SAD Light Therapy

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, typically affects people who live in areas where it gets dark for long periods of time, including people who live in places such as Alaska during the winter months. These people go such long periods without sunlight, so it can cause depression that is sometimes severe. More often than not, the depression starts in the fall and goes through the summer months, but it is possible for it to occur in other seasons as well.

What Is SAD?

SAD is more than just the “winter blues.” It typically occurs at the same time every year, so if you get depressed starting in the fall and it continues until the season is over, you might be suffering from this condition. Some of the symptoms of SAD include:

• Changes in appetite or weight
• Feeling depressed most of the time
• Feeling hopeless or guilty
• Having no energy or too much energy
• Low energy levels
• Sleep problems

Some experts think that SAD is the result of not getting enough of the sun’s rays when it’s continuously dark and cold outside. People tend to stay indoors longer when it’s cold, and that can affect them psychologically as well as emotionally. Because of this, companies are coming out with products to help people with this condition. One of the most common remedies is SAD light therapy, which consists of special lights that are used to wipe away part of your depression.

These lights work much like the sun does, and most of them require that you expose yourself to the light for a certain number of hours per day. They are comforting lights that can be lamps, boxes, or any other type of design, and the special rays provide the right amount of warmth and light to simulate the sun and get you into a better mood. Lots of people who feel “down in the dumps” will go outside for a while and soak up the sun’s rays, and a SAD light box does essentially the same thing the sun does in this situation.

Types of Products Used

Products such as Second Sun work wonders with SAD victims, and it works to relieve symptoms of SAD by providing 10,000 lumens of full spectrum light, regulating your circadian rhythms so that you can sleep better. This SAD light therapy lamp uses very little electricity, so you don’t have to worry about it causing your utility bill to go up, and it even has a modern, stylish look. It is also affordable enough to purchase one for every room in your home, which is a huge perk for people suffering with SAD.

There are other products that do the same thing, so it’s easy to research the products currently on the market so you can determine which one is best for you. They all do essentially the same thing – imitate the sun so that the body feels like it’s getting a good dose of real sunshine and can therefore feel cheerier and much better again. Some come in various colors, some look just like makeup mirrors, and some are smaller because they are meant to travel, but they all do an amazing job with anyone suffering with SAD.

Who Uses These Devices?

A good SAD light therapy box or lamp can be used by anyone who suffers an abnormal amount of depression during certain times of the year. In addition to home use, you can take these devices to your place of employment or even on a vacation. Most of them are lightweight and easy to transport from one area to another, so if you suffer with this affliction, you don’t have to wait until you get home to utilize these light devices so that you can feel better. Most are also affordable enough to purchase more than one at a time, leaving you with one less thing to worry about when shopping for this product.

SAD devices are also easy to use, but you should still read the instructions carefully so that you use yours correctly every time. After all, different brands have different requirements, and this includes the amount of time you should leave the device on before ceasing to use it. Learning how to use a SAD light is simple because all you do is follow the instructions, and most of the time, you simply turn it on for a certain amount of time, then turn it off and move onto something else.

How Long Are SAD Lights Used?

People often wonder, can you use a SAD light too much, and the answer is yes, you can. In fact, most of the companies that make the devices recommend using them for a certain number of hours then shutting them off because if you use a SAD light too much, you can actually get insomnia. This is why paying close attention to the instructions is so important. Turn your light on at the recommended time, which usually means in the morning, and turn it off when the company recommends doing so.

As far as their use goes, it couldn’t be any simpler. Just abide by the instructions when they tell you how many inches away from the body to keep it, which setting to use, and how long to keep the light on before turning it off again. The lamps are usually comfortable as well, and just like any other household product, you can review different brands online, which helps you determine which one is best for you. This is partly because reviews from real-life customers are usually included, and that can help more than anything else to decide on which product to buy.

Conclusion

A good SAD treatment light is easy to find, inexpensive, and works great to eliminate symptoms of depression that many people have during certain times of the year. Reviews of products are regularly found on websites such as Inc500conference, which reviews all types of products at any given time, so it’s truly easy to find out what other people think about these lights and other products as well. These SAD lights are truly miracle-workers, and it isn’t difficult to find out why.