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Where to Move a Dev's Family while living with Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Charles D. Villard on January 11, 2018

TL;DR: Suggest a city with a warmer climate that would have a positive effect on someone with Seasonal Affective Disorder. If you have SAD...
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Tim Butterfield

Another option may be to live full time in an RV. This is made easier with a remote job or changing short-term contracts. I'm a software developer also, have been 100% remote since 2008, and have been full time in our RV since 2013. If you find you do not care for an area, this makes it much easier to move somewhere else. It is just my wife and I in our RV, but some RVs have a bunk room for the kids.

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hkly

Ever Sunny Sunny San Diego, California! I don't live there, but I vacation there in the winter and it's often sunny and in the 70's. However, the sun sets pretty early in the winters as well. Not sure if your wife is affected by the sun's cycle as well as the weather.

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Vincent Grovestine

I live in Nova Scotia which is approximately the same latitude as Bangor, ME and Portland, OR. I typically notice my energy and mood begin to slip in late January due to mild SAD.

Everyone is different, but what works for me are Vitamin D supplements (as already suggested by @mattlancaster81 ), getting outdoors periodically for fresh air (yes, even when it's uncomfortably cold), and light exercise. I also have a desk lamp with full-spectrum bulbs at the office. Additionally, I try not to schedule stressful projects during the winter months if possible, as I find it more difficult to mentally leave work (thoughts) at work (place).

Given the opportunity, I'd love to be a Canadian "snowbird". The Carolinas or thereabouts would suit me just fine January-March! :)

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Matt Lancaster

I struggle with depression and anxiety, but until the past few years, SAD wasn't a part of my life. This year has gone better for me, and the two changes have been forcing myself to go outside as much as possible, and the other is taking 2000 IU of Vitamin D daily.

Now, has this cured me? No.

Has it helped me? Yes.

There are a lot of fantastic places that have tons of sunshine in the US so look around before making a final decision and while you're at it see if at least the Vitamin D helps a bit.

BTW, I live in Pittsburgh, PA.