Does light therapy help with seasonal affective disorder?

What is seasonal affective disorder?

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that can occur as the seasons change, often as the days become shorter in autumn and winter.

For many people, these symptoms of depression improve in the spring and summer. But what to do until longer days and warmer temperatures return? Light therapy can mimic the benefits of sunlight and is one of several tools available to people with SAD.

Do SAD Light Therapy Lamps Really Work? Are they safe?

Light therapy lamps may be effective when used alone for mild to moderate episodes of seasonal depression, and in combination with medication and psychotherapy for severe episodes of seasonal depression.

When used as directed, light therapy lamps are generally safe and have minimal side effects. Back in the 1990s, there were numerous studies comparing light therapy to lower intensity light or placebo, and light therapy was consistently found to be more effective in relieving symptoms of seasonal depression. Approximately 60% of people who use light therapy for seasonal depression experience a significant improvement in their symptoms.

How long should light therapy lamps be used for SAD?

People with unipolar (more typical than bipolar) depression are given light therapy daily in the morning for about 30 minutes. For people with bipolar depression, which can include periods of abnormally high mood, light therapy is best done daily in the middle of the day for about 30 minutes.

How long does it take to see results from SAD light therapy lamps?

With light therapy, you can expect improvement in symptoms within two weeks of consistent daily use.

What are the side effects of using SAD light therapy lamps?

The most common negative effects of light therapy are headache and eye strain, which can affect up to 15% of people using light therapy. In some cases, light therapy can worsen mental health. (For example, people with bipolar disorder are at risk of becoming manic if light therapy is not used correctly.)

If light therapy is used for too long in one period or later in the day, it can cause insomnia.

If you have a pre-existing eye condition, it is important to consult an ophthalmologist before using light therapy.

What should you look for in a SAD light therapy lamp?

The most important characteristic of a light therapy lamp is the power of the lamps. The light therapy lamp should be 10,000 lux. It is also important that the light therapy lamp is UV-free or UV-filtering so that you do not expose yourself to harmful UV rays.

Content Source

News Press Ohio – Latest News:
Columbus Local News || Cleveland Local News || Ohio State News || National News || Money and Economy News || Entertainment News || Tech News || Environment News

Related Articles

Back to top button