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Places to Live for Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depression that occurs during the cold, dark seasons of fall and winter. Symptoms include eating more than usual, fatigue, sleep disruptions and lethargy. A drop in serotonin, a neurotransmitter, caused by a lack of sunlight is believed to be one of the causes of SAD. If medication and light therapy haven't worked you may need to consider moving. In order to combat SAD, you need to live closer to the equator in a place with fewer dark months than bright ones per year.

  1. Texas and New Mexico

    • The southwest is the ideal region to live if you suffer from seasonal affective disorder. SAD frequently occurs in regions that have cold and dark winters, such as northern states. Southern states tend to have dry, hot summers and cool winters that rarely dip below 34 degrees. Southern states are have more sunny days during the winter, which can alleviate the severity of SAD. El Paso, Texas and Albuquerque, New Mexico are just a couple of sunny cities to help your winter blues. El Paso has extremely hot summers and mild winters, with temperatures dipping as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. New Mexico receives lots of sunlight during summer and winter seasons, and the city's winters usually drop to the 30s.

    Louisiana

    • If you like your weather to stay consistent throughout the year, Lake Charles in Louisiana is the perfect place to stay. Temperatures throughout the year range from high 80s to low 50s, with lots of rainfall. Lake Charles's mild winters and sun throughout the year are perfect for fighting depression .

    Colorado

    • As one of the Western Slope's largest cities, Grand Junction boasts its year-round sunny weather and comfortable climate during the summer. Temperatures rise up to the high 70s in the summer and dip to the 30s in the winter. The best time to soak up ultraviolet b (UVB) rays is from 10 a.m. all the way until 3 p.m. This time frame is when the UVB rays are high, though you are also able to burn easily during this time.

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