is this normal?

[sticky_honey87]

I'm probably going to be wasting peoples' time by posting this, and probably sound like a broken record. I don't feel depressed, which is why I'm staying away from the Mental Health boards, but for the past few years I have dreaded the month of February, and I just can't see to get away from feeling low. There are positives in my life, and I'm starting to look ay Zumba/Yoga classes to help give me another focus, widen my social circle, improve well being etc. I would say that I started to feel more at peace last year with regards to my Dad, but at the moment if I'm doing something that distracts me, I feel ok, and when I start to think about my Dad/his anniversary I feel low. I also feel that my general confidence is affected and I'm worried that I'll make a mistake or that the positives in my life will be taken away. I'm not really sure what I'm asking. Maybe that to know that it's not abnormal for things to feel worse at certain times.

Thanks for reading x.

[cheeky_biscuit]

sounds perfectly normal to me.

[mrsdunny207]

normal and understandable I would think.

My friend has issues with the month her Dad died and I think most people struggle with anniversary days / months etc.

Sounds like you are dealing with things and keeping your focus

x

[Helski]

I find February hard going to be honest.

I have absolutely no reason to feel like this (no sad anniversaries etc) but ever since secondary school I have this dread of Feb.

I doesn't stop me doing anything and I don't feel the need to 'do' anything about it other than recognise it and let it pass.

For me I think it's just wanting winter to end, Christmas is over, my birthday & lots of other family birthdays are in Jan so that kinda fills up Jan with parties and positivity and Feb is just a bit flat. It's still cold and dark and feels a bit like hard work.

Tell you one thing I do love about Feb, Pancake Day!

[bisy backson]

it sounds like a hard month for you but i think that you've done well to recognise it and admit that you find it hard.

Do you feel better once its over? are you able to focus on that, and make small steps to get through the month in the least painful way possible, but also recognising its ok to feel sad, to cry, to let other people know that you feel bad, and then know that eventually, this too will pass.

sending you lots of love
bb
xx

[helpimfalling]

I think that's really normal it would be unusual with you didn't!
And exercise will be really good just throw your self into it! I started gym last year when I was going through a hard time it made me really good independent focused and widened my social circle
Good luck with all xx

[sticky_honey87]

Thank you for your replies. I'm glad to know that what I'm feeling is normal. Today was a struggle, I felt really low and couldn't keep my mind off things. Usually work is a distraction, but not today :o( maybe tomorrow wont be as bad.I know how awful this sounds, but it would be far easier if I didn't care, which probably makes me sound like a bad daughter....

[LibertyGal72]

Ah, SH, don't be so hard on yourself. It is normal. I struggle with the run up to Christmas for various reasons. Tbh the last year or so have been a little easier than maybe the past 30 have been.

I won't bother with the why's and wherefores, but once I recognised it I didn't feel the need to 'do' anything about it other than let it pass. I think friends around me recognised the dip in mood around the time long before I did actually. I simply needed to allow myself to feel that way.

Sending squishy hugs to help you through

[sticky_honey87]

I think that I try to fight how I'm feeling, because I'm worried that others will tell me that I need to move on, it's been 4 years, I should be over it by now etc. I also try to focus on the positives most of the time, but there's a clash between positives and negatives at the moment. Maybe it would be easier to let myself feel how I'm going to feel for now.....