Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) also known as winter depression is something that one has to be aware of when living in the higher latitudes. This debilitating disorder affects up to 8% of people in Sweden and many expats fall victim to its clutches. While I don't have a particular problem with it myself, I know people who do suffer from it and so as we approach the darkest time of the year again, I saw a timely article that reminded me to mention this.

If you don't have a form of light therapy box at home, you can go to Iglo Ljuscafé, which has opened at Hornstull Strand 1 in Stockholm.




The picture is from Yahoo News, which also has a story about the new café.
There is also an informative article in Seed Magazine:

In summer, the body receives about 100,000 lux but only 1,500 in winter. The body needs 2,500 lux in order to secrete the hormone melatonin, which helps the body regulate its sleep and waking cycles in reaction to darkness.

In winter, Swedes in the north of the country can have zero hours of sun per day.

A very good (sunny) day is about 2,000 lux. When it's a cloudy day you have more light inside (the cafe) than outside. On a cloudy day you have only 300 lux, compared to 3,000 lux inside the Ljuscafe.

I also offer a few tips and links in my page about health issues at Aussies in Sweden. Don't underestimate the effects of SAD and whatever you do, don't suffer unnecessarily. There is help available.