While Alaska is beautiful, I am really looking forward to leaving. The biggest reason is that currently the sun is rising at 10am and setting at 3pm. I never realized how much the sun affects my mood and sleep patterns. As we get closer to the solstice, I keep hearing "you look tired" more often. And really it is just Alaska because I am getting the same amount of sleep that I usually do, but I'm just so tired and my face shows it. I have always woken up at 730 am every morning no matter what time I go to bed, but not in AK.

Last winter I was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder and I tried to use a "Happy Light" but that just made me nauseous so I take Welbutrin. It was a strange thing because I never felt sad, so I didn't think anything was wrong at first or that I was depressed. I just didn't want to do anything or talk to anyone. I couldn't sleep and then I would sleep all day. And I ate lots of carbs. Also, when I got to AK, I lost interest in exercising so that didn't help. I would do pilates and walk and pretty soon I would want to just go back to sleep. It really bothers me that I have to take drugs to deal with living here. I have always known that I need to get some sun to feel my best, but that just isn't an option here year round.

Plus, I feel kinda trapped here. I can't just take a drive to the next state or cheap flight when I want to. And I really like being outside, but eight months a year here, I get inside as fast as I can.