Lima - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
It is very overcast for at least half the year. I bought a lamp to help with that, and it seemed to work. At least it doesn't really rain, though. - Dec 2024
SAD is probably a thing, given the relative lack of sunlight in winter (and some summer) months. Get a happy lamp and go outside during the day when you can to get your minimum 15 minutes of full-spectrum exposure. Some people have reacted better to managing COVID-19 risks than others. - Jul 2022
Maybe winter blues. You could avoid this by getting out of Lima in the winter during school breaks and long weekends. It's the best time to head to the jungle, mountains, or other countries. - Oct 2018
Winter blues are very common in the Miraflores area of Lima. Misty, foggy and overcast for several months out of the year. The La Molina area tended to have more sun. A quick Sunday afternoon trip over the mountains to Cienaguilla would also be a quick cure for SAD. The sun shines bright on the other side of the mountain. - Mar 2018
I hear things get pretty blue here in the winter when we don't see the sun, but being really pale myself I'm kind of looking forward to no sun for a while. - Apr 2017
Many people get depressed with the lack of natural sunlight. - Jul 2016
