Dark and gloomy days stretch into the horizon when the smoke clears after Bonfire Night.
With prices rising at the fastest rate in 40 years, interest rates at the highest level since the 1980s, and the government buckling under the weight of its own divisions, it's hard to stay hopeful. But as the weather turns cold, some people have to deal with the additional pressure of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which hits when the daylight hours are shortest.
Sometimes known as "winter depression", SAD is thought to be caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight during the colder months, according to the NHS. This affects the body's internal clock and its production of certain hormones, making it harder to regulate mood and sleep.
