Use of sun lights to improve mood in the winter in Anchorage (Kenai: home, buy)

[olyal]

Hi, I got another question about sun light in Anchorage. I have read somewhere that people use it during winter twice a day for 20 minutes to improve their mood. Does it apply to whole Alaska or some northern parts of it? We are looking at Anchorage and I wander will we need it or not? I was born and raised in Vladivostok, Russia we had plenty of cold during winter. So, cold weather doesn’t scare me. In fact that’s one of the reasons why I want to go to Alaska. I miss it so much. But what does concerns me is the length of the day in the winter and summer. I had never experienced such an extremes and wandering how is it going to affect my family and I.Does anyone can help me on that? Thank you.

[Bob Blockus]

buy I POD viewing glasses for big picture movie viewing. winter blues away Alaska.

[Alex2009]

Not everyone needs light therapy, but some people do. It all depends on you, and your kids will most likely not be bothered by the lack of light, they will love the snow ( if you have kids ).

[Barkingowl]

There's a company on the Kenai that makes & sells light boxes.
Light Therapy, SAD Light, Light Boxes, SAD Light Box, Seasonal Affective Disorder Light Boxes, Spectrum Light Therapy, Sleep Disorders Treatment (http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/index.html - broken link)

[olyal]

Thank you for reply. We do have kids and I am looking forward to build a snowman myself. I think we all gonna like it a lot.

[olyal]

Barkingowl, thank you for the web page. It'll help me a lot.

[Rance]

This time of year I don't see or get any sunlight period working in Kuparuk. For 2 weeks at a time. I work nights so it's dark when I get up in the evening and dark when I go to bed in the morning. The only light I see is office lights, vehicle headlights, flood lights etc.
I've never had any problems (that I know of). When I'm at home it's kind of a treat to actually have the sun above the horizon so I'm out in it as much as possible. Skiing, snowmachining, icefishing, anything to be outside not inside.

[olyal]

Rance, thank you. I feel a lot better after reading all the responses. So far this was the only concern that I had about going to Alaska. We’ll find out in March for sure if we are moving to Anchorage. I am looking forward to it.

[Rance]

If your not just a couch potatoe and don't mind getting outside...you shouldn't have any problems in the Anchorage area. Unless of course you have depression issues or something. And the nights are not so bad. The stars are nice. Northern lights viewing on occasion. Lot's of city lights. Night skiing on a well lit slope in Girdwood. Really it's not that bad in south central.

[olyal]

Rance, thanks again.