Light for S.A.D.

[TBRS1]

The short daylight hours around this time of year generally have a bad effect on my, specifically, nasty depression (S.A.D - seasonal affective disorder)

My daughter bought me a very inexpensive bright light panel (they run around $30, USD) to try.

I can't say for certain that it's working, but I am having none of my usual twichyness this year, so far.

I just turn it on while I'm making coffee and breakfast, for about 20 minutes.

So, again, I can't say it's working, but if someone has SAD symptoms, it is cheap enough to be worth trying.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Hopefully this method will keep working for you.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Light spectrum and intensity makes a difference. All the lighting in my home is a multi-spectrum "sunlight"-type LEDs, sometimes these are under the category of indoor plant "grow lights". I also use as high a wattage and lumens (light production) as I can find.

If you are a seasonal affective disorder (SAD) sufferer then you start paying attention to your environment. It could mean seeking out a home with large, south-facing windows (northern hemisphere), skylights, and high ceilings. It could mean keeping the window blinds/shades open during the day and/or light reflecting colors on the floors and walls.

Look for excuses to go outside.

 

[Bobsterkitty]

This is not medical advice but more a friendly suggestion. Those lamps, especially the cheap, unregulated stuff, can be harmful or at least ineffective. 10 min of sunlight a day would already do for most. If that is not consistently available, you might want to check your vitamin D3, B12, and magnesium levels and discuss them with your friendly GP, endocrinologist, or internist.

 

[thejuice]

Light spectrum and intensity makes a difference. All the lighting in my home is a multi-spectrum "sunlight"-type LEDs, sometimes these are under the category of indoor plant "grow lights". I also use as high a voltage and lumens (light production) as I can find.

If you are a seasonal affective disorder (SAD) sufferer then you start paying attention to your environment. It could mean seeking out a home with large, south-facing windows (northern hemisphere), skylights, and high ceilings. It could mean keeping the window blinds/shades open during the day and/or light reflecting colors on the floors and walls.

Look for excuses to go outside.

Do they fit in standard light sockets?

 

[thejuice]

On top of SAD I think all these artificial flickering lights wear you down. Winter is a grind.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Do they fit in standard light sockets?

Yes. Amazon.com : sunlight led bulbs

 

[Neonatal RRT]

This is not medical advice but more a friendly suggestion. Those lamps, especially the cheap, unregulated stuff, can be harmful or at least ineffective. 10 min of sunlight a day would already do for most. If that is not consistently available, you might want to check your vitamin D3, B12, and magnesium levels and discuss them with your friendly GP, endocrinologist, or internist.

All good suggestions, but there are those of us who live in areas where the cloud cover rarely ever breaks for 3-4 months during the winter. For example, I live near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Even when there are not fronts moving into the area, it's almost always cloudy due to the lake effect clouds from Lake Michigan. We've gone more than 30 days in a row without seeing the sun. This sort of thing is not uncommon in the more northern coastal regions around the world. SAD and vitamin D deficiencies are prevalent in these areas. Although vitamin D, B12, and magnesium levels can affect serotonin levels and depression, there isn't enough evidence to suggest that they have a significant effect on SAD.

 

[Rachie]

Someone gave me an energy light as a gift and I've never really used it as it seemed a bit too alternative for me. After reading this though I am willing to give it a go now. I was given a Philips Blu Go Light HF3320. It produces a blue light. I think it might be the same thing. Good post.