Depression Learning

How Light Therapy is Used in Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a depressive disorder, which is characterized by seasonal bouts of depression that are most prominent during the fall and winter months. The depression disorder is due to lack of sunshine and is most prevalent among people living in northern countries where sunlight is reduced in the wintertime. Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD, is often called the winter blues, but in fact it is a clinical depression and therefore more than just the winter blues

Some scientific researchers believe that the sleep related hormone melatonin, is the culprit for SAD. The production of melatonin increases as we sleep longer hours during the winter season and the days are shorter overall. Again. This means that people are not getting as much sunshine as they really need, either by the short hours of natural sunlight, or because they stay home more during the colder weather and sleep more. This lack of sunshine, combined with an increase in melatonin hormone levels, produces general depression symptoms. SAD sufferers usually complain of feeling tired, depressed and irritated. Other depression symptoms could include either weight loss or weight gain, changes in appetite and a marked drop in energy levels when compared to other seasons.

Since SAD is a direct result of lack of sunshine; it has long been known that phototherapy also known as light therapy is a proven depression therapy for SAD. It just takes a little time to sit under a spectrum of light to produce great results. Light therapy helps SAD sufferers feel better. They feel energized, and other depression symptoms such as poor concentration are eliminated. Just a little bit of light helps bring back normal lives to SAD sufferers.

Many Seasonal Affected Disorder sufferers will use light boxes in the comfort of their own home. These light boxes are designed to provide the same spectrum of light that is provided by natural sunlight. Sun boxes bring this light to the sufferer without the harmful ultra violet sunrays. Therefore, users do not have to worry about cancer, or harm to the eyes and skin.

Doctors and mental health specialists may simply proscribe getting outside and enjoying the natural sunshine. However, as important as it is to get adequate sunshine, it is also as important to protect against the harmful ultraviolet rays. Hence, exposure should be limited, and like everyone else, SAD sufferers need to protect themselves against the sunrays by wearing suntan lotion and protective sunglasses and hats to deflect the glare. Therefore, these light boxes also known as grow lights, because they are used for growing inside plants and other things, will not deliver the same harmful affects of the sunrays. However, fluorescent lights are believed to drain the body of energy and so these kinds of lights should be avoided.

Not only should grow lights be taken in the proper amounts, they must also be used at the proper time of day to be successful as an affective depression cure. Light therapy is more successful in the early morning. Also, consult a medical or mental health professional before self-treating any kind of clinical depression. Your doctor or psychologist will perform the necessary depression test and prescribe the appropriate depression therapy.

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