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SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) also defined as winter depression, is a serious condition that has as a cause the lack of bright light during the winter days. No wonder that this form of depression is treated with light therapy. The incidence of SAD is higher in the northern regions of the Globe, due to their long winter nights. Statistically women are more affected than men are. The illness has serious repercussions on the general well being of the patient; hormonal disorders (including worsened PMS symptoms for women), weight gain and tendency to overeat and sleeping disorders (oversleep). Yes, you've got that right: SAD is not a typical melancholic depression.
Because SAD is caused by the absence of light it is only natural that light therapy (as a non-invasive remedy) is preferred to treat this depression. The idea is to replace the amount of light found in normal summer days with artificial light. The most important is the intensity of the light and not its color spectrum. Therapeutic light is up to 40 times brighter than normal room lights. Many people who suffer from SAD purchase some light boxes (although therapists will argue that inappropriate exposure might lead to secondary effects: disturbances in the retina, anxiety, etc) and use them while they fulfill normal daily tasks: watching TV, doing laundry, reading or eating. The patients are advised not to stare into the light, but to perform these tasks as if they would be in the presence of ordinary light. The duration of the treatment varies from one week to maximum three weeks and many patients use the light boxes the whole winter, each day. SAD might recur; so many patients choose to keep their light boxes for further use. If you suffer from SAD and intend to purchase a light box, but you are disturbed by the high price, you should know that some health insurance companies do reimburse for the purchase of the light boxes. It is wise to call your health insurer and ask whether there is coverage for such a purchase in your policy or not. Just remember: light therapy will just improve your condition, but there are no warranties that it will cure your depression. As a matter of fact, no antidepressant cures the disorder. When light therapy doesn't relieve your symptoms you should consult your physician again and ask for treatment alternatives. He or she might recommend medication, in addition to light therapy and not to replace it. If you don't suffer from SAD or any other depression for that matter, but you would still like to bring more light into your home during winter (or maybe just when your windows are not large enough to let in the proper amount of natural light), you could always purchase a light box made of high power LEDs. Compared to the white fluorescent light boxes, LED light boxes have the advantage of reducing energy costs while emitting light in the same brightness. Many such devices are cheaper than their fluorescent counterparts and if you don't need bright light, you can always dim the LEDs Article Source: Lighting Guide This article has been viewed 235 times. Add to  Del.icio.us |
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- MLA Style Citation:
Russell, Michael. "Lighting Therapies To Cure Winter Depression"." Lighting-guides.com Mon 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT. Thursday, August 21, 2008 http://lighting-guides.com/a/339027/Lighting+Therapies+to+Cure+Winter+Depression.html
- APA Style Citation:
Russell, Michael. (Mon 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT). Lighting Therapies To Cure Winter Depression. Lighting-guides.com Retrieved Thursday, August 21, 2008, from http://lighting-guides.com/a/339027/Lighting+Therapies+to+Cure+Winter+Depression.html
- Chicago Style Citation:
Russell, Michael. 2007 Lighting Therapies To Cure Winter Depression. Lighting-guides.com (Mon 20 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT), http://lighting-guides.com/a/339027/Lighting+Therapies+to+Cure+Winter+Depression.html (accessed Thursday, August 21, 2008)
