#1 27-07-18 01:59:54

_hyperballad_

Member

Registered: 04-08-16

Posts: 556

Winter is a bastard

Morning lovers,

I am officially having my ass handed to me by Winter & I need all the loves you got!

Seriously though, what are the little things people do when they feel the S.A.Ds setting in? I'm already taking super high strength vitamin D drops & a handful of other supplements religiously but my mood along with my immune system has become perilously fragile. Funnily enough I think making lots of orgasmic erotica, along with my amazing BodySex experience really helped keep this seasonal depression at bay this year. Usually I'm seriously struggling by the end of June but this year I've been staying mostly on top of this shit til the last week really. Last year I got so sick for so long I dislocated my ribs from coughing, I spent soooo much time in bed utterly miserable so I'm definitely doing much better physically this year, but I've still picked up a shitty virus & my motivation levels are below zero...

So tell me! What do YOU do to stave off the Winter funk? Or just depression in general? Doesn't have to be a grand gesture but I really need to up my self care & find new ways to trick my sun deprived soul into feeling good.

Don't forget to give me a cuddle on your way out too! <3

_hyperballad_

Member

Registered: 04-08-16

Posts: 556

Re: Winter is a bastard

I'm actually planning/hoping I can return to the US next June to get my BodySex accreditation & then go off wherever I like travelling in an RV for a month or 2.

With the added bonus of escaping a solid chunk of the Melbs Winter!

Last edited by _hyperballad_ (27-07-18 02:01:30)

viva

pretty pretty princess

Registered: 14-05-10

Posts: 4,113

Website

Re: Winter is a bastard

I have been avoiding winter since 2015 - only had one in all that time, and spent even a March-y month of that summering in Melbourne.  It's about to be Autumn here in USA and, true to my general pattern, I'm heading back to Aus in a week to get just a little touch of winter vibes before it begins to Spring.

I feel the frantic energy of summer can be exhausting when it's your entire life and I actually long for a winter where I have a home and don't have to go anywhere and I can go inside and be safe... but, homes will come when they will and, I suppose Winter is always romantic when life is eternal summer.

I didn't used to cope though, I just used to hate it! In the beginning, it's fun but towards the end it's interminable. Being short, I hate wearing all those clothes and feeling like an immobile fluff. And being cold all the time. I found it easier when single, because I could really get internal just me alone in my room, and I reckon that's what winters sort of all about.

I think the thing that helped me the most was that I don't drive, so getting to work during that one winter in Portland meant a lot of walking outdoors despite the rain and temperatures. That helped me feel more like I was on an adventure, rather than being trapped inside, and helped me get exercise, which, unfortunately, really helps. I say unfortunately because it feels like in summer excercise just happens naturally, life is a whirlwind and there's always so much going on. But in Winter you have to try really hard to figure out an excuse to get active...

another thing that helps is commitment to "hygge"! That's the Swedish - I think - word for 'creating an intentional atmosphere. Putting effort into making things cozy and nice as part of your regular routine helps give warmth and structure. Like lighting lots of candles, using your favourite cups, wearing fuzzy socks and just making your regular downtime into "moments".

Journalling, a stack of books to read.... maybe practicing an instrument or getting good at something else you have interest in... I think all these things increase happy hormones and distract from the sad ones...

but, it's all really easier said than done. SAD is the worst, but Winter is almost over! so so soon you will feel those first gorgeous sunrays of Spring. sending you love and cuddles <3 <3

Piper_A

Member

Registered: 26-03-18

Posts: 83

Re: Winter is a bastard

Ohh love! I totally feel this. Seasonal depression on top of depression-depression is something a few people I know suffer from, myself included!
I love a good self-care thread. Often people have ideas you may never consider yourself. So I'm gonna be lurking this thread like heck to see if I can steal some ideas because I actually don't have that many.
A few lil things that seem to help me when I am really struggling, particularly with seasonal depression:
-A dedicated 20 mins or so where I just lay in bed with heavy blankets, phone-free, in the dark, to think. Not too long or my mood tends to spiral. Just enough to rest my brain.
-Finding a place outdoors, away from hustle and bustle, with a nice view, where I can sit (again wrapped in blankets) to watch the world. My nanna has a beautiful balcony where you can see the city perfectly but there's a big park behind her so it's nice and quiet.
-Being outdoors at night time. Maybe I'm meant to be nocturnal? Who knows. Something about being outside when it's still and quiet and there's no bright light to overstimulate my eyeballs - I find it really soothing. Again - blankets! Always blankets!
-Have a good cry. As often as you need it. At home, at work, on public transport, in the car. Cry when you gotta. Get it all out.
-Clean your space. It's a little ritual type thing for me - I don't do it as often as I should haha, but when I do clean my home I feel like I am sweeping away the negative energy that has accumulated there. Being depressed stops me from keeping on top of stuff so my house gets messy and by getting rid of the mess I almost feel like I am just throwing away all of the sadness that has built up.

Of course, most of these things depend on having the emotional and physical energy to get out and cope with the world - you gotta take things at your own pace always.
I love you bigtime - I hope you feel okay soon <3 <3 <3

Rose_P

Member

Registered: 02-06-17

Posts: 14

Re: Winter is a bastard

I find that sleeping for as long as I possibly can always helps me through the winter blues.
As soon as I get home from work/socialising I tend to have my dinner and get straight into bed. I've been asleep by 9pm most evenings, and then I sleep in as long as I can before I work the next day. It's not all that productive, but I find that treating myself to an extra 3-4 hours sleep a night really helps boost my energy throughout the day during winter.
I also avoid putting any extra pressure on myself in winter so I can allow myself the extra down time. Keep that schedule nice and light

S.A.D. is a merciless mother bitch that needs to be addressed more often. It sends people into such spirals of despair and mania with no reasoning behind it other than "I just feel fuckin' awful." And that generally results in depression being incorrectly diagnosed and treated.

At the end of the day, we all just need some D. I good dose of D. All up in our crevices. D.

Giovani

Member

Registered: 08-10-17

Posts: 30

Re: Winter is a bastard

I make a concoction that consists of thinly sliced lemons, peel and all (just remove the seeds), shredded ginger, crumble up a  portion of a cinnamon stick and few crushed cloves. Put that all in a jar and then top it off with honey. let it sit overnight. Add that to your tea or just eat a spoonful of it daily. Should help the cough.

viva

pretty pretty princess

Registered: 14-05-10

Posts: 4,113

Website

Re: Winter is a bastard

I have sunshine all day long and I still need some serious D ffs #singlegirlproblems

viva

pretty pretty princess

Registered: 14-05-10

Posts: 4,113

Website

Re: Winter is a bastard

hyperB, hows your sads?

I'm moving back to Aus next week, goodbye wet hot American summer! But I'm going somewhere tropical-ish so it will probably be warmer than where you are...

_hyperballad_

Member

Registered: 04-08-16

Posts: 556

Re: Winter is a bastard

I'm actually doing SO much better. There's been a few days of sunshine, I upped my Vit D dosage & have mostly been waking up feeling good, which is very nice & very welcome.

Thank you to everyone who responded, I've cherry picked from your tactics & managed to pull myself back from the plateau of 'not depressed, but not great & could easily decline into full blown depression'.

I actually spent a whole afternoon into the evening making stock for a market stall I have coming up in a few months yesterday. Room in my head to action creativity is brilliant. I can actually *feel* the motivation moving from my brain down into my body, it's wonderful & powerful. Yassssss.

Again, thanks for the loves & for sharing your hot tips with me. I'm definitely getting there!

I can practically TASTE the approaching Spring

_hyperballad_

Member

Registered: 04-08-16

Posts: 556

Re: Winter is a bastard

hyperB, hows your sads?

I'm moving back to Aus next week, goodbye wet hot American summer! But I'm going somewhere tropical-ish so it will probably be warmer than where you are...

Ooooooh, the tropics are good. I have a friend travelling North atm & she is so tanned & happy with her always warm van-life