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Seasonal Affective Disorder - has anyone used a light-box or similar?

(30 Posts)
Clematisa Mon 03-Aug-15 15:27:41

I'm looking for information on light-box / lamp to help with winter as I want to come off ant-depressants but know that October to March can be very difficult for me - in summer I can wake and be up just after 6am but in winter it takes me all my time to wake before 11am even with the blinds open and several alarm set! The Dr. says it's worth finding out about as it apparently helps the serotonin levels. I wondered if any-one has used one and how you went about choosing the right one for you? Do you need to use it for an hour or more at a time or can you stagger it? How big is it? Any answers would be gratefully received thanks.

Rosannabanna Fri 07-Aug-15 10:50:19

I used/use one and find it very helpful. Mine is packed away so I'm sorry but I can't tell you the make. There is a website for SAD www.sad.org.uk which has information on recommended manufacturers.

I think you have to experiment to find out how in front of the light suits you. It can be anything from 30 mins to over an hour I think. You don't have to stare at it though, it just has to be positioned so the light strikes your eye. I put mine by and to the side of my computer monitor and that works fine.

Best of luck.

harrigran Fri 07-Aug-15 18:37:18

DS uses a light box during the winter and finds it helpful, he also has a clock that lights up slowly like the sunrise.

Clematisa Fri 21-Aug-15 16:00:32

Thanks all - have taken the plunge and bought both Light Box and Wake-up clock. Took me two days to get the alarm clock to work - not the easiest set-up... but it worked this morning and I was up by 8am - in spite of it being a dull morning - normally I sleep right through Chris Evans though hearing him this morning I don't know how I manage that!
Have tried the light box for the last 2 mornings and will see how that goes as we move into darker days - I'm keeping an open mind and taking both the vitamins and the anti-depressants as well! One way or another something should work...

sally345 Mon 24-Aug-15 11:56:58

I bought a light box a few years ago still have it in the box as i found it was too stark first thing in the morning, think it depends on what is really coursing the depression , sorry to say it didn't help me at all. By the way it was quite big and comberson and coast about £145-00 but have a friend who swears by it so it just depends on the person if you can borrow one to try think that would be better than spending out till you know if it will work for you. Good lucksmile