Dreading Xmas and Winter

[Blockster]

So tomorrow is the 1st of December so only 20 days until the shortest day then we can say we are turning back to the light. I'll keep telling myself that anyway!

 

[Gym&Tonic]

It's the lack of sunlight that doesn't help. It's so gloomy here in the south east

Same here! I can handle the cold but what I can’t handle is the lack of light.

 

[Blockster]

It's the lack of sunlight that doesn't help. It's so gloomy here in the south east

 

[Kat5998]

I really do not have the mental capacity to care about Christmas yet again, it comes around so quickly each year and I dread the festive season so much, it’s like you have to pretend you’re happy throughout.

I suffer with agoraphobia, and it’s even worse in the winter because I’m like “why would I even want to go out in the cold?”

 

[ElChanguito]

All this rain, I really feel like I’ve been buried alive now! Wake me up in March, someone!

 

[ForeverMakingJibesWicked]

For some weird reason today I found out that sundown here in the Netherlands is at 6pm in Feb; felt instantly better.
Maybe I’m clutching at straws here (for another year) but January is actually my favourite month of the year because
- Christmas and Hogmanay nostalgia is out the way
- making plans for the new year
- days start to lengthen, think the sky won’t be pitch black now when kids go back to school
- next significant school holiday is Easter, when spring is here
---
Just as an addendum I know I sound like some
Pollyanna style optimist; we moved from Scotland to the Netherlands in October and one of the instrumental reasons was climate and light, we get an extra hour of light and even though the weather is rainy and shite 70% of the time here, the cold hits different here. Might explain why I didn’t start my usual hellish seasonal depression until the second week of December vs the usual last week of November.
So I might sound forcibly upbeat - but I moved country to get away from the gloom and cold of scotland at this time of year ‍

 

[Gym&Tonic]

I don’t hate Christmas but I do hate winter and the shorter dark days. I’ve noticed a dip in my mood this last week and my anxiety has increased even though I don’t have anything to be anxious about.

 

[zoominmoom]

Seeing all the Christmas stuff in the stores already, no idea why, but this year is giving me the rage.
Maybe it's an age thing, but I'm finding myself getting more and more annoyed at the commercialisation of everything.

And then it gets cold, rain and then ice. It's just crap

Yes! I actually really like Christmas but even I can't sustain Christmas excitement for 3/4 months. I'm just bored of it all by the 25th and think it would be more fun if Christmas bits were only available for a few weeks. Like you said, it just feels so commercialised now, and don't get me started on Easter eggs appearing in shops on the 26th Dec!
---

My least favourite day of the year is when the clocks go back.
I am an anxious person and winter just seems to make it worse.
I love the sunshine and being outdoors and I get nothing from being all cosy inside with a hot chocolate.
I haven’t got a lot of money at all in fact I’m skint but I’ve booked to go to Tenerife next month and it will be done on the cheap whilst I’m there.
Will go to the supermarket and eat on the balcony.
January and February are the pits absolutely nothing about them months that I like.
March the clocks go forward Yipee and I then hope and pray for a good summer.
I’m whining and should be grateful that I’m alive to live these shitty winter days and I am but I’m still going to whinge lol
Thank you for this thread xx

Jan and Feb are the shittest months! What's the point of them?! I'd like to be able to hibernate tbh, or failing that win the lottery so I can leave the UK for a few months each winter and live in California or something

 

[ForeverMakingJibesWicked]

Hello, just found this thread, I think I could have done with it a few weeks ago!

here’s how I’m getting through:

Winter Solstice
Christmas Day
New Year’s Day - pending
Back to work - pending
Start to see the days lengthen sometime around mid-Jan - pending

2/5 is making me feel better already (even if I’m dreading the next 2 weeks of zero childcare support and nutters throwing fireworks around NYE)
---

Only one week until the winter solstice and then the nights will start to draw out again! Once that is out of the way I always slowly start to feel better. The lack of daylight is absolutely killing me. I just want to hibernate

Oh and - hello you!

 

[zetta buttons]

I feel like we have to endure January. The weather is always bad up here. By the time February comes, we’ve done the hard part and even if there is a cold spell then, it won’t last (like that horrendous 2010/2011 winter).

Hoping for some sun tomorrow. These days just merge.

 

[Saddlesoap]

Definitely start taking vitamin d.
I use a SAD lamp daily too.

 

[Magentamarathon]

I also always feel a sense of hope and relief when the Creme Eggs start to appear in the supermarkets too, I’m not even joking

They've been in the petrol station down the street from my work for a couple of weeks. I may have tested some mini eggs!

 

[emerald]

For some weird reason today I found out that sundown here in the Netherlands is at 6pm in Feb; felt instantly better.
Maybe I’m clutching at straws here (for another year) but January is actually my favourite month of the year because
- Christmas and Hogmanay nostalgia is out the way
- making plans for the new year
- days start to lengthen, think the sky won’t be pitch black now when kids go back to school
- next significant school holiday is Easter, when spring is here
---
Just as an addendum I know I sound like some
Pollyanna style optimist; we moved from Scotland to the Netherlands in October and one of the instrumental reasons was climate and light, we get an extra hour of light and even though the weather is rainy and shite 70% of the time here, the cold hits different here. Might explain why I didn’t start my usual hellish seasonal depression until the second week of December vs the usual last week of November.
So I might sound forcibly upbeat - but I moved country to get away from the gloom and cold of scotland at this time of year ‍

I’m a fan of January too. I love the peace and quiet after the mania of December. I also like the feeling of motivation for new goals, even if it’s only really just a day on a calendar. The lengthening days. Yeah, January is sound.

 

[klarakluckbag]

My least favourite day of the year is when the clocks go back.
I am an anxious person and winter just seems to make it worse.
I love the sunshine and being outdoors and I get nothing from being all cosy inside with a hot chocolate.
I haven’t got a lot of money at all in fact I’m skint but I’ve booked to go to Tenerife next month and it will be done on the cheap whilst I’m there.
Will go to the supermarket and eat on the balcony.
January and February are the pits absolutely nothing about them months that I like.
March the clocks go forward Yipee and I then hope and pray for a good summer.
I’m whining and should be grateful that I’m alive to live these shitty winter days and I am but I’m still going to whinge lol
Thank you for this thread xx

Oh, I love Tenerife, I'd be quite happy just sitting at the foot of a volcano, with a bag of crisps and a bottle of water, soaking up the warmth of the sunshine.
We'd planned to go early next year but our old banger car developed a serious fault and so we had to replace it...holiday budget now gone .
Enjoy your sunny break, take your own teabags and Marmite (or whatever) to save money, and have a wonderful time!

 

[Mamacita]

I find it helps to see autumn and winter as a time of rest and relaxation, instead of just thinking of it as darkness and coldness closing in. Summer is all about being out and about doing things, but now you can slow down, sleep more, catch up on TV shows, movies or books, pamper yourself more, have long soaks in the bath, have soothing warm drinks, wear warm soft clothing, anything that makes you feel relaxed. And from December 21st winter solstice the days will no longer get darker, only lighter, even if you dread Christmas, that's something to look forward to around that time

It is a nice way of looking at it but that's why I don't like winter. I don't find hibernating at home relaxing, it just makes me feel meh. I should definitely live in a hot country

Agree with winter solstice and like someone said above, that's why i also think January and February are better than November as at least we're closer to nicer days

 

[Reality_tv_lover]

As soon as the daffodils come up its an instant uplift in my mood.

See February for me is vile. Two kids birthdays, valentine's day and next year pancake day all within like 3 days of each other. When march arrives I feel better

 

[zoominmoom]

How are we all getting on? Not long until the shortest day now and then it's practically spring

Does anyone resent their extended family at Christmas? Mine just expect to be invited to Boxing Day lunch every year but never bring any food or drink to contribute to the cost. They never help with the clearing up either. I feel I’m constantly waiting on everyone, getting them more drinks and food. I’ve been doing it for 20 years but this year myself and my husband have decided that we‘ve had enough and we aren’t going to do it. Not had the conversation with them yet - dreading it

Did you have the conversation? How did it go?

 

[JodieGreen123]

If you can wear them, defo try contacts for going out in the rain.

 

[yogiessexdubs]

I always think if insta huns can start getting excited for Christmas in July, I can start getting excited for spring/summer on Boxing Day. So happy spring everyone!

I just ordered two summer co-ord sets, what’s wrong with me!

 

[Cosmicquestions]

no chance of daily walks, does anyone else struggle with the rain and wearing glasses? My mind Is thinking in less than 2 months it will be the shortest day and light will return.

Yes! Going for a contact lens fitting for that reason… unlikely to wear them all the time but it would be good to have an option on a rainy day