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Light Therapy - SAD/winter blues

post #1 of 25
10/10/07 at 3:53pm
Thread Starter 
The clouds have rolled in and I feel "it". Gloom and ick in my head. I'm on the warpath to fight the winter blues, but I'd like to do what I can naturally before resorting to meds. I live in Oregon, and the sun breaks are few and far between during the winter.

Has anyone tried light therapy? Does it seem to be worth the expense or a waste of money?

I don't expect to be happy la la la every day of my life, but these winter blues can take a hike if you ask me!

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post #2 of 25
10/10/07 at 8:24pm
I completely understand the weighty, sad feeling of the gloomy dark winter days. I lived in the UK for a few years and the second year a friend loaned me a light box and it worked wonders. I loved it!! My brother also got one and he says it makes a huge difference. There are ones that are portable and easy to take with you to work or on trips. They are expensive, but meds get expensive too. Maybe you can borrow one to see if it helps first, and make sure you're getting all your b vitamins and see how that goes. I'm probably going to get one for this winter as well. Good luck!!
post #3 of 25
10/10/07 at 9:41pm
It's my understanding that you can do light therapy at home and it's not all that expensive. I think Julia Ross touches on it some in her book the Mood Cure, check it out...I love that book!
post #4 of 25
10/10/07 at 10:40pm
Thread Starter 
I'll have to take a gander at that book next time I get to the library. Thanks for the reference.

Funny, the thought never crossed my mind to go somewhere for light therapy. I guess that's just the term I've found to describe the lights that I've seen for sale.

I've been good about my B vitamins, and also take magnesium, prenatal vitamins, flaxseed and try my best to stick to whole foods and lots of fruit and veggies. But I have to be careful about what supplements I take as I'm pregnant right now. (Trying to get ahead of the game as far as Post Partum Depression - I've been down that road too

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it!
post #5 of 25
10/10/07 at 11:42pm
The thing about light therapy is you really have to sit in front of the light for about an hour each day. It's probably easier to have it at home where you can multi-task while sitting in front of the light. It is an investment, but with any luck it'll last you a while. The ones I've been looking at cost just under $300. I've never seen places where you can go and get light therapy, but then again I've never looked either.
post #6 of 25
10/11/07 at 8:52pm
Just to throw this in, I use my light box for 30 -60 minutes each day. 30 minutes works, an hour is better. It is best to do this at the same time each day too. . .and my light cost $125. I bought it at Costco, and I think they maybe offer them online this time of year too.
post #7 of 25
10/11/07 at 9:14pm
Thread Starter 
I found one on Amazon for $109! Regular price was $140 - and I even got free shipping!

Hopefully it'll help make a difference. If I put it in front of my computer it'll give me an excuse to play on the Internet for an hour every day.

Thanks for the info everyone!
post #8 of 25
10/16/07 at 11:48am
Thread Starter 
Wow!!! I'm on day two after getting my light, and I feel as happy as July.

Just try to pull me away from that thing! I'm like a moth.
post #9 of 25
10/17/07 at 8:59pm
fine! I'm sold. We had a real fall week (gloomy and cold) and I can here searching because I know how bad it can get.

how does it work and where can I do a little more research?
post #10 of 25
10/17/07 at 9:19pm
Thread Starter 
I googled "light therapy" and found tons of info. I just blogged about what a great difference this is making for me, and put a link to the light I bought on Amazon. I hunted Ebay and lots of other sites, but the one on Amazon was the best deal.

Hope it works as well for you as it is for me! I know I would be down in the dumps this week w/out it. It's so icky and gloomy!
post #11 of 25
10/19/07 at 11:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockies5 View Post
fine! I'm sold. We had a real fall week (gloomy and cold) and I can here searching because I know how bad it can get.

how does it work and where can I do a little more research?
Me too! Seattle winters are *so* hard for me to handle. I literally cry tears of joy when I start to see leaf buds in the spring. Next payday, I'm getting a light box.


Off to explain to DP that I'm going to spend $100+ on a light. Of course, he did mention the other day that "once the rain starts, you stop liking me for 10 months :"... so maybe he'll be thrilled
post #12 of 25
10/20/07 at 12:34am
Thread Starter 
It's SOOOOO worth it!! Honestly, it's THE best $100 I've ever spent.

And last night before bed my dh said, "You're actually laughing at my jokes, and it's been raining all week?"

I cannot believe the difference it has made in my life. Sounds weird, but I actually feel like I did 10 years ago. And I'm patient with my kids, and I want to climb around and play with them on the floor (& I'm 8 months pregnant?!?).

Wishing you all the best! And hope you weathered that nasty windstorm yesterday Woobysma.
post #13 of 25
10/20/07 at 12:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by yogabear View Post
And last night before bed my dh said, "You're actually laughing at my jokes, and it's been raining all week?"
That TOTALLY sounds like something DP would say. I hear ya!
I feel the need to for a pre-emptive strike this season. I hate that "batten down the hatches, there's a storm a'brewing" has a whole different meaning in my house

We did OK last night... most of our trees had already fallen last year We lost power early in the afternoon and were ready for another week w/o electricity, but it came back on at about 9:00. I might have to take back all the nasty things I said about Snohomish PUD last fall
post #14 of 25
10/22/07 at 3:17pm
Yogabear, I'm thinking about getting a lightbox & I'm almost sold by what you've told us. Just a question, do you feel like your eyes are being blinded when you sit in front of it? Obviously you shouldn't be staring right into it, but if you sit in front of it & read your eyes are not bothered? Do you know how long the bulbs last before they burn out?
post #15 of 25
10/22/07 at 4:05pm
Thread Starter 
When I first turn it on it is definitely REALLY bright, but I don't stare right at it the whole time. It is safe to look directly at the light because the UV rays are blocked, but it's not necessary to get the effects.

I have mine set up right next to my computer (our office is nicknamed the cave because we have no windows in it). My eyes are about two feet away from the light, and once my eyes are dilated I don't really notice it? I must be so deficient I just soak it up??

DH says I look like a glow worm.

The instructions on the light I bought say that the bulbs don't really burn out completely but over time lose their intensity. The one I have measures 10,000 lux. They suggest replacing the bulbs every year or so depending on how often the light is used.

I really honestly cannot believe how much of a difference it has made for me. I'm very surprised by it. I was quite skeptical because of the cost. My dh said yesterday, "I don't care if it's a placebo effect or really working. It's worth every penny."

I hope if you decide to get one you have great results, too!
post #16 of 25
10/22/07 at 11:07pm
I was in a SAD study last year and used a light box. It definitely helped. Try to find one that is 10,000 lux (not less) and sit within 18 inches of it for at least 30 minutes. You don't look at the light; I usually read in front of the light box (which is on my desk) every morning. They are somewhat spendy but totally worth it.
post #17 of 25
10/23/07 at 12:47am
Has anyone looked into alternative "do-it-yourself" lightboxes?
My SIL says she read somewhere that you could use a combination of a flourecent and conventional light somehow (like a "grow light" and a lightbulb ?). She says it was about 10 years ago when she read it, when light therapy was fairly new, so she wasn't sure how effective it would be.

We both want to try it, but if we could save $100, all the better.
post #18 of 25
10/23/07 at 1:00am
Thread Starter 
If you did a self-built light I'd just be really careful about the UV exposure. I found this link, and it seems to cover lots of info about light therapy. (doesn't say anything about building your own though)

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sea...sorder/MH00023
post #19 of 25
10/23/07 at 2:19am
Thanks, I'll check it out.

Frankly, $100 isn't THAT much if it helps as much as I think it will. I just love a good deal and hate paying retail
post #20 of 25
10/23/07 at 2:54pm
Quote:
DH says I look like a glow worm.


thanks mama! I think i'm gonna get one!!
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Health › Health and Healing › Mental Health › Light Therapy - SAD/winter blues