Seasonal affective disorder, often known simply as SAD, affects people in the late fall and winter, when the hours of sunlight exposure during the day decrease. Around 25 percent of people in the middle and northern latitudes experience some degree of mild depression in the winter, while around 1/3 of that group develop SAD. People with SAD sleep excessively, up to four hours per day more than they normally would. They may have difficulty functioning at work, overeat and gain large amounts of weight and feel constantly fatigued.
For people with SAD, using special SAD lights or SAD light therapy at different times during the day helps reduce their symptoms. A SAD alarm clock can even adjust the light in the room during the early morning hours to prevent waking up in total darkness. Finding SAD lamps is much easier than it used to be, since more medical personnel are recognizing SAD as a legitimate disorder. Researchers studying SAD light therapy have found an improvement in depression in as little as four to five days using SAD lamps.
A SAD light can be freestanding or be part of a unit used for SAD light therapy known as a light box. A SAD lamp can also be worn as an attachment around the head, so that the wearer can move around. It's not necessary to look directly at the light during sessions, which last anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours; the light just needs to fall on the user's eyes while he works, reads or carries on other daily activities.
When buying a SAD light, consider several factors. The light intensity produced by a SAD lamp should equal the intensity of outside light just after sunrise or just before sunset. Both full-spectrum SAD lights and SAD lamps using regular fluorescent bulbs are available. SAD lights using regular fluorescent bulbs do not pose the same risks from ultraviolet light that a full-spectrum SAD light might, such as worsening of cataracts or skin problems.
Other side effects can occur from using a SAD lamp. Headache, nausea, eye irritation and dry mouth have been reported. If one time of lighting or method of delivery causes symptoms, switch to another type. A SAD alarm clock, which slowly increases the light in the room in the early morning hours, may be all the therapy you need.
If you travel a great deal, a smaller travel unit and a SAD alarm clock may give you the therapy you need in easy-to-pack units. Because SAD lamps and light boxes can be expensive, examine the units in person before purchasing one, to make sure it suits your needs.
Post new comment