SAD light

This is how wishy washy I am...
I was 'considering' speaking to my dh the 'possibilty' of getting a SAD light. I had looked into them a bit a few years ago, but they just seemed so expensive. mind you, I think I am still in withdrawal about fibro and believe I can just suck it up... now that'ss sad.

Anyway, akangel brought up the idea again to me. So I was, like I said, mulling over the possibilty of discussing it with my dh. Not that he ever would forbid me to get anything. (he is the biggest spender on Earth, but that is another post).

I'm gettign vitamins for the kids in Costco when I see a display of SAD lights. I picked up a package, started reading, etc... put it back. Went to the check out. Looked back at the display and saw they were on sale, this week only. So what do I do? I call my dh halfway across the continent to ask his opinion! Of course he said get it, anything is worth trying for me to get some energy back and not be so down. I'm crying in the middle of the aisle, trying to validate this purchase for myself. Somethign that may get me back on track and actually help my family in the long run. And I think I may not need it? When am I goign to wake up and smell the coffee?

It must have been fate, or maybe my angel pointing me in the right direction. I have never seen these other than online. I'll start it tomorrow and hopefully in a couple weeks I'll be urging each of you in nothern climes to get one :)

Good for you!  I think this will help you a lot.  We used to have a mod on fibro that uses these and said it helps her so much!  Also, talk to your doctor about taking Vitamin D3, too.  That helps with pain and fatigue.

 

The price of your light is actually quite cheap.  They are usually around $150.  If you use it every day, that's only $0.41 a day!  I think you are worth that! 

 

I'll be praying that this helps you BIG TIME!

 

Sherrine

Hello Mamanan, I wanted to comment on the purchase of your SAD light. First of all good for you. SAD is a form of depression. Many people do no know they have it, and its often left undiagnosed. There is book written by Dr. Norman Rosenthal. He is the scientist/psychiatrist who discovered SAD. The book is called, Winter Blues. I have had SAD all my life. It took me years to understand why I was so unhappy in Fall and Winter - while in Spring and Summer I am the exact opposite. Some people actually get SAD symptoms in Summer, and are most happy in Winter. There is much more to the seasonal changes than most people understand and how much it affects us. It's not just a bunch of woo woo. Also, if you spend too much time in front of a light box in can cause manic effects. I am only writing about this because it seems like you are unsure about the light, how long to use it and what exactly it does. I would recommend talking to your Dr. Light box is a therapy for SAD, but using it properly is important. Best of luck to you! There are also support groups out there for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Yes, I'm talking about Jeannie.  Her doctor had her start out using it four hours a day.  Even with napping, it goes through your eyelids, her doctor told her.  She has a bakery and has it in her bakery and uses it when decorating cakes.  It is a big help to her.  Just plan on it helping you in a big way, too!

 

Jeannie has her hands full right now.  I really miss her on the forum.  She is still a member but doesn't have the time right now to post. 

 

Sherrine

I hope this light works well for you! Years ago, my employer put full spectrum lights above my desk and work area for me and others ...I found it to help.

The behavioral specialist where I worked was the one who was instrumental in getting the lights put in. The morale of the employees was much improved over the winter months...I was living in Wisconsin at the time.

Sun does a body good! Hope your light box brings you plenty of sunshine :)

Hugs, Robin

It works for me! 5 minutes and it feels like I drank 2 cups of coffee, very energizing, just don't stare directly at it.

Post Edited (Sue123) : 1/13/2012 3:58:05 PM (GMT-7)

I also invested in one as I live in Canada and winter can be so dark and dreary. I definitely have found it helpful exspecially in my mood. I also double up on my vitamin D. I think you will be happy you made this purchase.






Take care, Amy

I have it so I can barely see it out of hte corner of my eye, but I was still getting afterimages, even hours later, of anything I was looking at. I've been using it 5 days now and after playing with different settings and time, I think I have foudn a solution. I have it set now at 1/2 power, but for 45 mins. And after I've been up for at least an hour so my eyes have time to get used to light. I did this the last 2 days and it seems to be working. I can tell I'm much more energized after using the light, but unfortunately that energy boost seems to be short lived. I'm hoping it will have a cumulative effect afetr a few weeks. Dh says he sees an improvement in my mood too. I laughed that it was probably psychosamatic. He answered that even if it was, it was worth the money.

I bought one at Costco last year and like you Mamanan, I had researched it and thought they were just too expensive. Then I found this one at Costco on sale for $50 and decided to buy it because of their wonderful refund policy; I figured I couldn't go wrong. Well I have had it for a year now and have used it for most of that time. During the summer when I had sunshine, I didn't use it as much. It has REALLY helped me. I do suffer from depression and anxiety (I deal with it on NO meds), and I'm not going to tell you the depression is gone, but I can see a difference. Now mine instructs to use no more than one hour a day and to start slowly. In any case, I hope it helps,
Miriam