SAD/lighting?

[LiLStar]

I live in the PNW, and I also live in a house that doesn't allow much light to get in. Where there's windows, there's other houses too close to allow much light in. Its a nice house, and I like it, but..I feel like I'm living in a cave sometimes. Its making me BATTY. (pun not intended, lmao) My dd's room faces straight down a street perpendicular to our street, so there's no obstacles preventing the sunlight from getting in. Sometimes I go into her room, open the curtains, and its like a weight off my shoulders.. ahh.. light. I'm trying to figure out the best lighting option. I was looking at full spectrum lighting, then heard of lightboxes and that those are supposed to be better. So I looked at those and it looked like it was something you're just supposed to use around 30 min a day, for "therapy"? (but it did say bright as noon on a cloudless day, which is EXACTLY what I want!) What would be the best choice for general every day lighting in a couple rooms where we spend the most time? I don't care what it costs, I dont care what it does to my electric bill, and I don't care how tacky it looks screwed into my ceiling. If I don't get some GOOD light in this house before winter, I will lose whats left of my mind!

[Rainbow2911]

I love my lightbox! Couldn't function without it. I use it every morning for half an hour. Pre kids I used to eat my breakfast in front of it. These days I haven't a hope of sitting down for breakfast for that long! So I set my alarm (dawn simulator - love that too!) a little earlier and spend half an hour reading in bed with the box on in the mornings. A nice way to start the day.
Highly reccomend them.

[LiLStar]

so its not something i could stick on top of a bookshelf in a room and say "okay, this is the light for this room"? I want good lighting ALL day!

[lisasaurus]

i'm in the pacific northwest too, and NEED to get a lightbox this year.

[vegmom]

I need sunshine!

The month of september has been really nice and sunny/warn - really the summer we never had. These last few days Fall has arrived and the clouds have made the bright sunshine disappear.

I go outside everyday for walking even in the rain - but now I feel like crawling under a rock to cry. I have never really noticed such sharp change in moods before and correlating it to the sun.

[Rainbow2911]

Originally Posted by LiLStar

so its not something i could stick on top of a bookshelf in a room and say "okay, this is the light for this room"? I want good lighting ALL day!

Not really. The box gives out a lot of light that treats SAD. But having good strong lighting the rest of the day is a great idea too. I find that the half hour in the morning really does lift my mood for the day (not totally but it helps) but bright lighting is lovely.

[bigteamug]

Just a thought - check and see if it needs special replacement bulbs, and on the bulb life if you're thinking about using it as a lamp - be horrible to do that and find out the bulbs are $$$$.

[LiLStar]

Soo.. I think I'll still look into getting a light box and just use it for a short time every day, but what kind of light bulbs should I use for the rest of the house? (brand, style, wattage) I'm ready to go get the big huge lights that professional photographer's use and put them in every dark corner of my house. I feel like I live underground!

[Rainbow2911]

As many 100W bulbs (or equivalent) as you can find! I also add lots of lamps so I can make it bright during the day and tone the light down in the evening. Some people find that daylight spectrum bulbs make them feel better. As far as I know there is no science backing that up (unlike light therapy) and for me, I just want light in any colour!
Hope you can find some that help you.