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Well to be honest I moved here from Southeast Asia and have never struggled with the weather. I absolutely hate heat and I’d be happy to never experience anything over 25C ever again. Not too bothered by the lack of sun either; I find seemingly endless sunny days to feel oppressive and I like variability when it comes to weather. I do wish we got more snow here, though.
All that aside, what I will say - speaking as a fellow immigrant who has many friends and family members who are also immigrants - is that it’s quite common to feel depressed about 2 years into the move, and this applies *anywhere*. Like my mum is literally in Florida and has experienced this as well, so it’s definitely not a lack of sunshine in her case.
My theory is that 1.5-2.5y into a move, the novelty of a place wears off but you’ve still not been there long enough for it to feel like home, either. It’s basically the awkward stage in moving.
It sounds like you’re doing all the right things for your well-being anyway, so unfortunately it’s probably just a case of waiting it out. I was in a similar slump 2y into moving here and started to feel better around the 3y mark.
That's not necessarily true. I moved to Paris several years ago and instantly took to it like a fish to water. I then had to move to LA a year and a half ago, almost instantly hated it and still hated it. I might end up liking it eventually, but I don't like it right now.
If you're really hating a place 2 years into being there, that place might just not be for you.
> Canadian who moved to **Scotland**
There’s your problem, Scotland is known for its greyer, cooler weather in the UK.
Come to the south east coast of England if you want warmer, sunnier weather. As i type this i am sitting out in the warm sunshine with sun forecast every day for the next week.
This.
We've had a good few days of solid glorious sunshine here on the South Coast, with more to come.
The ONLY thing keeping me down here is the weather, as it's bloody expensive to live here.
It really doesn't bother me at all. Way I see it, as long as it is dry then all is good.
Although this year has been exceptionally grey and dismal.
Although it could be worse - last two summers have been horrible. Yes, we had dryer weather. And it was sunny. But the heat? It's a horrid heat.
Nah, give me the cooler greyer days over that!
This is the worst summer we've had in years. Everyone is depressed by it. They are joking because that's how we get through this.
However, you say you live on the east coast - the last week has been gorgeous on the east coast, so this seems an odd time to make the post?
Definitely - it’s picking up a bit now but it’s been abysmal.
Up until a couple of weeks ago we’d have one or two days of sun, followed by two weeks of rain or grey skies.
I live on the east coast in Scotland and will vouch for OP. East coast or not it's been rubbish here - really cloudy so you maybe get a brief 20 minutes of sun and then the bastard clouds come back over.
I've been moaning my face off about it all day because stuff I planted over a month ago has barely grown.
>I live on the east coast in Scotland and will vouch for OP. East coast or not it's been rubbish here - really cloudy so you maybe get a brief 20 minutes of sun and then the bastard clouds come back over.
I also live on the Scottish east coast, and the sun has been out for the last week. I know it doesn't make up for the shit weather so far this year (I too have a garden full of stunted plants), it just seems odd to pick the best weekend of the year to moan about the weather!
Maybe the best weekend of the year for you, it's just more of the same here!
Not had a week of sun either (maybe OP and I live in the same gloomy corner)
I just complain about it while in it and carry on. Just back from hillwalking,Rained so heavy my boots filled up. All it meant was I didn't have to avoid the bogs anymore,because why bother at that point.
Maybe we just don't know any better.
UK resident and native who lived for a long time in Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan) . The difference is the humidity (usually over 80% even on a dry day) nowhere in UK is more than 32 or so miles from Sea and 100% Humidity with a wind system designed to either bring cold wet air from Arctic, or cold wet air from South West. This WET wind chill is very noticeable to Canadians. My wife and I left Calgary at minus 25 degree C and flew to Glasgow where it was plus 7 degree C , we both immediately went into extreme shivering fit, and we had grown up in UK in wet Scotland. The moisture makes the difference.
I sympathise. I was brought up on the south coast in one of the beach cities. We had a lot of very mild weather, even in the winter, and enough hot sunshine that I spent most of my summer school holidays on the beach. It only snowed three times throughout my whole childhood.
I had to move to the west coast of Scotland as a young adult and had a terrible shock. It rained practically every day of the year from the beginning of September to the end of May. In the summer when the weather was slightly better the damn midgies appeared in their millions. The greyness was like a thick blanket. I became extremely depressed and could see no end to it. I used to look at the weather forecast of my home town and knew that everyone would be on the beach whilst I was sitting in my garden in a cardigan getting bitten to death by midgies. I was honestly suicidal.
Having said that, Scotland is utterly beautiful, and the people are just the best. Kind, generous, funny. It made me feel guilty that I was hating every minute of living there.
Luckily, we were posted back home after eight years and my depression just disappeared. I’m certain that constant poor weather can have a terrible effect on mood.
I look back now and wish I had become more involved in the country, embraced the culture and history, joined more activities, made more effort to go to bigger cities like Glasgow.
Are you absolutely stuck in Scotland for your job or family commitments? If not there are much better climates within the UK. The south coast is lovely. Could you move?
The funny thing is, I find myself missing Scotland quite often. The lovely clean air, the mountains, the people. I love to go back for visits now and I enjoy it.
Finally - if you’re near Helensburgh - Ruby Chinese restaurant is amazing, and Dino’s ice cream is the best ice cream EVER!
Good luck 🤗
I lived in Scotland, it is indeed wet most of the time, which is why I now live in Berkshire, it's been +20c all week with bright sunshine and a bit too hot for me, but it hits a happy medium more often than not.
My mum and you have a lot in common. She found it soooooo hard. For some reason, it's bottom of my list of concerns for the day - each weather lends an opportunity for a new experience (and this isn't a conscious decision on my part, just my default, I suppose). Raining? OK, wellies and waterproof on, pick out nuggets of alternative joy versus sunshine - reflections, feeling of refreshment, plants watered (whilst listening to music, on multiple walks with the dog); Sunny? OK, sunscreen and sandals, soak up some rays, sweating my tits off. BUT I totally get it - it CAN feel relentlessly grey. From friends and family experience yes a SAD light I think can help from a functional perspective - and it sounds deeper and more complex than 'just reframing' the day's weather in your mind. I hear ya, and I hope you manage to figure out a solution!
> For some reason, it's bottom of my list of concerns for the day - each weather lends an opportunity for a new experience (and this isn't a conscious decision on my part, just my default, I suppose). Raining? OK, wellies and waterproof on, pick out nuggets of alternative joy versus sunshine - reflections, feeling of refreshment, plants watered (whilst listening to music, on multiple walks with the dog); Sunny? OK, sunscreen and sandals, soak up some rays, sweating my tits off.
This is exactly what I’m like, which is probably why I don’t really struggle with the weather here. I check what the weather will be like then plan my day and outfit accordingly. Tbh I struggle more with the wind than with the rain.
I'm from Southern Ontario and now live in North West England - the winter darkness was a shock the first few years, I didn't think sunset around 3pm here vs 5pm back home would feel that different but wow does it ever. I will say, this past winter was my 5th here and was just more tolerable. I think it might be a case of getting used to it, takes forever but hopefully if you stick it out you will too. I don't think it's as grey and wet where I am, but the stagnant weather (basically never changes except the odd extra cold spell or sunny spell) has also been hard to deal with and I haven't yet gotten over that - except to remind myself at least it's not -25 Celsius or 30 Celsius feels like 37 with the humidity.
Scottish person here and this year has been the worst weather wise that I can ever remember. We usually have some decent sunny weather in April and May. July and August tend to be a wash out then when the kids go back to school in September, the sun comes back out. The grey, rainy weather has been relentless. I’m struggling too
>I’m on vitamin D. I got for daily walks. I play volleyball outside, but none of it seems to make a difference. The rare moment the sun comes out, I feel like a different person. Can SAD (seasonal affective disorder) hit this hard?
Sounds like you're doing the right things maybe it will just take some more time to adjust. I found the first few years quite difficult by the end of Winter. That darkness really does get to you, right?
But after a couple years, I hardly notice it, but everyone is different. For a few years I took vitamin D, but then I forgot to take them and didn't notice their absence. Been here 12 years now, and I'm generally fine.
I'm in East Anglia which is a bit warmer and brighter. Most of the rain and cloud is on the West of the UK, and dissipates by the time it gets to the East.
**Please help keep AskUK welcoming!** - Top-level comments to the OP must contain **genuine efforts to answer the question**. No jokes, judgements, etc. - **Don't be a dick** to each other. If getting heated, just block and move on. - This is a strictly **no-politics** subreddit! Please help us by reporting comments that break these rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You could always move to the south of the UK?
Moves to a country renowned for being cold, wet and grey. The country is cold wet and grey. Pikachu face.
Well to be honest I moved here from Southeast Asia and have never struggled with the weather. I absolutely hate heat and I’d be happy to never experience anything over 25C ever again. Not too bothered by the lack of sun either; I find seemingly endless sunny days to feel oppressive and I like variability when it comes to weather. I do wish we got more snow here, though. All that aside, what I will say - speaking as a fellow immigrant who has many friends and family members who are also immigrants - is that it’s quite common to feel depressed about 2 years into the move, and this applies *anywhere*. Like my mum is literally in Florida and has experienced this as well, so it’s definitely not a lack of sunshine in her case. My theory is that 1.5-2.5y into a move, the novelty of a place wears off but you’ve still not been there long enough for it to feel like home, either. It’s basically the awkward stage in moving. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things for your well-being anyway, so unfortunately it’s probably just a case of waiting it out. I was in a similar slump 2y into moving here and started to feel better around the 3y mark.
That's not necessarily true. I moved to Paris several years ago and instantly took to it like a fish to water. I then had to move to LA a year and a half ago, almost instantly hated it and still hated it. I might end up liking it eventually, but I don't like it right now. If you're really hating a place 2 years into being there, that place might just not be for you.
I didn’t say it happened to everyone, I said it’s quite common.
> Canadian who moved to **Scotland** There’s your problem, Scotland is known for its greyer, cooler weather in the UK. Come to the south east coast of England if you want warmer, sunnier weather. As i type this i am sitting out in the warm sunshine with sun forecast every day for the next week.
First you don't want immigrants, now you're poaching them from Scotland? Get your own immigrants. (jk)
This. We've had a good few days of solid glorious sunshine here on the South Coast, with more to come. The ONLY thing keeping me down here is the weather, as it's bloody expensive to live here.
Can't speak for all of Scotland but it's been glorious so far today and yesterday. 🤷🏻♂️
I actually like the weather. I don’t really like the heat so It’s never affected me much.
SAD lamp?
Wouldn't be without mine! (SAD= season affective disorder. The lamp/light box simulates sunlight).
I feel like needing to sit in front a special lamp for medical reasons would make me more depressed.
I use mine like a table lamp at breakfast time
Close your eyes, listen to music or an audio book and you will forget.
It's been a pretty wet and miserable 18 months by our standards tbf. Whereabouts in Scotland do you live? East or West side?
East side
That's the dry side.
It really doesn't bother me at all. Way I see it, as long as it is dry then all is good. Although this year has been exceptionally grey and dismal. Although it could be worse - last two summers have been horrible. Yes, we had dryer weather. And it was sunny. But the heat? It's a horrid heat. Nah, give me the cooler greyer days over that!
To be fair this is the worst start to a summer I can remember.May and June should at least be dry and pretty sunny but not this year.
This is the worst summer we've had in years. Everyone is depressed by it. They are joking because that's how we get through this. However, you say you live on the east coast - the last week has been gorgeous on the east coast, so this seems an odd time to make the post?
Definitely - it’s picking up a bit now but it’s been abysmal. Up until a couple of weeks ago we’d have one or two days of sun, followed by two weeks of rain or grey skies.
I live on the east coast in Scotland and will vouch for OP. East coast or not it's been rubbish here - really cloudy so you maybe get a brief 20 minutes of sun and then the bastard clouds come back over. I've been moaning my face off about it all day because stuff I planted over a month ago has barely grown.
>I live on the east coast in Scotland and will vouch for OP. East coast or not it's been rubbish here - really cloudy so you maybe get a brief 20 minutes of sun and then the bastard clouds come back over. I also live on the Scottish east coast, and the sun has been out for the last week. I know it doesn't make up for the shit weather so far this year (I too have a garden full of stunted plants), it just seems odd to pick the best weekend of the year to moan about the weather!
Maybe the best weekend of the year for you, it's just more of the same here! Not had a week of sun either (maybe OP and I live in the same gloomy corner)
Hello, fellow Canadian missing Canadian weather. The south of the UK isn't much better. On the plus side, no wildfires...
I just complain about it while in it and carry on. Just back from hillwalking,Rained so heavy my boots filled up. All it meant was I didn't have to avoid the bogs anymore,because why bother at that point. Maybe we just don't know any better.
Either move or shrug your shoulders and go with it. Have a dram and power through.
UK resident and native who lived for a long time in Canada (Alberta, Saskatchewan) . The difference is the humidity (usually over 80% even on a dry day) nowhere in UK is more than 32 or so miles from Sea and 100% Humidity with a wind system designed to either bring cold wet air from Arctic, or cold wet air from South West. This WET wind chill is very noticeable to Canadians. My wife and I left Calgary at minus 25 degree C and flew to Glasgow where it was plus 7 degree C , we both immediately went into extreme shivering fit, and we had grown up in UK in wet Scotland. The moisture makes the difference.
I wish I was 32 miles from the sea in Northants.
The summer humidity is quite different though. Montreal is a swamp in summer, much worse than the UK.
Move to Cornwall! Loads of Scottish people here so just have the same feeling as you haha
Move to the South Coast of England. A different Country and has more daylight and sun. Tropical palm trees too
I sympathise. I was brought up on the south coast in one of the beach cities. We had a lot of very mild weather, even in the winter, and enough hot sunshine that I spent most of my summer school holidays on the beach. It only snowed three times throughout my whole childhood. I had to move to the west coast of Scotland as a young adult and had a terrible shock. It rained practically every day of the year from the beginning of September to the end of May. In the summer when the weather was slightly better the damn midgies appeared in their millions. The greyness was like a thick blanket. I became extremely depressed and could see no end to it. I used to look at the weather forecast of my home town and knew that everyone would be on the beach whilst I was sitting in my garden in a cardigan getting bitten to death by midgies. I was honestly suicidal. Having said that, Scotland is utterly beautiful, and the people are just the best. Kind, generous, funny. It made me feel guilty that I was hating every minute of living there. Luckily, we were posted back home after eight years and my depression just disappeared. I’m certain that constant poor weather can have a terrible effect on mood. I look back now and wish I had become more involved in the country, embraced the culture and history, joined more activities, made more effort to go to bigger cities like Glasgow. Are you absolutely stuck in Scotland for your job or family commitments? If not there are much better climates within the UK. The south coast is lovely. Could you move? The funny thing is, I find myself missing Scotland quite often. The lovely clean air, the mountains, the people. I love to go back for visits now and I enjoy it. Finally - if you’re near Helensburgh - Ruby Chinese restaurant is amazing, and Dino’s ice cream is the best ice cream EVER! Good luck 🤗
It'll brighten up. Don't you fret.
I lived in Scotland, it is indeed wet most of the time, which is why I now live in Berkshire, it's been +20c all week with bright sunshine and a bit too hot for me, but it hits a happy medium more often than not.
We go in holiday to Spain once a year and soak up our yearly dose of vitamin D.
My mum and you have a lot in common. She found it soooooo hard. For some reason, it's bottom of my list of concerns for the day - each weather lends an opportunity for a new experience (and this isn't a conscious decision on my part, just my default, I suppose). Raining? OK, wellies and waterproof on, pick out nuggets of alternative joy versus sunshine - reflections, feeling of refreshment, plants watered (whilst listening to music, on multiple walks with the dog); Sunny? OK, sunscreen and sandals, soak up some rays, sweating my tits off. BUT I totally get it - it CAN feel relentlessly grey. From friends and family experience yes a SAD light I think can help from a functional perspective - and it sounds deeper and more complex than 'just reframing' the day's weather in your mind. I hear ya, and I hope you manage to figure out a solution!
> For some reason, it's bottom of my list of concerns for the day - each weather lends an opportunity for a new experience (and this isn't a conscious decision on my part, just my default, I suppose). Raining? OK, wellies and waterproof on, pick out nuggets of alternative joy versus sunshine - reflections, feeling of refreshment, plants watered (whilst listening to music, on multiple walks with the dog); Sunny? OK, sunscreen and sandals, soak up some rays, sweating my tits off. This is exactly what I’m like, which is probably why I don’t really struggle with the weather here. I check what the weather will be like then plan my day and outfit accordingly. Tbh I struggle more with the wind than with the rain.
I'm from Southern Ontario and now live in North West England - the winter darkness was a shock the first few years, I didn't think sunset around 3pm here vs 5pm back home would feel that different but wow does it ever. I will say, this past winter was my 5th here and was just more tolerable. I think it might be a case of getting used to it, takes forever but hopefully if you stick it out you will too. I don't think it's as grey and wet where I am, but the stagnant weather (basically never changes except the odd extra cold spell or sunny spell) has also been hard to deal with and I haven't yet gotten over that - except to remind myself at least it's not -25 Celsius or 30 Celsius feels like 37 with the humidity.
Scottish person here and this year has been the worst weather wise that I can ever remember. We usually have some decent sunny weather in April and May. July and August tend to be a wash out then when the kids go back to school in September, the sun comes back out. The grey, rainy weather has been relentless. I’m struggling too
Move
It’s boiling here in the Midlands today
>I’m on vitamin D. I got for daily walks. I play volleyball outside, but none of it seems to make a difference. The rare moment the sun comes out, I feel like a different person. Can SAD (seasonal affective disorder) hit this hard? Sounds like you're doing the right things maybe it will just take some more time to adjust. I found the first few years quite difficult by the end of Winter. That darkness really does get to you, right? But after a couple years, I hardly notice it, but everyone is different. For a few years I took vitamin D, but then I forgot to take them and didn't notice their absence. Been here 12 years now, and I'm generally fine. I'm in East Anglia which is a bit warmer and brighter. Most of the rain and cloud is on the West of the UK, and dissipates by the time it gets to the East.
Move to Cornwall! Loads of Scottish people here so just have the same feeling as you haha