Winter blues do affect my very being.

[secrets22]

The cold, rain, the darkness, and for some people the snow often makes life unbearable.

I seem to struggle far more during the winter with my depression, it bears down on me with a heavy hand and I struggle to get anything done, I meander through the daily chores, not knowing what i want to eat and then cooking a meal only to find i waste most of it, although most isn't wasted because i have dogs. Some times its easier to open a can of hearty soup with toast than faffing around with cooking a full meal. Even the birds seem fed up with so much food I put out and usually they clear the bird table in no time but over Christmas and New Year they are leaving a great deal.

As i feel right now i wouldn't care if i ever went out again, I would rather snuggle down wearing my onesie all day and try to dismiss all the work that needs to be done.

In short, I want to simplify my life in 2024 and have less responsibility.

[Thankfulforhelp22]

I cannot claim that my winter blues are as bad as yours, but I feel you. Less light does not help me at all. I used to wish I could live somewhere where they don't have winter. I hate feeling sluggish and unmotivated, which is a problem sometimes anyway but worse in winter.

Anytime there is a sunny winter day that is not too cold, I try to get outdoors and let the sun shine on me and my brain.

Hope you feel better.

[Turnipgirl]

That's the good thing about having dogs is that nothing gets wasted as they eat anything!

Perhaps plan some nice long walks for you and the dogs to look forward to?

I got fed up last Friday over a packed lunch and what it represented and I had a think of how packing my own food to places would benefit me such as not having to stand in line as well as saving money as well.

This morning I enjoyed a nice morning walk out early which helped lift my mood and when I came back I thought I will be better able to cope with anything that gets thrown at me but everything was fine and there was no reason to feel frightened and uptight over things and the washing is up to date and dried outside and put away which is a great job done.

[secrets22 in reply to Turnipgirl]

I actually never walk my dogs because i have a one acre garden for them to roam in ,and when i did walk them i became very anxious because of so many large dogs running free, my dogs are tiny and i fear for them being attacked, so many dog owners never have their dogs on a leash and some are very aggressive .

[Audiomarc1]

Hi Secrets22. Yes I abhor the winter. Light deprivation is a major contributor to our depression and anxiety. It just snowed all day long this weekend. I didn't leave the house. I played cell phone games, watched TV, slept and was miserable all day. I'm still miserable today. And I'm back to the same weekend routine. It's like being stuck in mud and no way out 😞. I play with my cats and wait for my weekly therapist meeting. I do a telehehealth visit because I don't want to go out. It's a vicious circle for me. What do you think. Is this what happens to you as well.

[secrets22 in reply to Audiomarc1]

Yes Audiomarc.....its exactly how I feel ,i feel i am drowning in the mire.

[Mrspjsmom]

Winter is rough. I turn on the fireplace, burn scented candles and only go out if I have to. I also snuggle as much as I can with Molly and Oliver under warm throw blankets. It doesn't work for everyone but that's how I cope.

[Arymretep]

Hi there, I hope you don’t mind me saying this but do you think this could be a lone thing, not going out to work and not used to being at home all day, I know since my OH retired I have to push him to do things, and he would happily sit around all day on his computer, it’s I who has to say, do you fancy doing this or going here, and it seems the same with a lot of our friends of the same age, they need someone to push them.

[secrets22]

Yes i have huge windows for letting in the sun, but the sun has been missing for weeks.x

[secrets22]

hello Mandy ,yes its an effort to even get dressed to go out ,and i seem to spend all day in my onesie ,they are so warm and comforting.xx

[Audiomarc1 in reply to secrets22]

Hi Secrets22. The big thing I didn't mention was that I had hip surgery surgery just 3 weeks ago. So on top of being miserable and depressed I'm recovering from the surgery. I'm coming along pretty well but it'll take some time to get into a routine. Do you know anyone out there who has dealt with this issue. I'd love to talk with someone regarding what they did to get through the anxiety and depression caused by the winter and the surgery. I should have mentioned this to you earlier but I can't even think in a reasonable manner lately. Thanks for listening.

[secrets22 in reply to Audiomarc1]

Hey Audiomarc1....gosh that must be difficult coping with that kind of surgery and i do wish you well, i dont know anyone who's had hip surgery but i do know its very successful, but certainly for you it hasn't helped with depression. I just find this time of year so very depressing and i tend to just shut myself away which is not a good thing to do, but it is what it is, frankly i could so easily never go out again even though i am a people person. Anxiety causes so much grief. Take it easy my friend.

[Audiomarc1 in reply to secrets22]

Secrets22. Thanks so much for the kind words. Yeah hip replacement surgery is very successful especially if you do the daily PT that's required. It will be a month next week since the surgery and it's coming along steadily. I'm told by 3 months you're out and about driving, etc. My wife takes me out for rides every so often to get me out of the house. When you don't want to leave the house it's easy, but when you can't it's a real downer. Please keep in touch. I so enjoy our chats. Best wishes.

[Turnipgirl in reply to secrets22]

The best part of my day is the evening and getting into my nightie and dressing gown!

[secrets22 in reply to Turnipgirl]

I concur, except i find myself living in my onesie all day lately, what a slouch 🤣😂

[Arymretep]

Yes it’s good we have each got someone to push and push us, keeps us going I’ve got to admit I’d rather stay in bed in the morning when it’s cold, I hate getting up, and when I do I tend not to dress until i have to lol.

Wait till the spring , they’ll be no stopping us then 👍x

My new shed will need painting after all the rain we’ve had for a start

It’s just started snowing here ❄️☃️🌫

[Arymretep]

Beautiful 😘xx

[Arymretep]

Yes, cheer us all up, it’s trying hard to snow here, and it’s freezing cold 🥶

[Audiomarc1]

Hi Secrets22. We had a horrible rain and wind storm last night. It kept me up the whole night. I'm absolutely exhausted. But it looks like your home situation is quite cozy. I had telehehealth session with my therapist this morning. I told him I didn't know if I could handle all this anxiety. My anxiety just took over the depression. I can't decide which is worse the depression or anxiety. Yes I owed a tax bill of $3..500 which squashed a planned vacation cruise. We never took that cruise thanks to Covid. Keep warm in your onesie and stay safe. My best to you

[secrets22 in reply to Audiomarc1]

hello Audiomarc....tell me about it, we have the most horrendous gales ,so much so it scares me, and i do live high on the cliff edge overlooking the Bristol Channel and the high winds are quite terrifying, so you to had a tax fright too, mine was £7,000.....urghhh.😭

[Audiomarc1 in reply to secrets22]

Hi Secrets22. Your view from home must be extraordinary. The wind however must be quite brutal where you live. Wow your tax problem was incredible. Quite expensive indeed. Mine was no where as bad as yours. I hope it didn't negatively affect you and your family too much. Talk to you soon. Stay safe and happy.

[Sunrisetabby]

Mood therapy/light therapy lamps were a game changer for me. I have two different small lamps that I bought on Amazon for ~$20 each and I definitely feel a significant mood boost from using them. I highly recommend trying them out/getting a second if you are already using them.

[secrets22 in reply to Sunrisetabby]

hello Sunrise i have 2 light therapy lamps and to be honest they have done nothing for me, i guess we are all different.

[Sunrisetabby in reply to secrets22]

That is frustrating, although I respectfully disagree that they have no inpact. To be fair, I acknowledge in my case the therapy lights could be the straw that breaks my camels back, and less a 2x4 to my head knocking some sense in me. I used to be an aspiring geologist, and I always lived the theory of punctuated equilibrium - the evolutionary theory that things don't usually change very much, but radical change often happens rapidly. The therapy lights are less effective than actual sunlight, but do certainly still help to cause a positive early morning cortisol spoke and get your circadian rhythm in synch. hubermanlab.com/newsletter/...

[Dolphin14 in reply to Sunrisetabby]

I love the lamp. I just bought it a month ago. On cloudy days my room is so bright it feels like the sun is shining.

🐬

[Audiomarc1 in reply to Sunrisetabby]

Hi. Are there different brands that are better than others. I would like to try one. I have heard good things about these helping to increase your mood. Thanks for telling us about this product.

[Sunrisetabby in reply to Audiomarc1]

I don't have any specific recommendations regarding brands - generic seems effective. Andrew Huberman just uses a large generic light sketch pad. Personally, I prefer the smaller ones that are powered by USB c, so that it is easy to use with no need to search for a cord and easy to put away not in use. I often shop on Amazon because it is easy to find reviews and buy returned products which I feel less bad about returning if they don't work for me.