Community discussion: Mid-winter check-in

Cold… this time of year definitely affects my mood and energy, especially living in the Northeast… I feel better in the nice weather

I feel a little flared up. Im currently on my cycle and when that happens my OCD flares up a lot. So I end up overthinking a lot and i end up feeling antsy. So I just feel like that right now. But im pushing through it

Ive been more low level anxious and easily overwhelmed. The cold here in MN sucks. I’m trying to get into routines for time for myself after a lot of transitions this year which are all OCD provoking too. I may never not have anxious or intrusive feelings and thoughts but I can handle them. I am showing up.

It makes my spirals worse because one of the things I like to do is go outside for a walk and it’s just too cold

Definitely some seasonal depression kicking in... sucks to not be able to go out as much because of the cold... and too dark too early

I don’t know what is wrong but I have no friends

Suffering greatly.

Winter can be challenging. Too much time inside. Too much time with my thoughts. I try to go to the gym in my building and read. I'm trying to get used to feeling uncomfortable instead of fighting it but it's still hard to sit with. 😔

I am struggling. The intrusive thoughts are so loud and overpowering. I can’t think I can’t speak well. I’m angry all the time. I am desperate for even an ounce of relief.

I love the cooler weather and the cloudy mornings are peaceful to me. The anxiety, however, is off the charts though for a variety of reasons.

Over the last few years since I have been in recovery or remission I have noticed that winter is always the time where my general mood slumps and intrusive thoughts can be a little more frequent. I simply do my best to be ok with what's going on and understand it's my body and minds reaction to less activity, less sunlight, more cold, etc. I try to find ways to increase my mood like activities, time with family. General exercise is always a good mental boost. All in all I just try not to feed the beast.

Winter makes it harder for me to resist doing compulsions my thoughts just get so much worse

I feel like my brain is doing a lot of ruminating because I’m not as busy as I used to be… And it’s the middle of winter in Minnesota and of course everything else that’s happening. I need sun and outside. And the rumination to slow down.

Feeling down.

I’m feeling hopeful.

Feeling like I need support

May God help us fight our battles. Jesus loves y'all. John 3:16-17

Never posted anything about my life on here but it’s been nice seeing these aren’t things I’m facing alone, though I wouldn’t wish anyone suffering. But yes, I always expect it to get a little harder this time of year but this year it’s a bit more intense than I bargained for..I’ve been isolating, stuck in my head, having trouble eating to the point Im having to wear a glucose monitor, brain fog, and as much as I try to tune out whats happening in the world it’s getting to me. Mental health is making physical pain and health issues feel worse and the ocd that comes along with the health problems. I’m rounding out 2 years sober and second guessing what I could have done wrong to get back to this place. Once I feel I’m pulling out of it the smallest thing sets me backwards or at least I obsessively think that. I know with the cold and the stress that Im just having more moments than less of feeling so low. I feel really alone right now..

Detached

In the Northeast and it is FREEZING! Around lunch today it was 19 degrees. Honestly, I love winter! I really feel a change in my emotions now and I feel happier and more refreshed, along with being more relaxed after pulling myself outta the hole.

I just want sun and warmth. But the winter is a good opportunity to seek different and unique ways to engage in self care to make it easier to get through.

I lived in many locations from NY, AZ, NM, MT and back to AZ. I used to hate the heat and cold. Got control of my OCD and love all the seasons and what life has to offer now.

Been a rough two weeks, but so far this week seems to be improving! I usually get a slump around this time, so not totally unexpected, just tired and mentally worn down from resisting compulsions. Hoping it keeps getting better! Getting back to exercising after a bad cold and the holidays, so optimistic that will help too.

I feel like I’m on an inflatable raft in the middle of the ocean during a hurricane

Really crappy. Dealing with a huge OCD spike and I'm struggling to ride it out. Right now I haven't given in to my compulsion so I'm proud of that.

Feeling so off I struggle to define it. Constantly anxious. Energy so low I'm struggling just to eat, nevermind do life improving things. Doesn't help I think I had some food poisoning. Confused. Fearful.

The cold and working from home are two different demons when you have OCD. And the struggle of finding a new job in the corporate job market is another job in itself. Being home all the time even when I get out, gives me more time than I've ever had with my OCD. Hoping warmer weather brings a more fulfilling role!

Feel great 😃

Cold lol. But pretty good otherwise. I appreciate the check in

I’m in a lot of pain which my OCD takes as a sign we are dying

This time of the year affects me, and what is happening in the world is overwhelming right now. The acknowledgement of the state of the world made me feel better because it is a fact. Anyway, I went for a walk because it was crisp and sunny outside. Sunshine is pure magical golden dust dispersed in the air, and it makes me feel much better. I just baked empanadas after my first therapy session. And I have no plans for tonight, and I am relatively calm because I am now focusing on digestion. Hopefully, it will stay this way.

I don’t like winter. At all. The cold, the lack of outdoor activities available, work slows down so Cashflow drops. So I have a choice, feel like crap and complain about it, or take the high road, look at it from a distance almost as if I’m outside of the situational discomfort. I’m mostly good. Even with the circumstances, I’m mostly good. I really am. It’s almost surreal.

Depressed, anxiety, like no one loves me

Yes it most definitely does, the weather plays a huge factor in it.

My child has the flu, my contamination ocd is through the roof, it’s gonna snow and I will be stuck inside. I just want the sun and no sickness. 🌞

I can’t wait for the nice weather! It’s super cold in NY makes it hard on my mental health. I’m currently pregnant so I feel like all the hormones have flared my OCD as well… however I am really excited ❤️. Hope everyone is feeling okay as they can feel .. hugs.

I just started my classes today and honestly I’ve been struggling with a lot of overthinking and intrusive thoughts related to school and social situations.

Not well. Past few weeks have been a test of of my mental fortitude. I've either been too tense or too tired to get into old hobbies like creative writing.

I've always disliked winter anyways, but these last few months I've been working night shifts and I hate it. I never see the sun anymore, only on my commute to work and then I'm in a building for the rest of the day. It makes me feel like the world is so small and void of life. And on top of that, my OCD has attached itself to driving at night, so it's been hard for me to get myself to go home at night. I still manage to do it, but it feels like I'm fighting a lion every time lol. But here soon the sun will set later and later again :)

Anxiety and intrusive thoughts have been on me bad but I keep pressing forward. I know it’ll get better.

I’m feeling anxious because of an intrusive thought. I feel warm though because we have the heat turned up! I also feel loved because I’m snuggling with my cat. Overall, I’m hopeful for this year.

Cold 🥶 as well. Sometimes distant. But at least it's not burning hot. I had a concussion last summer, and with the super uncomfortable hot heat, I was almost always angry and agitated 😡😡

Feeling alright, MN is so cold that it gives me a good excuse to stay inside. Although I do need to challenge myself to get natural exposures. Feeling good, and getting married soon so just working on what I can.

It's getting better. The sun is shining more and its getting lighter out. But its still really busy and hard to exercise with winter weather so finding alternatives to outdoor walks is proving to be tricky

It's been a rough month and the cold and dark here in Michigan isn't helping. But I'm trying to stay positive and I'm at least on an upward trajectory instead of a downward one.

My blood pressure is a little high my wife is out of town. I’m a little worried

Tired

I think I’ve finally learned to rest, by hiding in the dark in my closet. So often when I’m picking my skin, what I’m trying to do is regulate, just not in a very helpful way. Now, if I start picking my skin, I can give myself sensory rest. Sometimes, it seems, BFRBs are really about unmet needs.

I just started up therapy again with a new therapist, and i had a whole idea of what i needed to share concerning what struggles i’ve had, what i want to work on, what’s been hard… and i pretty much ended up talking the entire time, quickly concentrating my life into a couple points. but at the end of my first appointment i felt almost stupid? like i was being too much or something. like maybe i came off wrong and doing something weird. im not sure why.

Absolutely. Has always affected me for the last +\-5 years. I’m feeling a bit cooped up and run down, but I’m participating in a step challenge to try and get my body moving and observing my surroundings.

I really don’t like the cold weather as it makes me hurt all over because of osteoarthritis in every joint and I have had several back surgeries, total knee replacement and a total shoulder replacement and also cervical spine surgery. I’m so ready for spring and warm weather. I feel like crap all the time.

New Jersey here! Extremely tired and lethargic. Always always in the winter. I also get bodyaches and this effects my health ocd because extreme fatigue can be a symptom many disorders and diseases:(

Seasonal depression and ocd has been kicking my butt!!! But just got my new prescription of mood stabilizers so here's to hoping they help!!!

Anxiety for me is usually at an all time high for me this time of year, as my main theme is contamination. But this year i’ve been managing a lot better! Definitely have my bad days still for sure though

Today I feel blah. For me I am good during the day but between like 4 pm to 8 pm I get in a slump for some reason. I don’t notice this happening necessarily as much when I am at work but does happen occasionally.

I sleep too much this time of year. Either I sleep too little at night and sleep all day or because I slept all day cuz it was cold and snuggled under blankets. I know I made my therapist mad. Missed two days in a row. Over slept. Cost me money too!

Yes, it does, but I’m weathering it better this year. Trying to do brief exercise 2-3 times a day. The biggest difference, though, is I’m telling myself it’s working. Even if I don’t know for you. It will work. Keeping the faith. I hope you will, too.

I'm doing pretty good

In the winter I tend to be more moody and sometimes don’t feel as positive as I normally do. I sometimes can feel down more and tend to be more negative about things.

Icd is a little bit worse than normal

Cold and flu season is always rough for me. I’m hoping for warmer days ahead where everyone around me isn’t sick

I truly believe this time of year affects mood because you’re indoors more and less likely to do activities outside which may help with distracting you.

Struggling. Very triggered. Cork isn't floating.

Yes to both! I NEED to be outside and being stuck in the house makes me very anxious and I can’t focus to be productive🥴

I’ve know for time now that winter is rough on me mood and energy wise. I always say everything slows down in winter. So it’s okay too for me to not do as much like in summer for example. Still I want to keep exercising so even if it’s not the usual strength training session and just a walk that’s good enough.

The cold can make me feel trapped and isolated if I have to stay inside all day. Then I glue my eyes to my phone all day which can depress and exhaust me. I like going outside to remind me that I'm a part of something bigger

Yeah but I don’t let it get me down we got this!

If I get stuck in the house absolutely. But if I can plan around the weather and the minimal sunlight and make the best I feel alright.

After reading some of these comments I feel a little bit at ease. I felt like my thoughts have been louder these days, which led to my anxiety being off the roof. My thoughts are telling me I’m regressing. I know that I have made a lot of progress but moments of feeling defeated I cave into the thoughts.

Tired as L. Coming off meds

My knee and back hurt unless I’m laying down with a heating pad. It’s easy to sleep too much, drinking moderately, self-pleasuring when I feel lonely. And then feeling guilt about having less boundaries with myself and paying poor attention to rumination.

Yuk!

Yes

Cold and feeling a lot of self-doubt. I am halfway through my first-year of teaching and am experiencing a lot of self doubt as we get results from mid-year benchmarking data…

The cold feels cleansing, sunny days feel disgusting and warmth makes me feel guilty, i prefer this season, im not handling this disgust, im not sure how ill do when it stops being cold

Same, lack of sleep, relationship stress all adds up

Oddly enough the winter isn’t my problem. But once April hits the seasonal amps up

Feeling very overwhelmed as my mind grapples with some kind of control over even when it is out of my control.

Biodanza saved my life !

actually feel a lot better during this time as opposed to hotter weather

I’ve had a relapse recently, which is disappointing. I also think all the dark days and rain may be affecting my mood.

Yes I often find this time of year to be hard; particularly after the holidays! I struggle with a lot of anxiety about being too cold and actually have Reynaud’s Syndrome so this time of year makes it difficult to go outside. Because of this I feel like I move less and do less social things. It can feel isolating and lonely and of course make my ocd and anxiety that much more pronounced.

Well I’m shy n don’t really know how to express my feelings n emotions but right now I feel tired n I didn’t even do much today at all…

It's never bothered me until this year. Idk what it is, but my mood and energy are definitely off.

Yes especially as a teacher. I’m drowning because there are expectations, requirements & I’m treading water to get everything complete and get through my check list but it literally never ends

I love the snow and cold during November and December when it's Christmas but after that I desire summer again. I feel winter can actually make my OCD feel worse than it does in the summer because in the winter I stay indoors more and my mind wanders

Sending hope and love

Not a problem for me as 1. Its summer in Australia and 2. Winter is my preferred season anyway.

Definitely. More darkneess and the cold.

Yes winter blues are real waiting for the longer days and sunshine.

Winter is the best time of year, I'm doing great honestly.

Not really, but breaks from school gives me too much time to start to stress. So I guess summer, winter, and fall breaks stress me out.❄️🍁☀️

For me, the winter has high highs, but some low lows...

Definitely! I hate winter with all its unpredictable gloomy, freezing, rainy days. I dislike any & all darkness.

Honestly I used to think it didn’t, but over the past few years I’ve definitely noticed it more. Once the holidays are over, things can sometimes feel a little slow and bleak until the spring.

Winter is so hard when the holidays are gone for me. I hate the cold and it makes me feel a bit stuck. February is the worst month too!