Posts Tagged ‘SAD’
Monday, June 21st, 2010
Today marks the official first day of summer, also known as the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere. Here are some activities to think about doing to get yourself outside and enjoying the sunlight:
Do some gardening, take the bike out for a spin, go for a walk with your family or pets, go for a swim, have lunch at a restaurant with an outdoor patio, get a hammock or swing, play some games outside, or have friends over and grill. Celebrate that it is summertime and enjoy the sunlight.
Daylight brought indoors has been shown to improve productivity, enhance health and wellness, and reduce overall energy costs. Pure natural daylight makes colors more vivid, reduces eye strain, and, according to studies, the variation in solar light levels throughout the course of a day helps cure Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Tags: Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder
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Thursday, June 17th, 2010
Vitamins B12
Vitamins B6 and B12 affect and help regulate your mood, and might help alleviate SAD. A Finnish study reports vitamin B12 helps reduce depression.
Vitamins B6 and B12
Vitamins B6 and B12 promote healthy blood cells, and help regulate the nervous system. They affect mood and brain functioning.
The B Vitamins and SAD
Vitamins B6 and B12 promote dopamine production, one of the body’s neurotransmitters responsible for pleasure. If a person does not have adequate amounts of these vitamins, he might experience lethargy, a lack of concentration, anxiety and other symptoms similar to SAD.
Food Sources of Vitamins B6 and B12
Food sources include fish, meat, chicken, cheese, milk, eggs and fortified cereals. Vegetarians should consider a supplement.
Daily Requirements
Eat 1.3 to 1.7 mg of vitamin B6 per day. Eat 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 per day.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/32354-b-vitamin-seasonal-affective/#ixzz0r8XdhwsA
Tags: Depression, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression, Summer SAD, Vitamin B
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Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
Here are a few support group links!
The Seasonal Affective Disorder Association:
http://www.sada.org.uk/
Daily Strength – Seasonal Affective Disorder Support Group:
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Seasonal-Affective-Disorder/support-group
Mental Health America:
http://www.nmha.org/go/sad
Facebook group for Seasonal Affective Disorder:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Seasonal-affective-disorder/106176212746152
Tags: Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Facebook, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression, Summer SAD, Support
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Thursday, June 10th, 2010
January and February are probably the worst months of the year for seasonal affective disorder sufferers. There are many things to do during theses dark days.
- Get more light in a safe way. You can:
• Use your light box regularly
• Keep our curtains open in the bedroom
• Get outdoors whenever the sun is out
• Take a drive in your car when the sun is out
• Brighten up your home
• Spend time in the brightest room in your house
• Don’t undertake unnecessary duties or chores
• Delay what can be delayed
• Don’t allow guilt to prevent you from saying no
- Explain to others what is going on and tell them what they can do to make your life easier
- Exercise as much as you can
- If you are not on medications and are still laboring under the burden of winter, discuss with your doctor the possibility of starting them
- If you are on medications and they do not seem to be helping, talk to your doctor about other possibilities
- Keep a journal
- Find out what brings you enjoyment and do more of it
- Find out what brings you discontentment and do less of it
- Accept the down time
- Accept that winter may never feel as good as the other seasons
- Busy some forced bulbs and watch them grow and bloom in the dark months.
- Wait for spring, because sooner or later it will come
Tags: Depression, Exercise, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression
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Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
Other people can be a great source of support and comfort to those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder.
The top 5 things to do:
1. Understand the problem – You need to recognize that SAD is a real problem and affliction. Someone who suffers from SAD may look okay but can be having major difficulties in functioning. Your relative or friend with SAD needs more light and can benefit from your support and understanding. Once you understand the mood and energy problems of SAD, you will be able to handle them better.
2. Just be there – Just your presence and company can do a SAD sufferer good. Even though they may seem withdrawn and unfriendly, they appreciate the company. Many like the people being around, but you need to remember that you will probably not get a lot out of them.
3. Encourage the seasonal person – Remind them that this phase will pass, and they will feel better again. Remind them of some good times you have had, they may simply have forgotten. Because you understand that it is a seasonal problem, it can help just to remind them that it will pass.
4. Help with simple things – Just getting out of bed can be huge step. But asking them what you can do to help is greatly appreciated. It can be getting the kids ready and off to school, making breakfast or lunch or even dinner, getting groceries, household chores, doing the laundry or even paying the bills. Some things are simple and will take a couple of minutes, but it can make a huge difference.
5. Try to understand the seasonal person when they are in the other phase – It may come as a shock when the sufferer all of a sudden is happy and successful. But you need to understand that you need to be supportive either way. Sufferers can become a bit wired from the sudden abundance of sunlight. Many can show poor judgment or impulsiveness. If you see this happening you may want to speak with your doctor.
Tags: Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression, Summer SAD, Support
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Friday, June 4th, 2010
What is LUX anyway?
lux Pronunciation: (luks), —n.,
—pl. luces Pronunciation: (lOO’sEz).
A unit of illumination, equivalent to 0.0929 foot-candle and equal to the illumination produced by luminous flux of one lumen falling perpendicularly on a surface one meter square. Symbol: LX. Also called meter-candle.
Basically, it’s a unit of light measurement. Higher the number, brighter the light source.
What is the importance of the 10,000 lux and distance rating?
The 10,000 lux measurement is important in light therapy to judge the effectiveness of any particular light box or lamp. Since the 1970’s, studies have shown that light therapy is effective when a person is within a 10,000 lux brightness range of light for twenty to thirty minutes. Our light box has a 10,000 lux range at 24 inches. This is important to consider when shopping around. Many lamps boast of 10,000 lux light, but fail to mention at what distance this is from the light unit. For example, a light that has a 10,000 lux range of twelve inches means that either you would need to sit within a foot from the light for ½ hour, or at a more comfortable two feet you would need to spend one hour to get the same therapeutic effect. You will need to consider what works best for your lifestyle when making your decision.
Light therapy boxes built with some UL-listed parts are not the same as those in which the whole light box has been UL-tested and listed. If a company says it uses UL approved parts, this means the whole light box was not tested. For safety sake, verify this before you buy. It’s also against the law to sell electrical appliances that are not UL-listed.
At Alaska Northern Lights, we base our light therapy and light box information on a variety of accepted scientific studies and not on the opinions of a few individuals. Research has shown that in light therapy, the light’s intensity is the key, not UV rays. UV rays are considered a liability and a health problem with the eyes and skin. Our light box produces no UV-A or UV-C rays and no measurable amount of UV-B. We block any remaining UV rays with our UV diffuser screen.
Tags: Light box, Light Therapy, LUX, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression, Summer SAD
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Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Bright light therapy consists of sitting close to the light box with eyes open so the light shines on the user’s face. Looking directly at the light is not necessary. One is free to read, write or eat a meal while staying oriented towards the light.
Sitting within the 10,000 lux range, or 24 inches for a 30-minute session soon after awakening is enough time, and equals sitting in the 2,500 lux range or at about 40 inches for a two hour session. Intensity levels are changed by moving towards or away from the light. Treatment can last between 15 minutes to three hours. Once adjusted to light therapy, one gets a fairly good intuitive feel for adjusting the session length to get the desired results.
A positive response usually begins two to four days after beginning light therapy, and it could take up to several weeks to get the full beneficial effect. If patients do not respond to treatment, they may need a longer duration of morning light, or a trial of evening light. Some people can skip treatments for one to three days, occasionally longer, without ill effects, but most have symptoms returning quickly when treatment is interrupted.
Tags: Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Summer SAD
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Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Circadian rhythm disorders are disruptions in a person’s circadian rhythm – a name given to the “internal body clock” that regulates the 24-hour cycle of biological processes in animals and plants.
The circadian rhythm is usually disturbed by pregnancy, time zone changes, medications, shift work, depression, or changes in your routine.
Depressives are notorious for being circadian out of sync – feeling sleepy or alert, warm or cold, hungry or without appetite, at the wrong times of day or night – as if they were jet lagged several hours.
Research suggests that for many depressives, the timing of bright light therapy is key, as if it were pushing or pulling their circadian clocks into sync. Indeed, for other conditions, tweaking the circadian clock is the express purpose of light therapy.
Seasonal Affective Disorder is also a symptom of a disrupted circadian rhythm. Doctors fear that if a person’s biological clock is disrupted for too long, it could lead to cardiovascular disease, and a depreciation of melatonin could increase a patient’s risk of cancer.
Tags: Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression
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Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
Many people that suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder have been told to begin using a light box to help them recover from their winter depression. Although many have problems with just sitting in front of their light box, that some shy away from treatment.
You can turn your light box on and sit in front of it everyday from 30 minutes to 2 hours. You do not have to stare directly at the light box while you are sitting in front of it. Actually, you shouldn’t, it can be harmful if you have macular degeneration. However, you should still sit directly in front of it. Most doctors recommend using a light therapy box in the morning because that is when it is the most effective. Therefore, it will be helpful if you use it while you are completely morning tasks. Use your light therapy box while you are eating breakfast, reading the newspaper, working on your computer, playing an instrument, watching the television, putting on your makeup or reading a book.
Light therapy may sound expensive; however you can actually purchase a light box and perform regular light therapy treatments at home. With the North Star 10,000 you only need to be within in 24 inches from it to be effective, it gives you plenty of room to multi task while you get your treatment.
Tags: Children, Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression
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Tuesday, May 25th, 2010
Seasonal Affective Disorder is a type of depression which usually occurs during the winter months. If you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder, you might be better off to avoid alcohol. Even a little alcohol could affect your SAD symptoms and make them worse. Symptoms can get worse if they are left untreated and if substance abuse is added.
While most people can drink a glass of wine or have a cocktail in the evening, those who struggle from seasonal affective disorder may have a different experience. There are many reasons that alcohol can create problems for seasonal affective disorder sufferers. Foremost, it could be dangerous with the medications they are taking. Second, alcohol is a depressant and this can make depression and anxiety worse. A person’s judgment and inhibitions can also be affected by alcohol. It can have a negative impact on their quality of sleep and can also worsen health problems. Therefore, those that suffer from seasonal affective disorder will find it more difficult to manage SAD if they are consuming alcohol.
Check with your doctor as well, if you are taking medications there is a high probability that you shouldn’t be drinking alcohol while taking them.
Tags: Alcohol, Depression, Light box, Light Therapy, SAD, SAD light, SAD lights, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Severe Depression
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