November 9th, 2009
Light therapy is most effective when you have the right combination of three key elements: duration, timing and light intensity.
Duration. When you first begin light therapy, you may want to start with shorter duration of use. Your doctor can also recommend a treatment schedule for you; generally, you begin with shorter blocks of time, usually 15 minutes. You will gradually increase your light therapy by five minutes until you reach at least 30 minutes per day. You can use the light box for daily sessions ranging from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on your need.
Timing. For most people, light therapy is most effective if used in the morning, after you first wake, rather than during the evening. Light therapy at night could disrupt your sleep pattern. Timing has been research extensively to determine the most appropriate time for therapy to be effective. According to researchers Michael and Jiuan Su Terman, the earlier the better in using your light box. Unfortunately for some, the best times tend to be much earlier than is convenient. According to their studies, the response rate to light therapy can double, from forty to eight percent, if treatments are shifted early enough, say from 8:00 AM to 6:00 AM. In addition, using light therapy early can also shift sleep schedules making it easier to fall asleep at night.
Intensity. The intensity of the light box is recorded in Lux. Lux is the measure of the amount of light you receive at a specific distance from a light source. Light boxes generally produce between 2,500 Lux to 10,000 Lux. In contrast, the lighting in an average living room in the evening is less than 400 Lux, while a bright sunny day may register 100,000 Lux. The intensity of your light box may also determine how far you sit from it and the length of time you need to use it. Our 10,000 Lux light box usually requires a 30 minute session, while a 2,500 Lux light box may require a 2 hour session.
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October 19th, 2009
Light Therapy is a way to treat depression, seasonal affective disorder and other conditions by exposure to bright, artificial light. To receive light therapy, you sit or work close to a device called a light therapy box. The light therapy box emits a bright light that mimics natural outdoor light. Exposure to this type of light from a light therapy box can alter your circadian rhythms and suppress your body’s natural release of melatonin. This can cause biochemical changes in your brain to reduce or control symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder.
A light therapy box emits a type and intensity of light that is not found in normal household lighting. Simply sitting in front of a lamp at home is unlikely to relieve your seasonal affective disorder symptoms or other problems. A light box delivers brighter, more focused light than you can find outdoors which makes it more effective than trying to get enough light exposure by being outside – especially on gloomy days.
Like any medical treatment, light therapy should be used under the supervision of a doctor. Individuals who have another type of depressive disorder, skin that is sensitive to light, or medical conditions that may make the eyes vulnerable to light damage should use light therapy with caution. The lights that are used for SAD light therapy must filter out harmful UV rays. For this reason alone, we only use broad spectrum lights. Unlike full spectrum, broad lights are as close as you can get to sunlight without the harmful UV rays
Tags: Light Therapy, SAD
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October 12th, 2009
SAD can affect adults, teens, and even children. It is estimated that about 6 in every 100 people (6%) experience SAD. The number of people with SAD varies from region to region. One study of SAD in the United States found the rate of SAD was seven times higher among people in New Hampshire than in Florida. This further suggests the farther people live from the equator, the more likely they are to develop SAD. Some individuals who work long hours inside office buildings with few windows can also experience symptoms all year round.
SAD is also more common in women than in men. Although some children and teenagers get SAD, it typically does not begin in people young than 20 years old. For adults, the risk of SAD decreases as they get older.
If you are feeling symptoms of winter depression, we suggest you seek the advice of a skilled clinician.
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October 5th, 2009
Seasonal affective disorder is a cyclic, seasonal condition. This kind of condition means the signs and symptoms come back and go away at the same times every year. Symptoms usually appear during the late fall or early winter months and subside during the sunnier days of spring and summer. Symptoms may begin mild but become more intense as the season progresses.
Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Depression and anxiety
- Feeling of hopelessness
- Lack of energy
- Withdrawal from family, friends and social activities
- Oversleeping
- Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
- Appetite changes, especially the craving of foods high in carbohydrates
- Weight gain
- Difficulty concentrating and processing information.
Although these are the main symptoms denoted to SAD, symptoms can vary from person to person. This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. We suggest that all interested persons seek the advice of a skilled clinician.
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September 29th, 2009
Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression also known as winter depression or the winter blues. It is a mood disorder in which individuals with normal mental health through most of the year experience depression symptoms during the winter months. A much less common type of SAD, known as summer-onset depression, generally begins in the late spring or early summer and goes away with winter. SAD may be related to changes in the amount of daylight during different times of the year.
SAD is more common in women than in men. Although children and teenagers experience SAD, it generally does not begin in people younger than 20 years of age. Winter-onset SAD is more common in northern regions, where the winter season is typically longer and more harsh.
SAD has been linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain driven by shorter daylight hours and a lack of sunlight in the winter months. As seasons change, individuals may experience a shift in their internal biological clock or circadian rhythm and can cause their daily schedule to be disrupted. Melatonin, a sleep-related hormone, has also been associated with SAD. This hormone has been linked to depression and is produced at higher levels of darkness. In the winter when the days are shorter and darker, melatonin is produced which can then lead to symptoms of SAD. Researchers have proven that bright light positively affects the brain chemistry reducing the symptoms of SAD.
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that can severely impact your daily life. Treatment, which may include light box therapy, can help you successfully manage the disorder. You do not need to continue to dread the coming of fall and winter anymore.
Tags: SAD
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