SAD Lamp for the Winter Blues

SAD stands for seasonal affective disorder.  It may be more commonly called winter depression or just the winter blues.  As you can guess from its name, the disorder only strikes in the winter or during a change in seasons.  People with SAD will feel depressed and lack motivation during the winter, only getting better when spring comes around and this cycle will recur every year.  Other than depression and lethargy, SAD suffers may experience loneliness, anxiety, or hopelessness and may become overweight to cope with the depression.  It is estimated that ten million people suffer from SAD each year.

If you do suffer from SAD there is hope.  Scientists have figured out that SAD is caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight.  Since this discovery in the 1980s, a wide range of SAD lamps has become available to help those among us who suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

How a SAD Lamp Works

Lamps for SAD work by emulating the rays of the sun.  Ordinary light bulbs don’t emit the same spectrum of light as the sun and are not as powerful as SAD therapy lamps.  Sun lamps for SAD are actually ten times the intensity of normal domestic lighting and emit intense full-spectrum light waves equal to that of the sunlight just at sunrise or sunset.

For SAD light therapy, the best option is to get a SAD desk lamp, which is made up of a lot of fluorescent bulbs situated behind a diffusing screen.  Put the lamp on your desk or another high surface and sit next to it for anywhere from one to four hours a day.  You can still read, write, or work as usual while sitting next to the lamp, just make sure you don’t wear sunglasses or other blockers that might prevent the light waves from reaching your retinas.

Different Full Spectrum Lamps

SAD lights are also known as full-spectrum lights because they emit the full spectrum of light waves.  It has been proven that these lamps can have many benefits other than just how they apply to SAD.  They can be used to help people restore their normal sleeping patterns by simulating daytime and nighttime and help reduce stress if used in moderation.  Because of this there are many different lamps for other conditions than seasonal blues.  There are full spectrums lamps to combat jet lag and stress, ensure better sleep, and ones that help with relaxation and skin care.

A SAD lamp is completely safe in most instances, but there is some possibility of side effects.  These can include headaches, occasional insomnia, and eyestrain when used too much.  Make sure that you talk to your doctor about how long your sessions with the full spectrum lamp should be.  Also remember that once the SAD light therapy stops, the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder will return, so create a routine around your lamp and stick with it.

SAD therapy lamps can help to combat the winter blues that ten million of us Americans suffer every year.  If you feel depressed or lonely, talk to your doctor about full spectrum light therapy.  You also may want to talk to your doctor about light therapy if you are having trouble sleeping or take many trips where you need to recover from jet lag as quickly as possible.