Light therapy can help a myriad of medical problems including depression. Those suffering from clinical depression often sleep too much and have a tendency to stay indoors for prolonged periods of time. This lack of sunlight can contribute to a person’s depression and make them feel worse. Clinically depressed patients often see a serious reaction to short days and long nights during the fall and winter due to lack of sunlight. This is where light therapy comes into play. Light therapy can be a successful way to treat some symptoms of depression and make a person feel better.
Light Therapy Options
There are many light therapy options. First, consult with your physician to find out if light therapy is the right choice for you. Depending on your schedule, you may be able to get in some time in natural sunlight. Others may need to look to a light box in order to get their daily fill of light.
One thing to keep in mind when shopping for a light box is there is no one model or brand approved by the FDA to use for the treatment of SAN. Because of this, you want a light box with white lights that emit relatively low UV rays. Some light boxes are designed for people who suffer from various skin conditions. Since there are more studies on the performance of white light boxes, it is wise to choose these versus the new blue lights on the market. Blue lights have shown to be effective for some SAD patients but overall there is more information available to support the success of SAD patients using white lights.
Buy a light box that is easy for you to use on a daily basis. Most physicians suggest patients using the light box for up to 30 minutes every day. That can be half an hour straight or it can be intervals of 10 minutes. You can pick one up at stores such as www.ledhut.co.uk. Do what works best for your schedule and gauge how you are feeling every day by journaling. Not every SAD patient will need the full 30 minutes of light box exposure. Learning how to listen to your body and gauge your energy levels is also effective for SAD patients experimenting with light therapy.
The above is recommended for those with clinical depression. Those diagnosed as bi-polar should work closely with their doctor to come up with the best plan based on medications. The light from the light box is emitting the same light as the sun which garners a chemical reaction in the brain. Because the medication of the patient is on also causes a chemical reaction, the light therapy routine may vary to make this combination of treatments the most effective.
