorts or dresses with shorts underneath for work.

Skinny jeans are too tight, baggy jeans are too flappy, tights are just urghhh, scarves are too strangley… I could go on!

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding thanks that means a lot. I’m diagnosed adhd so I wonder if ND are more prone to SAD ?

Today a co-worker told me that she hates summer, and is so glad that it is grey and cold and that she is so looking forward to winter. She used words like cosy, snuggle, hot chocolate........ I wanted to scream and cry at the same time😡 😡 👊

@Bonden it’s looking like it based on this thread!

@lyingonthebeach urghhh I hope you got her told!

Yep .it's why I can't tolerate tights ..nasty thrushy things

Wow... I've missed so much. Also autistic 😂 probably ADHD as well but I'm way past needed any more diagnosis's.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I love the sound of your village. Poledancing and darts!

We had to go out for a birthday celebration a few nights ago. It ruined my whole day being in wait mode. I have no idea how I got through it. Still paying the price now I guess. Afterwards we had to go to a family members and it was so late and the kids needed to be in bed. I just kept tapping DH with my foot to indicate I needed to leave. But until he's ready, it's just a waiting game.

I've been trying to use my new lamps. Cor they are so bright. I can only do about 10 minutes with the pad one that I can't dim. The desk lamp one is great working at my desk and has a timer and is adjustable. Not sure it's making any difference yet tbh. Early days and I've been doing too much so I'm just a bit of a zombie at between work, kids and the house.

I can do baggy trousers because I find them comfortable but only if it's not breezy!

@mrsdiddlydoo gosh, that must be most of us on the thread then!

Why do we have to have wait mode, it really does ruin the day! It affects me at work too as I can’t focus if I have a meeting later on.

My village is pretty unique but pole dancing is in the nearest city (unless you count in my house!). My pole dancing is generally looked down on by the middle class mumsy PTA types but I don’t care, it’s so regulating!

Possible factors for why ND prefer summer -
fewer clothes to put on each day
reduced washing and drying load
summer clothes thinner and faster to dry so shorter drying cycles/fewer clothes strung up inside to dry
no socks to worry about
easier food to prepare - no simmering stewing or baking, just chop slice dice serve
less hot drinks so less faffing about with spoons and teabags and waiting for the kettle
legitimate sweet treats in icecreams
increased novelty and stimulation as more time outside seeing people and nature
increased exercise levels

That's the same as me ,I always make sure any doctor or dentist appointment is the first one of the day and going anywhere we are up and out as soon as possible ..I grind to a halt if I'm waiting for a 3 pm appointment

Also I was thinking about this last night ,how every single year I completely forget I have SAD and then end up doing an e consult to get help for what I think is depression starting..but that lead me to thinking ( when I was lying awake for hours not able to sleep) about what had helped in the past .
As soon as the nights get darker around 4/5 pm ,my body starts shutting down for sleep ,it actually thinks it's the middle of the night and I'm exhausted.
But I found cutting down on carbs and calories really helped.im currently dieting and I'm definitely noticing that I'm not as desperate to sleep at 5 pm as I have been in past years .last year I was dieting to ,and it definitely made a difference.
I suppose it only helps ,if people actually have weight to loose ..so not a long term solution sadly

@Bonden nailed it!

Socks are the bane of my life. I hate them but get cold feet so love summer and not needing any. Then we have one child who gives me sock angst... The seams feel funny/are wrong /hurting my feet... . And the other refuses to wear socks unless completely and utterly really necessary which means there are balls of socks everywhere because they take them off as soon as they get home. And always put a clean pair on even if they only wore the last pair for about 2 minutes. 😂

@Fukcedoff we had a school trip meeting tonight at 5pm. 5pm! I've tried really hard to keep myself going today and staying active to try not to just be waiting for it but my brain had other ideas. I much prefer to get things done early in the day then I can sit on the sofa and stare at a spot on the wall to recover!

As soon as it's dark I want my pj's on and to stop because my brain and body automatically thinks it must be bed time.

It's a rush for me to get everything done before it gets dark ,as I'm past it by then

I’m the opposite, I have socks on at all times, even in the height of summer 😂. I love socks!

I was woken up at half 6 by puppy claws in my face and thought it was Saturday 😭😭. I have so much to do today for work and I’m reaching the end of my tether with it, no that’s a lie, I’m well past the end of my tether 😭😭.

Can I join? 🥰

I’m like two different people across the year. In the spring/summer months I’m motivated, positive, driven, stress free.
In the winter months I do get a bit down but SAD affects me more in terms of me getting more stressed and anxious and feeling like I can’t cope with anything.

As an example, a promotion opportunity came up at work back in January. I didn’t go for it as my mind told me I’d get too stressed, couldn’t cope etc. Fast forward to June and the job came up again as the external person who took the job didn’t work out. I went for it as I was in my positive summer mind frame and got the job, was fine in the summer and now in October I’m regretting it, stressed, anxious and don’t want to do it.

I need to dig out my SAD lamp and see if it helps.

@Kazzaa46 of course! I’m like 2 different people too, it’s like some sort of long term bipolar. In fact maybe it should be, then people would take it more seriously! I’ve told my doctor numerous times about my struggles in winter but I’m still only diagnosed with regular depression. And I feel embarrassed to mention SAD because it’s such an unfortunate acronym 🙈.

I’m the same with work, I have some really important deadlines coming up but I honestly think I should be off sick 😭.

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding I relate so much. Would love to just go off sick and hibernate until April!

@Idstillratherbepaddleboarding @Kazzaa46

I totally agree. I feel like two different people. Not just between seasons but also, depending on brightness etc, in the same day.

I'd also like to hibernate, but only if I knew we would have a good summer. This year was grand but the two before had me crying 😢 and searching for last minute sun breaks and easily sourced antidepressants.

Raaaaggggghhhhh!

I woke up at 7am. It was so dark. It's still darkish and horrid. I feel so depressed 😔 and have no desire or energy for the day.

I'm the same @lyingonthebeach. It's pouring with rain and miserable. I feel awful.

@Idontknowhatnametochoose

hideous, isn't it? I've given up and am now in bed with tea, cake and some 2nd hand sun with Elvis in Blue Hawaii

I had to pop to the shops earlier for some bits and I felt so hopeless. Got in the car and just sat there for 10 minutes feeling like I wanted to cry. This is actually the worst I’ve had it I think.

I’m taking vitamin D, working out regularly but neither are helping.
I work from home and am going to try my SAD lamp in the morning.

Big hugs to everyone else experiencing this, it’s awful x

@Kazzaa46 same here, it’s definitely the worst and earliest it’s been. I feel like I’ve got a headache behind my eyes from straining to get light in, feel sick and like I’m having to make a conscious effort just to breathe 😭.

I had just had to pick DS up from the gym and its so grey, rainy and dark plus the traffic was insane.