Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Lamp

[elfs]

In non-paranoid news, Omaha and I bought one of those blue lights that supposedly fights seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It was recommended to me by my physician several months ago, and this week I've been trying it out. The thing was pricey, over $120, and I wondered if it was worth it.

I have no idea if this light will make me happier in the long run, if my brain will get the "there's enough light, be merry, be cheered!" signals that it's supposed to put out.

But I do know this: when that light goes off at 6am, I am awake. This thing shocks me into consciousness with all the force of a Love Hammer. I am awake the way the voice of God wakes you up. It's a forceful, do-stuff, get-going awake. And I stay awake. I am not tempted to go back to bed.

Which, actually, is the effect I was seeking. So, barring tragic side effects (a decline in creative or productive function, frequent headaches or other health issues, loss of libido: you know, the critical things) quite possibly a decent investment.

Comments

[http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke (from livejournal.com)]

We've got two of those "HappyLite" things. I'm now convinced that they're dramatically overpriced, that you could do as well with a shop light with relatively blue ("daylight balanced") bulbs in it, but they look better than a cheap fluorescent fixture, and we've got them.

And, yes, with a decent digital timer they have been my alarm clock of choice for years now, and I'm not going back to sound.

[blackcoat.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...that might be useful. Our bedroom gets very little natural light in the morning, and I've found it harder and harder to get going in the morning as the summer winds down.

[bldrnrpdx.livejournal.com]

I've heard lots of good things from friends with the full spectrum lights for SAD. I even know of a few people who have the full spectrum lights in their non-windowed workplace, and they say it helps a lot.

[aprivatefox.livejournal.com]

Do you have a link to this lamp online? (Or enough information to head over to a store and pick one up myself?) I've been having trouble with getting out of bed as the Seattle days get shorter, and this sounds like a ringing endorsement.

[elfs.livejournal.com]

We just bought the Philips goLite Blue from Costco. It was, so to speak, what the doctor ordered.

[urox.livejournal.com]

Have you tried just a steady supplement of vitamin D? I've found my vitamin D deficiency causes depression for me (kinda like SAD: not enough sun light = not enough vit D = depressive slump).

[elfs.livejournal.com]

I don't seem to have a Vitamin D problem, just a brain signalling problem. The light does wonders. Let's see how long it lasts.

[urox.livejournal.com]

I am still amazed at the lab test showing me I was deficient (even beyond low) despite living in a sunny place like California. :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_candide_/]

My seasonal component, oddly, is not sensitive to the length of the day, but to the first derivative of it (specifically at the maxima).

However, I wonder if turning on the full-spectrum reading lamps in the bedroom when the alarm goes off would help me actually reach "awake."