November depressing month?

Balmy days and moderate temperatures in late November are not great signs of the planet’s health, so, for me, not something to be cheerful about.

When we were young, no central heating and one coal fire in one room only, any warm days in October or November were a boon. When DD was married, over 20 years ago, a balmy November day was a great blessing. I’m glad we didn’t have to think about the damage it was doing back then, but maybe we should have.

Not for me! Love colours, coziness, promise of Christmas and all the fun and glitter around. I am more depressed moving into January/February when there is nothing to look for and spring is still far away

Love November as our Op and Dram production is beginning of month (we ended our week run of 'The Wind in the Willows' (Musical) at the weekend, I'm choreographer for the society. Back to Rainbows and Guides this week, they start getting excited this month as many are practicing for Christmas concerts and Nativities.

I’m always depressed and often ill in February. Can’t wait for the first bulbs to start coming through, and warmer weather.

Nope, my birthday is at the start, we've had warm, sunny days, OK and rain, still lots of colour in the garden and beautiful leaves, lovely starry nights, social events starting and fewer cars on the A55 when I go to the beach for a walk, oh and the snow buntings and other birds are back.

I like November and find it peaceful and this year quite beautiful with lovely skies and late autumn colour. I'm another one who doesn't like summer (but loves spring).

November is fine but I feel like this in January and February. I think it started when I realised January was the symbol of another year without my small son after he died and February is his birthday month. Couple this with dark days with not much to look forward to and I find those two months pretty hard. March and the promise of its nearly spring and I start to perk up. Dec is fine as I do like Christmas with my family very much .

@Blossoming, l always think of that poem in November. It is definitely my least favourite month of the year. The nights are getting longer and the weather is generally abysmal. Today is a case in point - grey skies and torrential rain plus it is cold. I think it is the relentless grey skies at this time of year that make it feel so depressing. I have actually bought a light box to try and counter this. When December arrives, I feel so much better - it probably helps that my birthday is at the beginning of the month as well as it being Christmas. I am usually involved in the music in a great way too.

Yes, I think November is miserable too. Probably a lot to do with leaves dying on the trees but not all falling as yet. Having to walk through the ones that have fell but are wet and slippery. Once the trees are bare and, hopefully, the fallen leaves have either rotted away or blown away in windy weather and when the rain goes away, leaving crisp dry or frosty weather, we'll probably lighten up then.

💐*TwiceAsNice*. I am sorry Winter has such a sad memory to go with everything else.

My birthday is towards the end of November, so I am sure you will understand when I say I have loved November all my life.

After my birthday, the fun of Christmas preparations starts - and I love Christmas.

I find January and February depressing.

It takes all sorts to make a world, doesn't it?

I find January and February depressing

Me too, Grandtante, well February in particular.

We've got birthdays in November, December and early January.

It was certainly very gloomy here earlier - absolutely chucking it down all morning, but the sun did come out later, still nice now. I drove in driving rain to the garden centre for some well overdue winter pansies and cyclamen to cheer up my pots.
Garden centre was overflowing with Christmas stuff - I was tempted only by this lovely corny Advent calendar - for me!

What was more depressing, with all this rain, is reading that some reservoir levels are continuing to drop.
🌧

Lovely Advent calendar Witzend!

I agree with everyone who likes November and the build up to Christmas. There is colour everywhere, the leaves, some days with bright blue skies, a pile of satsumas at the greengrocer. And we have two family birthdays this month.
I've never liked January or February, so cold and miserable, with all the celebrations over. Except for the birth of my son in January, but now he is no longer with us, so it's just sad. sad ,sad.Then I can't wait for Spring to arrive.

I think how you think about something determines what you see in it.

For instance, here is a photo of all the beautiful things I saw on my dog walk at lunchtime today. Yes, we timed it just right because it rained when we got in- but the sun was there and it was warm and lovely.

In the summer I found it hard having to get up so early to walk the dog before it became oppressively hot, so I love midday walks this time of year when the sun is at it's best. There are good and bad things about every season, really.

We had a glorious week away in Northumberland last week and the weather was almost perfect . Today it has rained continuously and on our walk we were soaked to our knickers! November is totally unpredictable! I hate the darkness of it all and I have to really force myself to get out of the house. This was Warkworth beach !

"I don't mean to be rude, want to explode the myth of "november" being a depressing month. Any month is depressing if you are depressed, but there are always ways you can reframe that experience and improve your MH. I choose to see the good in each day and to celebrate the small joys, whatever they may be."

Well meant, I'm sure, but the last thing a depressed person needs to hear is "buck up and just reframe yourself". Seasonal Affective Disorder is real and affects many people, who can't just "choose" to be happy.

Oooh the beach looks lovely Susieq62

I admit that I had to force myself to go out today, but I always feel it's been worth it when I do even if I get wet.

I have two big birthdays in the first two weeks of November. Then it’s a lull, the calm before the storm of busy- that is Christmas. I understand what you mean. It’s almost as though time stands still. The sameness of nature and time, day in and out. Then suddenly it’s almost too bright, too busy, too much of everything.

December is my depressing month
I hate Christmas
Bar humbug me
I just come along for the ride
I love Autumn blowing away my cobwebs

I have really struggled over the past few weeks so it's good to know I am not alone.

I am lighting candles and using Neal's Yard Energy remedy to roll. Helpful to a point, but some days the gloom doesn't lift.

It's my Mum's 42nd anniversary soon, closely followed by my brother's.

I suppose all we can do is fight the gloom as best we can and make sure we are taking care of ourselves well.

@Argymargy Yes well, I didn't say buck up at any point did I? What I have said is that there are good and bad things in every season. I know that Seasonal Affective disorder exists, which is why it's important to get out for a lunchtime walk for myself and others. Choosing to make the most of what is a darker time of year. Perhaps if I did not have a dog to take for walks I would moulder under a blanket and miss out on the lovely things I saw? Dogs know how to enjoy themselves, at least.