Utilizing Light Therapy to Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder
Light therapy is an accepted treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and for people who suffer from the symptoms caused by a decrease in light in the fall and winter months, it can mean the difference between living a normal active life or struggling to function altogether. Autumn and winter months often mean we are going to work just as the sun is appearing and getting home long after it has disappeared. The workplace may have little or no bright natural light and the only exposure a person may have to sunlight during the day is a few minutes at lunch - if the weather is nice enough to go outdoors.
If you happen to be among the numerous people with a type of depression known as seasonal affective disorder, you may find it more and more difficult to crawl out of bed every morning. Additonally, you may feel tired during the day; experience mental confusion; crave carbohydrates; gain weight; feel irratible, sad or anxious and the list of symptons goes on - all because you are not getting enough bright sunlight. It is commonly agreed among medical experts that lack of light causes changes in seretonin and melatonin in the brain resulting in what is generally known as seasonal affective disorder. Luckily, treatment with light therapy can reverse these feelings.
In light therapy, you sit with your eyes open in front of a light box or light lamp. These lights are small, often portable devices that contain fluorescent type bulbs or tubes. The light box gives off a type and intensity of light that isn't found in normal household lighting, so merely sitting down in front of a lamp in your home or office won't alleviate the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. Light therapy mimics outdoor light and causes a biochemical alteration in your brain that lifts your mood, relieving symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. The length of time a person sits in front of the light varies from 30 minutes up to 4 hours every day. Relief from seasonal affective disorder symptoms can begin to go away within the first 4 days of light therapy. While you do not need a prescription to purchase light therapy products, it is best if you check with your doctor first to make sure light therapy if right for you.
