WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BODY after 2.5 months with NO sunlight?! | Seeing the effects of Polar Night
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 พ.ค. 2022
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How does the body react to living without sunlight for 2.5 months?! I live on Svalbard, an island close to the North Pole, and during winter we have 2.5 months of no daylight at all. We are talking, the darkest of nights for months, that time of year is called Polar Night and the results of it were shocking this year. Not only physically, but also mentally. I hope you enjoy this video and thank you so much for being here! 🧡
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About Cecilia:
Cecilia Blomdahl is originally from Sweden and moved to Svalbard 6.5 years ago. She works as a photographer and videographer in Longyearbyen, and with her social media channels. Check her out on tiktok and instagram under her handle @sejsejlija! Here on youtube she posts videos about her daily life in her cabin with her boyfriend Christoffer and her dog Grim, living just outside of Longyearbyen. Subscribe for videos about her daily life as well as adventures on an island close to the North Pole. They have polar bears there!
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It's not just the vitamin D. The darkness leads to increased melatonin levels, the sleep hormone, which makes you sleepy and potentially more down and anxious. Daylight increases cortisol levels, which makes you feel more alert and awake. So feeling tired and fatigued during months of darkness is pretty normal I'd say. Some people, including me, find daylight lamps helpful. So you'll get a dose of bright light every day which helps balance your melatonin and cortisol levels.
I think melatonin level increases with sunlight. That’s why people get darker when they spend time in the sun
@@minhchaubuingoc8384 you’re confusing melanin (pigment in the skin) with melatonin (hormone)
@@fai5734 oh I see. Thanks
I'm actually wider awake in the dark and sleepier in daylight. I hate sunshine, find it very depressing when we have sunny blue skies. Been that way as long as I can remember.
Also, the vitamin D in food is deactivated. The reason we need the sun is because the UV rays convert vitamin D in our food to the active form. With quarantine here in Melbourne, I didn't go outside much and despite eating a dairy-rich diet and sitting next to a window, because UVB rays can't get through glass, I was also severely deficient at 21 units on the scale.
The supplement is in an active form, but you need to make sure you take it with food, because Vitamin D is also fat-soluble. Vitamin D Pills on their own, or just with water or coffee or something, will do nothing, no matter what the dose is.
It absolutely blew my mind when you said you experienced anxiety for the first time in your life. I didn't know it was possible to live without it. Anxiety is a daily experience for me 🤯
Ikr! Anxiety started when school started and it's always been there. Can never imagine someone who hasn't ever had anxiety.
Everyone experiences the feeling of anxiety. We've only recently medicalised the feeling into a disorder.
@@bbhybris Everyone experiences stress, not everyone experiences anxiety. Some stress now & then is good/normal. Constant, debilitating anxiety on the other hand is bad and unhealthy.
@@whyisgamora4191 being anxious is a normal human condition. I never said otherwise for constant and debilitating anxiety.
Change diet. Do grounding, cold showers, saunas. Every single meal is a chance to help or damage your body. Be in bed pre 24. Wake up pre 8. Get sleep 7h30 minimum EACH night. Get sunlight early and as much as you can. Eating some cholesterol rich foods while having no seed oils will allow you to tan without sunburns. Every meal should have some antioxidants. Eat fruits. Move 6k steps a day minimum. Don't sit for more than an hour at a time. Try deep tissue massages and do yoga at least 2x a week. You have to exercise at least 2x a week. Walking is not enough. Learn how to relax 3-4x a day, take some deep breaths for 2-3min.
Your gut is your second brain, if you have no real reason for anxiety, it's likely your misscommunication from your gut to your brain. You can't eat trash today, it will influence how you will feel not right after. That's bs. It influences how you will feel for the common WEEKS.
Otherwise, learn how to not take stuff seriously. If you fail your exam, damage your car, don't pay the bills. Everything is repairable and exchangeable. Your health is the only thing you need to care for, EVERYTHING else does not matter. If you're late, if you mess sth up, if you forget to do sth, if you miss a deadline. A simple honest sorry will get you through all kinds of difficult situations.
Good luck^^
In my case it is the absolute opposite. When late Autumn / Winter arrives I get so much more energy and feel alive. I love it that most of the time it is dark and getting dark really soon and the rest of the time the sky is grey 99% of the time. I get creative, feel alive and have way more energy. BUT when late Spring / Summer comes around I get tired, feel down, depressed and have literally no energy. I can't sleep well and get headache all the time because of the sun.
May I ask where you were born and what your family ethnicity is? I've heard this before and I'm curious whether it has to do with genetics
@@missbeaussie Born in Vienna, Austria. Family tree as far as I can tell: Austrian Hungarian Jewish.
I am the same now. I get depressed when spring/summer come and get happy and more energized when fall starts. I have nicknamed myself "The Queen of Darkness", because I keep my drapes pulled closed until night and the lighting in my apartment is subdued and golden amber. I live in Poland, so not as far north as Cecilia. But I was born and raised near the ocean in southern California, where I worshipped the sun as a teenager. Now I am 66 and can’t stand sunlight. Life is funny!😅
I'm the same. I appreciate the sun and what it does (mostly for my plants) but I really loathe being out in the sun and I become very depressed in the summer. I don't start feeling better until winter because I live in Oklahoma so our fall is still really hot and bright. The time change usually happens on or around my birthday which is always the best gift I get (even though this is around the time everyone else I know takes a pretty heavy hit to their mental health). Sometimes I feel guilty that everyone around me is so miserable during winter when I'm thriving.
@@livertine504 Same. And I'm also part European and (tiny) part Jewish. Though I'm also part Mongolian and part Mordvin (Indigenous Russians, though they're related to Finns, not Slavs). I believe that if something in my genetic makeup is the reason for me preferring the winter, then it's probably the Mordovian and northern European parts.
I wonder how early settlers to your area coped with polar night. It would be interesting for you to do an historical perspective of how challenging it must have been.
I have read a few books, and mentally, most of those guys was seemingly not made from the same stuff as us... Regarding vit D, back in the days, that was not an issue at all on Svalbard and other places far north due to the food they ate. But a problem was vit C defiency/scurvy, until they figured out what caused it and took measures against it. Some people also died from lead poisoning due to heating of canned food.
New research show that Vitamin D is more of an indicator than the cause. Sunlight makes mitocondria produce energy, and as it turns out, so does a fireplace - the heat coming off a live fire! People back in the day had fireplaces when there was no sunlight.
@@Kowalski301 I read that they didn't have vitamin c deficiency cause they ate mainly meat (including organs that have vitamins and minerals regular parts of meat don't have)
@@animeloveer97 Correct! Thanks naylene. Their diet was meat, but more importantly, they consumed the organs and the fat too. Then when the sun did eventually arrive, they were also able to absorb the Vit D from the sun effectively, because of the cholesterol in their bodies. Cholesterol is essential for this process to take place., yet strangely, we are all being told...cholesterol....BAD! I'm calling out BS! Cholesterol is found in animal products ONLY! Take note vegans!
@@Kowalski301 Could you please comment more on what you have read and in what ways they were not the same mentally? That is a very interesting point, and we must not forget those qualities. We must try to recall and recover them.
I live in Nigeria where it's sunny for most part of the year, and let me tell you, I LOVE the dark. Nights are when I feel energized the most. I can't explain it
As someone who's born in the northern latitudes (NE US), but spent a few years in the desert, I get what you mean. I feel like the sort of heat you get in some areas is exhausting to the point where your brain gets a bit of a fog over it. You simply can't think as clearly. When the sun goes down and it goes from deadly hot to manageably hot, suddenly you can think and you're not exhausted. It makes you want to get as much done as possible while it's not miserable.
@@kensmith2829 This is so accurate
My daughter has issues with low vitamin d, and she gets anxiety with it, along with being tired, shortness of breath, brain fog, and other symptoms. The worst symptom she has ever had before we discovered it was low vit d, was a muscular/neurological symptom that caused her body to jerk and spasm. It was frightening.
Did she get vitamins or sunglight plus vitamins
Thanks for this. Gonna check my levels and supplement as required kuz you just described my experience lol 💕💕💕
@@j.k4987 We did both as best we couple. She went through the worst of it in fall/winter that year. Since then she stays on her vitamins from fall to spring and gets as much sun as possible. Last year we went to Florida in January and she spent a lot of her free time on the balcony soaking up as much sun as possible.
@@CaptainAMAZINGGG oh my, I’m sorry to hear someone else is dealing with this, but I’m glad her experience was able to help someone else. I hope you feel better.
hey, im experiencing a common problem with leg jerking, burning and throbbing, which the doctors might think is restless legs syndrome. Didier neurological problem go away after supplementing ?
I noticed that for a few years after moving out of Scandinavia I was hypersensitive to lack of daylight and would quickly feel down and depressed, but after living further south in Europe, I didn't have mood swings just because I was staying in a basement apartment for a few hours
I practically never got mood swings or felt really down after I moved to a tropical country, even though I went through menopause and my diet wasn't so good, and the environment was rather polluted.
When I was suffering from winter depression, it was hard to take care of myself and cook healthy food & exercise, to prevent further deterioration. That's why I'd rather live in a poor country that has plenty of sunlight than a more comfortable one if I cannot enjoy it. Of course, I'd rather have both.
Same for me. I always get anxious and tired in the UK but, I went through the menopause while travelling, mainly in the East and the tropics and I'm a different person. The menopause hardly affected me, once I left the UK.
I'm back here because of the whole Covid disruption and working on getting back out East before I lose my mind.
i think that bears zero, and i mean absolutely ZERO correlation to miserable europeans branching out to warmer parts of the world 500 years ago and fucking everything up to this day.
yes this is why many scandinavians try to move out of the country during winter, if even for a short while.
Yes I feel the same. I live in Belgium, our winters are 95% rain & completely grey skies. When the sun is out I notice I immediately feel happier & less stressed. Winters are such a drag.
Yes yes YES!! Living in Germany which is by far not the nort pole, but I feel so much more stable (mental health and mood-wise) as soon as it gets to may/june. Sun all day everyday is what keeps me feeling like myself.
As an Australian, your experience was so fascinating and far out of my understanding. Thanks for sharing.
Me too... I love in the Carribean so this was interesting to see such a different lifestyle/world.
Lol floridian here same
Haha I was just thinking that! I can't even fathom how living creatures can survive it. You couldn't even have a house plant! Every time it's cold here in Australia I wonder how people can live in the cold places
I'm on the Gold Coast which is SUPPOSED to have 300 days of sun a year. Well. THIS year I think we've had a grand total of 50 days when it hasn't rained and/or been grey, dark and dreary! And it's AUGUST soon! We had no proper Summer!
For the first time in my 43 years, I now take a Vitamin D supplement. And I'm from Melbourne originally! lol
@@ladybaabaa3294 soz. We used it all up in Perth
Tips for folks with seasonal depression:
1. Keep your curtains shut and turn on smart bulbs on daylight setting if you don’t plan to leave the house.
2. That said, leave the house as much as you can on brighter days. Try to expose your arms and legs to sunlight as that’s how you absorb it from the sun. Doing this first thing after dawn is ideal on clearer days. Sometimes letting the sun’s rays hit the back of your eyeballs is the only way to truly wake up. But don’t look at the sun. For long.
3. Use these same smart bulbs as a kind of “light alarm” by setting schedules or automations. I advise you buy WiZ lights as they have some great options, such as true daylight and warm yellow, as well as RGB hues and dimming. They’re as good as any Phillips smart bulb and are a fraction of the price. When confronted with “daylight” first thing in the morning, you’re less inclined to feel like curling back under the covers.
4. Consume dairy and other high-calcium foods. Calcium assists the absorption of both iron and vitamin D.
5. Get a smart heater for your bedroom and set it so that it turns on shortly before your alarm. It makes getting out of bed more bearable.
6. Exercise daily. Try to do some level of vigorous movement for 15 minutes daily - remember, everyone’s interpretation of “vigorous” is different. Use as much energy as you can, as causing your body to sweat will trick it into thinking it’s warmer, and the release of hormones will give you a great high afterwards! If you typically run outside, invest in some thermal gear or else just join a local gym if possible and use the treadmills there. You may end up finding an awesome podcast to keep you motivated.
7. Don’t be afraid to enjoy a nice warm coffee as soon as you wake up. If you find it gives you energy, go for it! I would advise against having coffee after 1pm in winter though, as it can totally destroy your sleep schedule if you’re not careful.
8. Prepare a selection of citrus jams over the summer to be enjoyed with your autumn and winter bakes. Ginger cookies with homemade marmalade are just delicious, or you may prefer a Madeira cake with lemon jam instead. This is another great way of getting in more vitamin D. The sunny colours and sweet/tart flavours are sure to lift your spirits!
9. Potatoes have a higher vitamin D content (per gram) than any citrus fruit. I implore you to make as many roasts, soups and stews as you can stomach. Seriously. I’m Irish, trust me.
Really?! Spuds?!!? That is just SO cool.
I didn't know that about potatoes!
Thank you for this post! ☺️
Great post, just to clarify number 4 - calcium actually inhibits iron absorption. Iron should be taken at a different time to any dairy products ~
Sorry but there’s several mistakes here. Shutting the curtains during the day is not a good idea. Unless you live in the arctic circle, it’s almost certainly lighter outdoors than indoors during daylight hours. Even if it looks dark and gloomy outside. Letting that light in through the windows is a good thing.
Secondly, depending on where you live you cannot get any vitamin D from the sun in winter. The low angle of the sun filters out the UV light that triggers vitamin D production.
And lastly, citrus and potatoes do not contain any vitamin D! Did you mean vitamin C?
hi, cecilia. i am by no means a sun-worshipper however, the thought of not seeing the sun for months on end terrifies me. even on cloudy days in the northeast U.S. i have a minor depression and when the sun peaks out of the clouds it's an instantaneous lifting of my mood and overall energy as if a light switch was flipped on. anyway, i'm glad you found answers to your vitamin D dilemma. a toast to your health. my regards to christoffer and grim. take care. cheers!
Hello Sophie! I just wanted to say that I feel the same as you describe. I’m in Minnesota and find early November- late Feb had to deal with because of the lack of Sun. I feel as though the Sun gives me energy, and w/o it around for a long time, I wouldn’t be able to function normally.
I used to live in Ohio and I was the same way, especially during winter! I was on the verge of investing in a sun lamp, but we up and moved to South Dakota and it's MUCH less severe here. I thought it was only winter that was the issue, but then I started working in a high school library, which I loved the job, but it only had 1 window, and it was up in a loft area that I couldn't see. For 7.5 hours a day, I was in a cement block room with artificial lights and no windows, and only got 30 minutes of sun (if the sun was shining) during lunch. After 3 years, I eventually quit for a number of other reasons, but I would say the lack of sunlight was not terribly far down the list.
Trying to live for 2.5 months without sunlight....man. I can get fairly depressed if it's overcast and cloudy for more than 3-4 days in a row. I'm not joking when I say I do truly think I would be suicidal after that long.
It's HARD..
I’m in the U.K. and dread when our winter comes around, I’m seriously looking into emigrating eventually cause I can’t do it anymoreeeeee!
prolonged darkness is kindof hit or miss for me, but i would like to imagine that mood and anxiety might be lessened since their society is built around knowing that there will be darkness for a few months, and accommodating for it. It does look awfully peaceful there, even though to them its just an average day.
I had 11 units in my blood results in August... and didn't feel any negative effects, at least it's what I thought. I took 4000 units every day, and I felt awaken, energized, finally normal. I didn't know I wasn't feeling normal before.
What are units
@@totallynotaliar9912 No idea. When you buy Vitamin D, you have on the box 2000 units, 4000 units, etc. So the only thing we know is that 4000 is double strong and if you have deficiency, you should take this. If not, 2000 is OK.
The meassured units in ng (nanogramm) or nmol (nanomol). Its a different! It depends, in what kind of them both your doctor or the laboratory is on to.
For to get your the amount in ng take the number of nmol and devide it thru 2.5. the result is the unit of vitamin d in ng.
Be aware, that the optimum level of vitamin d is much higher, then your doc will tell you! As exemple, when the doc tells you that 35 ng is good for you, don't trust him and go for at least 85-100. Depends on your health condition or some issues, it also can be higher then that.
I had 8.1 units and oh boy bye hair...took 5000UI of vitamin D
@@xVIRxUSx Keep taking it!
Last winter I started working from home and not going out during daytime as much as I was before. I started to feel more and more tired everyday and that made me want to stay more at home and I spent weeks without even going out. Months went by and I started feeling so low and depressed, at the end, I was diagnosed with depression. I had no idea what caused my depression at that point. Finally I wanted to get a blood work done. I was informed by my doctor that my vitamin D level was so low, it was only 8... He said vitamin D deficiency may cause depression, I was shocked. He prescribed me with vitamin D injections, I got them every day for some time. It's almost a year later now, my level is still not great. I'm not even living up that north guys, we have so many sunny days. But vitamin D levels drop so fast. Beware and take care of yourself :)
I must be wired weird…i love darkness and gloomy cold weather. It makes me so happy. The sun feels like it’s my worst enemy. Summer and warm weather gives me anxiety where as cool and cold fall winter or rainy weather relax me and make me want to go outside more. My vitamin D has been insanely low (13 😅) for as long as I can remember because being in the sun more than a few minutes makes my skin burn and feel horrible😖 So just like some have seasonal affective disorder in winter I have it in summer😅
Same to me. My skin is not so light sentive, but my eyes are, because I'm very shortsighted.
Last autumn I get easily exhausted and a tickle in my body like in a whirlpool, that doesn't went away and I did blood work. I had a low vit d and vit b12.
Since I have taken my supplements I really like more going outside and have a really really nice spring. It feels so different.
(Now I think, I might had a low vit b12 my whole life, because I use to have brittle nails since my school years.)
Same!! The sun makes me feel agitated. There’s gotta be a term for it. My vitamin D was 7 in January so I’ve been supplementing since then
@@elizabeth6540 Would it be a sensory processing difference? e.g. Some autistic people can find light too bright. Same for people with ADHD.
I wish I was like this. In the UK we barely get any sunshine.
@@sarahstudies8149 I will trade you! I’m on the east coast of the US and its always too bright and hot for me in the Spring and Summer 😬 I burn and overheat so quickly😅😅
As someone who has been severely mentally ill for as long as I can remember, I forget not everyone has experienced things like anxiety because it's so normal to me. So yeah, Cecilia, I'm sorry you had to wrestle with some anxiety this past winter and I'm glad you're doing better now; when you said you've never experienced it before and it kind of shocked you, you did make me laugh so thank you for that. :)
Did 2 winters in stockholm, and just got back to london a month ago. The winters were dark in Sweden and yet I feel more lonely here than I ever did in Stockholm. Even with those dark winters I felt fantastic. People I know come up to me here to tell me how good I look after Sweden. Man, I wanna go back lol. Life in Scandinavia is just fantastic even in complete darkness
It’s on my bucket list to one day visit Scandinavia, in my opinion it’s the most beautiful part of our world in terms of natural beauty and people!
I also lived in Stockholm and I gotta say it’s not for me. I felt really anxious and depressed, and I realised sunlight definitely lifts my mood.
What made the winters in Sweden bearable for you? How is it that the people are great there?
I've wanted to visit that country for most of my life. Maybe someday.
It is more cosy in the winter in Scandinavië lovely. The south is lovely of the middle. The north is hard without sun.
I’m British too and if it was possible, and I was able to and if I was younger, I would be very happy to move to mid to northern Sweden.
Can't even imagine living like this during Covid, and the extra anxiety that added to the lack of sun for months.
thanks for showing the pharmacy, I am a retired pharmacist, and enjoyed visiting the pharmacies in europe, norway, denmark, france, netherlands, germany, etc. thanks again, would love to see more.
I like a rotation of seasons but anyone else love the darker, cooler months? Like right when it starts getting colder outside and the clocks go backwards. I don’t know. It gives me comfort. I would be totally fine with darkness for a few months.
I moved to Helsinki 5 years ago. at first, i felt this way... but in the past couple of years, ive really noticed how much it affects my mental well being. i love winter and the snow is beautiful, but the seasonal depression and exhaustion is just not it
@@nightsbeatswitchgood that’s a good point
Going to Svalbard for the first time in January! Nervous, curious and excited at the same time. Let's see how I feel after 24 hours in Svalbard 🙂
How was it? 😊
@@mariaesposito5402 : Svalbard was cold and dark. We spent two nights there. Was not bad at all. A little weird for sure but a few nights was not a big deal. It was once in a lifetime experience. Worth it
Moving out of Scandinavia was one of the best mental health decisions I have ever made as seasonal depression wad just so real for me
You had it but not because of darkness.
I'm sorry, but seasonal depression because of the darkness is very real in all of Scandinavia not just the polar region. Most of my friends back home get affected to some degree by the many hours of darkness during the winter period.
@@Millelykkeandersen it's not because of the darkness but because of mentality
@@astridcyanistescaeruleus4126 Could also be lack of vitamin D.
D increases serotonin and oxytocin in the brain.
@@DanielAnderssson no. It is not. It's Society, it's the pressure of a sick society.
Cecilia, I started watching you because of how strangely anxiety-free you normally are! LOL You've been an inspiration to me, and I'm so thankful to have found your channel. You, Christoffer, and Grim are such a great family, and the landscape is breathtaking. Thank you for sharing your life and I wish you all good health and safe travels. 💙
hahah! I have been blessed with a very sunny headspace, so it was very interesting to me how this polar night threw some clouds in there! But thank you so much for being here and for your kind words, it really means a lot, and I am glad you get something positive out of my content 🧡
I deal with panic attacks and I agree with Jennifer. Thank you, Cecilia.💕
I agree to this 100 percent!!!
@@16dya Grim is their fluff ball SON shine.. ;)
@@16dya weoooooweoooo family police
A few years ago, I was just feeling SO TIRED (taking naps when I never had before, gained a bit of weight, I’d literally nap in the gym parking lot) and not myself. Finally went to the doctor with what I assumed to be the dumbest reason ever, “I just don’t feel right and I’m really tired.” It turns out my vitamin D was 9! And I live in upstate NY.
I am in central NY and mine was a 7. I got in so much trouble with my doctor. My doctor put me on a really high dose. He got me to a level he thought was safe and then took me off of it and bottomed out so now I have to take a really high dose once a week just to maintain
As I just mentioned in a post below, you should be aware that Norway, possibly entire Europe(?) measure Vitamin D levels in nmol/l, not ng/ml, so you have to multiply your number with 2.5 to get the equvialent value.
@@ashley-cz1sl Can you share the recovery dose you are now taking? 🕊🙏🕊
@@lyric8006 50,000 IU once a week
@@ashley-cz1sl Thanks. Do you have any side effects from taking that dose?
me, laughing in overnight worker and people avoidance.
honestly????? this place sounds like a dream to me. two months of no sunlight is heaven to me.
As someone who lives with anxiety, this is a constant experience. I'm glad to hear people are willing to put themselves into someone else's shoes and empathize with them.
I went through the same thing. I was taking naps after being awake just for a few hours, and I was having achy legs. My levels were at 17!! It was so bad but then I got prescribed a high dose of vitamin d and now its back to normal, but it was definitely a shock since I live in California!
I also had achy legs! It is crazy how it affects the body! 17 is sooo low! Glad you got it checked and feel better! 🧡
@@CeciliaBlomdahl absolutely! I had no idea it was all related to vitamin d. I told my doctor how tired I had been and my legs ached and vitamin d was the first thing she said
I’m currently living in the Pacific Northwest. In February my vitamin D level was at 9 ng/ml! My doctor put me on massive doses of vitamin D, and it is now at 25. They say anything between 30 to 60 is considered optimal.
Just a heads up: You should be aware that Norway, possibly entire Europe(?) measure Vitamin D levels in nmol/l, not ng/ml, so you have to multiply your number with 2.5 to get the equvialent value.
I always go to Lab Quest 25ohd and now I take vitamin K2 as MK4, MK7, 9. Raised my levels faster and good for bone health . I believe it's fermented non-gmo soy by Life Extension.
Mauna Kea- I live near Seattle. Naturopathic doctors like Dr. Jonathan Wright MD/ND recommend our Vitamin D levels are best to stay in the "tropical optimum" range of 60ng/mL to 100ng/mL. Taking 5000iu of Vitamin D every day year round never got my D levels above 50ng/mL. You must've felt pretty bad with your D level at only 9ng/mL! Out of the four years of college along with four years of medical school, American MDs only get about 8 hours of nutrition out of that eight years, so most are sadly misinformed about the optimum beneficial levels of vitamins and minerals. And it's important to take Vitamin K as mentioned by
Marie McDonald 444 here when supplementing with Vitamin D, as Vitamin D taken without K tends to make our artery walls less flexible over time.
Aloha from Kilauea Volcano
I live in Australia, but I wear a headscarf and have dark skin. The lowest my Vitamin D was 5. I basically have to always take supplements because it’s not enough to get it naturally and through food.
Born and raised in Northern Michigan. Long winter days. The impact is real. Great video on an important subject.
I was born and raised in northern Michigan as well. The winters are brutal with not much sunlight. Even during summer I feel we get a lot of clouds from the lake. I take vitamin d year round.
Please clarify.. my dad is from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Are you from the northern part of the lower Peninsula of Michigan, or are you from the Upper Peninsula (da U.P.)?
@@nolarthegreat9562 I am one of the ‘trolls’ that live “under the bridge”. For those who miss the inside joke among those of us from this region this refers to the Mackinaw (spelled as Mackinac) Bridge which extends four miles from the lower peninsula of Michigan to the upper peninsula (UP) of Michigan. This is the strait where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron join. To Nolan the Great (admire the handle by the way) was born in Alpena (Lake Huron shore) with later years in Petoskey (Lake Michigan shore). Both cities are south of the Bridge (to others ‘under’ / South) by about 60 to 100 miles. Sharing the winter wonder but sadly not able to claim official UP residency. So Northern Michigan reference is to differentiate from the more somewhat moderate climate band of Chicago or Detroit of about 300 miles south. Still have long dark days however.
I am from northern lower Michigan but my husband is from the U.P.
I live in SW Michigan for the past 3.5 years. One will never catch me living in the UP. Lol maybe a summer vacation someday but never living. Winters are long enough here as it is.
This was so interesting! I have chronic anxiety so it was really nice seeing someone have it and then explain it. Also a very good educational video!
Jesus can heal you of anxiety.
Watch online or visit one of Apostle Kathryn Krick’s services , have faith, Jesus will heal you
I get so embarassingly excited whenever you post 😭
awww THANK YOUU!
I learned a bit about Seasonal Depression in Abnormal Psychology a few years ago. I think the book said that People living in New Hampshire during the winter had greater drop in mood versus people living in Northern Reykjavik. I guess because Icelanders had dealt with the harshness of hard winters for many more centuries.
Don't come to southwestern Montana😂😂🤣
I think it's diet too. I'm assuming people who live Iceland eat alot of fish which is rich in omegas and vitamin D, where as New Hampshire most people aren't eating as much fish. I listened to an interview of a doctor on the dark horse podcast on this and that's what she explained. She said people who eat alot of fish have delt better with COVID too bc of the vitamin d.
When I lived in Iceland people used to be very sociable on the weekends.
In January, I had my Vitamin D level checked pre-surgery. I was at 15! They told me to start taking 5000iu everyday for 6 weeks then drop back to 5000iu three times a week. I’m glad you had this experience so you can be better prepared for next year. Love your channel Cecilia!
Trying to imagine _never_ having experienced generalized anxiety is impossible to me! Crazy how used to it you can get. I was a pretty happy child but became very anxious as a young teen due to some really shitty experiences, so I can't remember how the absence of it feels anymore. I'm really glad for you though - it should be the norm! General anxiety should never be a given.
I live in a Nordic country too and we get long, dark winters (just not 100% darkness) so years ago I got into the habit of taking D vitamin _at least_ during the winter months. Can't imagine surviving as north as you are without it.
I grew up in the Northwest Territories and so know about being in darkness for months. I really liked it and kind of miss the dark winters and then 25 hrs daylight summers.
So glad you’re recognizing the problem and addressing it. The greatest mistake people make is thinking that things will get better without actually doing anything to make sure they do. What I noticed is your lighting changed it’s more direct and the festive strings of lights seem to be gone. ”sleepy central” is a great description of that too tired feeling.
Greetings from Finland. We have endless sun in the summer and a long long night in the winter. In Finland Vitamin D is added for example to milk (and plant drink versions, too), but people eat it as a pill too. The winter is long and dark but we survive well 😉 Also, it is a real diagnosis to have "Seasonal depression", when you feel always depressed in the winter time only. Vitamin D can help to it, but it's not a cure. 15-20 minutes in sunlight daily is enough to get vitamin D for your body, so you don't need it if you live in a sunny place.
I am in Chicago and most people in winter here are very Vitamin D deprived. A few years ago I started taking a daily supplement and it was amazing. I felt a lot better and definitely had more energy. It was crazy about how something so simple really helped me a lot.
True. I, on the other hand, can't handle the rapidly increasing light during Finnish spring time and get really tired :D That's my seasonal depression I guess, I love the darkness. But nightless nights are lovely as well, it's so beautiful. Just not good for my sleeping lol.
15-20min of sunlight but when you expose over 70% of your skin and without sunscreen. So it's not that easy at all.
Apparently must when sun is highest at noon and not cloudy . And in northern climates we just don't get enough daylight to get sun directly on the skin for that every day in winter.
I'm from the Netherlands. We don't have full on darkness.
When I was in high school I biked almost an hour total every day.
The sun was up. But it wasn't noon usually. Maybe for half an hour. But some days i went home an hour before sunset.
I even got really hot. So sometimes wasn't wearing my coat and putting up sleeves to not arrive al sweaty.
I was hella deficient.
Those symptoms I feel every winter here in Alaska. Long dark winters only seem to get harder as I get older too. Mental health declines and about 2-3 suicides happen a week during the winter in just the Matanuska Susitna Valley alone.
Why don’t you shift somewhere else in the US then?
@@Bruhh2002 not everyone can afford or is otherwise able to move
@@Bruhh2002 defiantly going to be retiring somewhere with full seasons for sure!
I have seasonal affective disorder, in my case it’s winter depressions. That’s why your experience is so fascinating for me and I’m learning to love winter here with you 🙂
I would love living here!! I have had so many serious skin cancers I have to stay out of sun and it’s depressing, and I hate being overheated…. Darkness like this, calms my anxiety
Thank you for saying experiencing anxiety was an eye opener for you. I suffer from at times severe anxiety and many people who never have think it's not a real issue. I find watching your vlogs very relaxing. Give Grimm hugs for me.
Your videos always relax and ground me, something I’ve especially needed this past year or so.
Thank you for your beautiful content, I hope you know how much it helps. 🙏🏼
💕 thank you for sharing!! I appreciated this as I did something similar for myself living in Arctic Alaska. It’s so important to care for ourselves then share the information to help others! Love you all! Keep sharing these stories. ☕️☕️
Cecilia, I’m SO glad you did this video!! I’ve been anxiously awaiting your lab results since you had them done, lol. Wow, so enlightening. I’m going to get mine checked now. I’m in Cali, but stay out of the sun. Anyway, I’m so happy you and Christoffer are feeling better! Kisses to Grim 😃☀️
You know what I find really interesting? Here in Australia, where we certainly aren’t short on sunshine even during winter, there are a lot of us who are Vitamin D deficient, and it’s to do with being so careful not to get sunburnt (for the skin cancer risk), so we do too good of a job covering up haha.
Fantastic video, very interesting!!
Same here in Greece! Heard also that it has to do with genes...
That is sooo interesting!! Good on you for being serious about the sunblock! 🙏🏻
@@ankigatoni6967 Yes, Europeans developed to have lighter skin so that it more readily absorbs vitamin D from the sun, but that also means that in hotter climates, and in a world where sunlight is more intense (sunlight used to be lower thousands of years ago when people first migrated to Europe), they get sunburned easily so have to protect themselves. Another problem is that people with darker skin living in northern countries often get really ill from not having enough vitamin D, since their skin was actually evolved to protect themselves from harsh southern suns, so it doesn't absorb the low sunlight in nothern climates.
I'm going to tell that to the people I've had discussions with on skincare, they said say that you should never go outside without wearing sunscreen, even in the wintertime, in a dark place, because the sunscreen won't block Vitamin D absorption in the body.
vitamin D levels also relate to cholesterol levels.. if your cholesterol is too low, from not eating enough animal products, you won’t metabolise vitamin D properly, no matter how much sun you get
Hello from Portugal. Glad to know that you have visited my country. Hope you enjoyed it, especially the Portuguese sun. Love to watch your videos and to learn about such a different way of life.
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Years ago, I was having pain in my hands that wasn’t related to strain or injury. It was a burning/aching pain. I went to a rheumatologist whose first suggestion was a vitamin D test. It was so low, the dr prescribed vitamin D in 40,000 IUs, one a week for six weeks. It worked. Now I regularly have it checked. Even with living in a southern US town, being outdoors a lot, it would still drop low even in August.
Thank you for helping to fight the stigma attached to mental illness. I have battled anxiety and depression for years. Every little bit helps!
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I always noticed that you exude so much light and it makes me want to shine my own more as well ✨🌞 Thank you for talking about mental health, it has probably helped so many people! 💙
What a beautiful area you live in but the polar nights terrify me personally. Growing up in California and living in Maui and Vegas for a while I’ve realized how the weather affects me in such an impactful way. My mood worsens whenever it’s cloudy/grey for too many days in a row. Thank you for sharing your experience and journey with us. This video was very eye opening. Makes me wonder how many others struggle with their mental health during seasons like this.
Cecilia, I have to say I can't even imagine living through such a long period without sunlight. I would so be moving to Portugal if I were you! I live in Wisconsin and we are subject to long period of time with overcast weather without blue sky and sunshine. It affects my mood drastically. You are very lucky to have your parents living in the beautiful country of Portugal. I enjoy your videos even though I hate the cold intensely!
that's why I love living in Italy
Thank you so much for sharing this video! I live in Michigan in the U.S. and even though we have nothing like the polar night- our winters are very long and mostly sunless. From around November to as late as April we have cold temps and very cloudy days with very little sun. Add to that Day Light Savings Time when we push the clocks back an hour and by November it gets dark by 4:30 pm. I also struggle with extreme fatigue, weight gain and some anxiety during this time. I think it is so important to talk about this because it shows others that there are real physical changes that happen for people living in winter climates and it’s not just a lack of will power or being lazy. These are very real metabolic changes and just by being aware and proactive in your self care, it can make a huge difference both physically and mentally.
Hi Cecilia, I found your channel a few months ago, and love it. I have high anxiety and get overwhelmed...I've had this problem for a long time and am getting therapy for it. But I find your channel very relaxing actually. Your demeanor, your enthusiasm and joy in where you live, and the beautiful scenery you share make your channel not only very interesting, but very relaxing. You help with my anxiety. Thank you for that! 🤗
Omg Christoffer walked right by a polar bear?? Wow!!
Glad you had a nice break and some sunshine in Portugal with your family. I'm visiting my family in Massachusetts- right over Connecticut. I live in the UK right now and have been missing my family a lot- this was my first chance to visit due to the pandemic. We had a few very warm days, which I enjoy.
Thank you for the work you put into your channel, I have been enjoying it so much!
Fascinating! Thanks so much for the update--After 63 years I experienced my first bout of anxiety during the various lockdowns we’ve had and understand EXACTLY what you are saying about the appreciation you feel for mental health challenges and anyone who struggles with them --a true eye opener! I love ALL your videos, you are an amazing talent and your channel is my absolute favorite.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Yes, the lockdowns have messed up my "normal" my first thoughts are, I don't want to leave the apartment. This probably also messed up my Vit. D levels.
Winter darkness kicks my ass, and I am in NYC. I just can’t imagine how you coped at all with a complete polar night!
Love you and your vlogs and Svalbard. I missed Grim and Christopher I hope they are both good. Take care of yourself x
Cecilia, you are a much stronger person than I would ever be. Thanks for sharing!
Coming across you channel was a great thing. I've had Svalbard on my bucket list of places to visit for awhile. I think seeing the landscape and a polar bear in their natural landscape at a distance would be amazing. I know living there wouldn't be for me as so long without sunshine just would make my winter depression so much worse. I love hearing about your life in such an amazing remote place. Thank you for sharing with us.
Something I experienced the one winter I was on Svalbard was migraines with aura. The doctors found no real reason for my migraines, but considering they stopped after the sun came out again and have not appeared since I came back to the mainland, my theory is that it was related to the polar night.
Ohhh same, I get migraine with auras since like 2 years back, soo strange! But not very often and usually just after heavy excercise and not enough food. Did yours completely go away?
@@CeciliaBlomdahl Yes, mine is completely gone, I have not had another one in 3 years or so.
Sorry to hear that licorice lover mine very annoying eyesight goes funny as well are from sunlight I got pills to take prevent most of them. I avoid TV and leaving lights on also as too much light is terrible for me.
I get migraines when using the wood stove too often, perhaps long term exposure to low level smoke chemicals is bad. The body accumulates the smoked particles over time. Also, I can get migraines from some red wine products. I also can get migraines from newly produced rubber or plastic products.
I'm sure its more likely that its the effects of lack of sun but I would also strongly suggest getting your Thyroid tested. You listed off a LOT of the main symptoms of Thyroidism. Thank you for posting this video, thoroughly enjoyed seeing what ppl experience there.
Her doctor already tests that every 6 months or so when running her metabolic panel during her annual or biannual physical.
@@defeatSpace My doctor didn’t.
Thank you for all the hard work you do to put these videos out! Loved this one!
Came from tiktok and I must say your videos are a breath of fresh air for me. Thank you for sharing your life with us ❤
Very interesting video! I get depressed after a few days of cloudiness. I would probably have to be hospitalized during a polar night! It is amazing how sunlight, and vitamin D, affects our bodies in so many ways, both physically and mentally. Thanks for sharing your results of your study.
Greetings from San Diego Cecilia! 🌊☀️🌴 Thank you for being my favorite channel on TH-cam. ♥️
Thanks so much for the kind words, and for watching! :)
The last scene of this video wiped out my anxiety all of a sudden. How powerful nature is!
You are ALWAYS fascinating to listen to. I love your stories and that you’re always learning new things and sharing that knowledge with the rest of us. ❤️
Glad to see you are feeling better.
I am Scottish but live in Queensland Australia so it's so interesting to learn about your life. Keep the videos coming. I love watching them.
Cheers Lis xx
Awesome video. I was a bit low on D. My doctor told me to get a little sun. You mentioned in another video that you were taking a higher dose daily so I started to take 5000IU once a week. Much better. I actually thrive in a winter environment. Less pain, less lethargic. Guess we’re all wired differently. Sending you, Christoffer, & Grim lots of hugs and love ❤️❤️❤️
There are so many effects that lack of light have on our bodies. Thanks so much for sharing.
My vit. D went down to 9. I live in CO/USA. The normal range is 30-60. They put me on 50, 000iu S&W and the other days10,000iu. It really does make a difference. ❤️🙏❤️
Moving from AZ to CO taught me how real seasonal depression is!
Hello from Ireland. Your videos are great. I just wanted to say, if you got all your bloods done you probably got your tyroid checked but if not, you definitely should. I used to sleep all the time and I found out I had an under active thyroid. When I started to take the medication I had never felt so energetic but it levels out after a while. I also suffer from generalised anxiety disorder and anxiety really is not fun so I'm sorry you had to experience it. I hope you enjoy the brighter days to come.
Thyroid issues are also related to an increased need of antioxidants, which also help with anxiety!
I lived in Scotland from 7 till 22 (there is barely any sun over there) I now moved to Israel where the weather is TOTALLY different...
I see the massive difference in how I'm feeling compared to how I was in Scotland.
So jealous!!
Yeah scotland is hard with the weather and dark nights/mornings.
It is amazing how much vitamins can impact how we feel. And I think that online therapy is a brilliant idea. Take care of you 🤗
I admire your dedication to your health. It's taken me 65 years to get where you are now. I've found that the darkness helps you rest after a long year. As always it comes down to balance. Light and dark, above and below, inside and out.
low vit D is so common, even without a polar night! we spend so much time indoors that we just don't produce enough (and rightfully we should protect ourselves from sun rays because.. cancer.). I live in Italy and go outside everyday...and I had very low vit D. no wonder I was used to feeling like crap all the time! Just do this test folks!
I’d like to experience zero anxiety for the first time.
My body always feels like I’m about to be killed by something horrible. I don’t remember a time I’ve not felt that way, tbh.
Perhaps a trip to Scandinavia might help?
Fat soluble Vitamin B1, which is called Benfotiamine. You can order it and take three or more each day. Apparently nutritional yeast is a very good natural source for this too. This is very effective against anxiety.
I doubt that a trip to Scandinavia would help. It sounds like you may have several nutritional deficiencies. It may also help to visit a sunny climate closer to the equator.
B1 ain't going to cure my childhood PTSD 🤣🤣
I know it’s the new ‘in-thing’, but have you been checked for ADHD? I spent my life feeling like that, trying several anxiety meds and nothing worked. Just got diagnosed with ADHD after 10 years of trying everything to cure my anxiety, it all makes sense now!
Praying for you, friend. I am familiar with this type of anxiety as well, leaning into the Lord has helped me tremendously in being reminded of his promise to always care for me and that I am his child and have an eternity with him regardless of what my body may experience here in this place. You are loved and I pray you have a direct revelation of such.
Amazing watching you and your pup deal with the massive snowfall! I'm cold just watching you shovel.
I’ve been a fan and subscribed Jan1,2012. It amazes me how completely enthralled I am with your content after ten years. Thanks for all the education and entertainment Cecilia!
Ive only been posting for 2 years but thank you 😊😊😊
This was so interesting. Thank you! I have always felt suited for the cold, extreme weather of the north and have entertained the idea of moving to a more extreme environment where the winters are longer. Maybe not as extreme as where you live though! I found this video informative and eye opening and will surely help me if I do one day make the move to the far north. Thanks again! 🥰
Supplements and exercise you’ll be fine. I remember during a very dark depression episode before I got on my meds I completely blacked out my windows and sat in my room barely eating for 3 months. My wife at the time recently passed from cancer and I just wanted to die. I didn’t go to work, didn’t clean, nothing. I lost a lot of weight and was very malnourished and I was photosensitive to light. When I finally got help for my depression the doctor just gave me meds and supplements. I jokingly said “I assume I need to go sit in the sun for a while to get some vitamins back” she said no just take your supplements. She was right. All my vitamin and mineral levels went back to normal. So no, the sun isn’t required.
I lived in Lapland last winter, and I never met so many depressed people, I don't think the human body is made for no daylight. The constant darkness made me so tired, it's must be even worse in Svalbard. Thanks for sharing!
You guys absolutely have a unique and interesting life up there on Svalbard. Glad you do these vids. Thanks
Hi Cecilia. I really enjoy your weekly videos. As a Canadian I too supplement my Vitamin D. Even in the summer I continue to take. Keep the wonderful videos with the amazing scenery coming. Cheers 🇨🇦
Thank you so much! 🙏🏻
Vitamin D supplementation is needed in the Canadian north to prevent suboptimal vitamin D levels. You cannot get enough from skin synthesis even in the Canadian summer. Just be careful and don’t over do the level of supplements. 8000 IU/day is a lot. Too much vitamin D can be harmful to your bones. So be careful about what you recommend. Loading up can cause huge medical issues. 1000-2000 IU/day as a maintenance dose is enough in northern Canada.
@@CeciliaBlomdahl do you guys use sun lamps in he winter? I am trying to remember if I have seen you use them. I live in the PNW and we use them along with Vit D in the winter - both really help :D Also, there is a new-ish synthesis of Curcumin Oils and Turmeric called "BCM-95" that is amazing for depression (I am bi-polar all my life)- if you combine it with Ashwaganda, which is an amazing anti-anxiety supplement (I also have generalized anxiety disorder) it is a winning combination. No side effects other than good ones (BCM-95 is an amazing anti-inflammatory and you'd be surprised how many body functions it improves) As these are natural supplements most folks have to take them every day for about a month before the benefits start kicking in. It's worth it to feel happier and less stressed, and to not have any weird side effects from prescription drugs.
We take it almost all year round here in Canada. In the summer my kids don't wear sunscreen often because they need to get as much natural vit D as they can.
I live In northern west Michigan for 38
Years. Winters here are really hard. And very little sun light is common most winter days. But this here is another level!!! I would not want to do this!!! Every single year when the seasons start changing around September/October I get so many different physical and mental health changes! It definitely plays a huge role in ones body! And more so I’ve found since I turned 30, 8 years ago. Progressively harder every year! Time to move SOUTH soon! Lol
I need a month off every winter. Escape for a month to the south. I understand why people move to Arizona and Florida for the Winter. I hope you get a break from the cold.
Your filming is blowing me away ! So epic! I 😍
I don’t need a therapy. When I watch your videos it relaxes me. Thank you!!! ❤️
Love your content Cecilia :) :) Stunning visuals as usual !
You're the best!!
This reminds me of growing up in Alaska. Couldn't wait to get to grow up and move to a warm climate!
i am obsessed with your channel!!! so entertaining
You are a breath of fresh air and a pleasure to watch! I love the calmness of life where you are…I can’t imagine getting to live there! ❤
Always a joy to watch your videos. Thank you!
So nice of you 🧡
I can honestly say I was a bit worried about you, especially after the holidays. I could definitely see a shift in your mood after that video of you throwing the tree out the door. :) I am glad you are feeling better & getting stronger. And you DO look sun-kissed! :)
Marianna
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Hello Cecilia, First of all I love..love your channel! It is fascinating to watch this extreme weather conditions in your place. Take care yourself please and your beautiful family!
It is truly fascinating what a low Vit D level can do to the body and the psyche. So glad you and Christoffer got it checked and are on the road to feeling better. ❤️❤️
Sharing to you guys, I have MDD and anxiety. I literally don't go out of my house. I don't have any friends or any activities/hobbies to be done outside the house. Groceries, bills, and my job are done remotely. At one point I experienced having joint pains every night before sleep and my teeth were easily chipped (happened 3x in 1 month). I found out in my lab tests that my ionized calcium were at a low level, so I had to take calcium supplements for a couple of months and other meds. It was awful.
Can you sometime show us the harbour and ships that come in to Longyearbin? Enjoy your videos! You are a wonderful ambassador for Svalbard.
I’m mostly a lurker here, but just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your content, Cecilia. Been following you for a very long time. Love seeing your daily lives unfold - and your openness and honesty is refreshing and humbling. I have a chronic Vit D deficiency due to a health issue I have, so I truly get it when you describe how it affects you. Fatigue and brain fog are a struggle! I have the hyper-pigmentation too. Always thought it was hormone related, but now wondering if it’s Vit D related?
Would love to visit Svalbard some day. And it’d be great to meet you if I could ever make it over there from England! x
This was so interesting. I hope your feeling better. Thank you so much for sharing. I always enjoy seeing how other folks live around the world. Those Northern Lights are. Amazing, an overall scenery is Breathtaking. Stay Well.☺️
I live in central Sweden and I definitely get seasonal depression during winter. I mean, I have depression all year round, but my mood absolutely lifts during summer. I think the best thing for my mental health would be to move somewhere sunnier, but I'm scared of losing my social security. I have such crippling depression that I can't hold down a job... :/
I moved to Copenhagen in October 2021, this winter was SO hard. It was absolutely linked to the darker evenings and the fact that it was sooo gloomy each day. I tried to remember to take Vitamin D supplements as well as normal multivitamins. I'm not a fan of fish so I think I might need to start Omega 3 supplements too to make sure I handle "this" winter that bit better.
You can easily get Omega 3 via simple flaxseed :)
Thanks to you, we get to know this region with very harsh natural conditions. I enjoy watching your videos. Good luck!
Thank you for speaking on all of this! ❤️❤️❤️