Light therapy for SAD

Hey guys, I'm wondering if any of you have ever tried light therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder, or light therapy in general? I think it would be helpful for me, as I get depressed at the same time every year, but I'm also bipolar and apparently you need to be careful how much light therapy you do if you have a mood disorder, as it can induce mania. I hope I can do the light therapy in moderation though... any thoughts or personal experiences with it?

 

I've hear of this before but don't know much about it. Could you ask your doctor about it?


You're in Boston, hmmmm.

I would recommend checking out some acupuncture. The New England School of Acupuncture student clinic, which is in Newton, I think, has some really cheap acupuncture which is good. www.nesa.edu

you could get the chinese herbal medicine too, but the students usually aren't that good at it though. you could try? if you can pay for it, you could see one of the faculty members and they could handle the herbs better.

hope this helps!

 

the tanning bed worked for me. and its very relaxing

 

thank you! I will definitely look into these things. I hadn't even thought of acupuncture or anything, but it sounds like a good idea.

 

Just an update for those who are interested in getting a mood therapy light: I started using one for 15 minutes a day, and then working up to 20 minutes a day, for about a month so far. Although I started "Late" kinda in the winter, I have not gotten depressed at all really, all winter. I have a lot more energy and my appetite has lessened and I feel a lot better. http://www.alaskanorthernlights.com/

is where I got mine. It wasn't covered by my insurance, but it's better quality than the one that was covered by my insurance. Just letting you all know that it can definitely work for some people!

 

I think I might have that. Either that or I just don't like winter. lol

 

Do you understand how it works?

 

It's been explained to me before but I honestly don't completely remember everything. Even scientists don't know exactly how it works. But I know that it deals with levels of melatonin and other hormones and chemicals in your brain that control your sleep cycle/ other cycles. "Depending on when bright light is presented, the body’s internal clock - which controls daily rhythms of body temperature, hormone secretions, and sleep patterns - shifts ahead or is delayed when stimulated by light." (from a website about it). Changes in Serotonin and Dopamine might be involved.

 

Thanks for the information oc. I've got it (SAD) and coupled with a natural dislike for winter anyway it really is a drag.

 

My girlfriend uses one and it seems to help her.

 

I sit in my grow room.. It even has aroma therapy..