BOISE, Idaho — With the freeze of winter right around the corner, some Idahoans will begin to battle Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a seasonal depression that people can suffer from in the shorter days of winter from not getting enough sun.
Thankfully, Idahoans aren't the worst off. After analyzing the weather data from all 50 states, MattressNextDay revealed the states most vulnerable to suffering from SAD in a report. The report looks at several factors, including the average amount of sunlight over the winter months, as well as temperature and rainfall.
Alaska takes the first place spot. The state has the shortest total hours of sunlight compared to the rest of the country during its colder winter months. New York takes second with their long, harsh winters. Washington takes third, Vermont in fourth and Michigan in fifth.
Idaho receives some of the most sunlight, banking 661 hours of sunlight annually, according to the report. Despite the amount of sunlight, some Idahoans will still suffer from SAD with the lack of sun in winter.
The report also provided tips for those suffering from SAD. Getting light therapy is highly suggested - investing in a light therapy box may help with SAD. Light therapy boxes essentially mimic sunlight, helping to regulate your internal clock with the shorter days we have. Getting moving is another suggestion, as exercise is a natural mood booster. Healthy eating is another suggestion.
Below is the list of the states from most to least likely to have SAD sufferers:
- Alaska
- New York
- Washington
- Vermont
- Michigan
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Connecticut
- Wisconsin
- Oregon
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- Rhode Island
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Minnesota
- Indiana
- West Virginia
- Illinois
- Delaware
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Louisiana
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Missouri
- Arkansas
- Hawaii
- Mississippi
- Iowa
- Alabama
- Florida
- North Dakota
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Montana
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Idaho
- Wyoming
- California
- Utah
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- Arizona
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