Depression (major depression)

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• January 27, 2012 1:11 p.m.

  SAD can be better treated by visting your local quality tanning salon. The tanning beds are more up to date then any office light box and the results speak for them self. Many people go to tanning salons for that reason as well as other health conditions.

  - Kimberly

• November 28, 2011 7:42 p.m.

  The P1 Go Lite from Apollo, now owned by Phillips, is a mere 6" by 6" blue light therapy. Sells for about $150. Been great for me. But, time and distance from the light takes experimenting and patience. We are all different.

  - Jack

• November 25, 2011 3:35 p.m.

  Wellbutron and bright light therapy was the best thing I ever have done. I have used a big light box and the small 6" by 6" blue light box. Both worked well. Be patient in finding the time needed and how close you need to be from the lights. Everybody is different. Experiment with it. Don't quit!

  - Jack

• November 15, 2011 11:21 a.m.

  I would really like to try this, but I don't have a lot of money to spend. My doctor stated something small, and was wondering if anyone knew of a smaller version that perhaps had a dawn stimulator, that was less expensive than most out there?

  - Lacy

• November 4, 2011 10:48 a.m.

  I have SAD and was eager to try the light box therapy. My eyes became painfully dry and I had to stop. Soon after I had cataract surgery which has greatly increased my dry eye symptoms. Now have to wear sunglasses even indoors in a sunny room. It's been two years so this condition is chronic. Is there any light therapy that works on the skin?

  - Melinda

• May 11, 2011 11:28 p.m.

  I am 73 years old and have fought clinical depression for most of my life. It was diagnosed in 1979 and after many trials with different medications the only one to work is Nardil. As to light therapy, I tried a lamp while I was working but it didn't seem to be very effective. After retirement, I started to have my first cup of coffee outdoors in natural light. Within 1 to 2 hours I feel much better. I have a Gazebo that is acclimated for cold weather.

  - Terry

• May 11, 2011 12:26 p.m.

  More natural sun light never helped me. I have used the Apollo P1 Go Lite for years successfully. They were bought out by the Phillips Company, but still had a website. It is Blue Light therapy. Never never never quit on yourself. Keep trying. It took me over 35 years to get my life back.

  - Jack

• May 11, 2011 12:15 p.m.

  Thirty five years of continuous depression from a condition known as dysthymia was transformed into normalcy (a miracle I prayed for)with a the addition of bright light therapy to my wellbutron/remeron cocktail. The key,for me, was determining time and distance from the lights and not quitting until I determined what I needed. I feel like Rip Van Winkle.

  - Jack

• May 5, 2011 10:57 a.m.

  Can anyone advise if a light therapy box or lamp would function the same as a full spectrum light bulb or lamp? Are there any differences between the two or are they interchangeable? Thank you

  - Olivia

• March 14, 2011 7:39 p.m.

  Clement, yes, sunlight works better than any light box. My SAD symptoms have disappeared since I moved to Arizona, as we get more than 300 days of sunshine. On those days that are overcast or rainy, my melatonin levels don't drop that fast, so I don't feel any difference unless its more than a few days of darkness. I had a graveyard shift last summer, and after three weeks of working at night and sleeping in a dark room during the day, I started to experience SAD symptoms. Luckily, the job only lasted 4 weeks.

  - Lynn

• March 14, 2011 7:33 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with clinical depression in high school and was put on Paxil and went through light therapy as well. Having to get up at 5:30 in the morning to sit under a very bright light was not fun, but it did help me. I lived in Chicago and the winters were just too much. I've now lived in Arizona for almost 10 years. If/when I move back to a climate like that of Chicago, I will most definitely be investing in a light box. It helped me back then, and if it takes sitting and reading under a light everyday for 30 minutes to prevent the hell of depression, then I have no problem doing that.

  - Lynn

• March 13, 2011 1:23 p.m.

  Interesting! Have you heard of the Dinshah color light? Color light therapy is still used in Hospitals in India today-to heal and accelerate healing of many conditions. In America- it was brought by Dr. Dinshah back in the 1920's. The book is called "Let there be light" $12 from any online bookstore. the Dinshah society is non-for--profit. It is a very good reaD. iT DEFINITELY includes many of the symptoms you treat and more. Kind regards, Susana

  - susana

• February 15, 2011 5:17 a.m.

  I've been diagnosed w/SAD I reccently moved to Des Moines from San Francisco, & to make matters worse, I work a graveyard shift. Would I have to get up earlier to use the lamp? Now that it's mid-Feb. should I invest in a lamp or wait until next year.

  - Cheryl

• February 6, 2011 11:03 a.m.

  I have bipolar affective disorder and winters are very difficult for me. What can the complications be if I get light therapy.

  - Moody

• November 3, 2010 1:57 p.m.

  I would like to find a light to use for light therapy as part of my research practice (in a hospice fellowship). Where might I find one? Also, can you list some refference articles which I might use in proposing my project?

  - Kathleen

• October 18, 2010 5:09 p.m.

  If "Light Therapy" from light bulbs is helpful, does sunlight serve the same purpose? I find no comment in this material as to the relationship of Light Therapy, to sunlight, if any. Does anyone know? I would be interested to hear from a knowledgeable person on this subject.

  - CLEMENT

• September 14, 2010 11:10 a.m.

  Does anyone know whether there's a difference in effectiveness of light boxes with LED bulbs vs. incandescent or fluorescent? I am interested in reducing my energy use, and LED therapy boxes use only 9 watts. Also, LEDs never need to be replaced! Thank you for your response.

  - Nina

• June 15, 2010 6:56 p.m.

  I was diagnosed with depression in April of last year, began taking a 10mg dose of Lexapro every day, upped it to 20 mg in Aug the same year. Later in the fall I still didn't feel like I was doing as well as I could have been, so talked to my PCP during a follow-up appt for my med about light therapy. She wrote a prescrip for a light box that was in stock at the rehab supplies store across from the clinic. It is the DayLight that Robin mentioned in the Dec. 16 post. Amazing what it did for me...I, too, also have problems getting up earlier in the a.m. so I can use it, so used late afternoon or on lunch break. Still could feel the affects even if they were not as great as right away in the morning. I live in ND so winters tend to be rather dreary with the shorter days and snow...

  - Mandy

• June 15, 2010 9:17 a.m.

  There's a new portable light treatment, and it takes only 12 minutes! It works with earplugs!! I was so happy when it finally came out this year, it makes my life so much easier! http://www.valkee.com/

  - SAD girl

• April 25, 2010 8:51 p.m.

  I don't know why I am sad and unhappy I must have depression

  - Gill

• January 24, 2010 6:33 p.m.

  I read a wonderful book by F. Batmanghelidj, MD titled Obesity, Cancer, Depression. The physician explains that depression occurs from chronic dehydration down to the molecular level. Now I make sure I drink 8 glasses of water a day. A biomat, an FDA registered medical device which uses far infrared energy, also helps tremendously. I haven't had SAD or depression in 2 years.

  - Sylvia

• January 22, 2010 11:34 a.m.

  I don't qualify for health insurence (I have pre-existing health problems) and cannot afford going through the process of seeing a health provider, tests and so forth. Would it be dangerous to just buy the equiptment( assuming I could afford it) and try it out to see if I could get results?

  - A

• January 12, 2010 8:24 a.m.

  I got a light box 4 years ago. It's the Alaskan Northern Lights box that is the size and intensity recommended. It wasn't enough. I needed too much time in front of it, like hours. I felt angry about being chained to it. I started Welbutrin a year ago and felt results the first day. I had taken SSRIs in the past with little result. I now use the lightbox as a supplemental. I dealt with some anxiety the first couple of months with Welbutrin but managed it with Klonopin. The benefits I get from Welbutrin far outweigh the side effects. My doc had avoided Welbutrin with me due to some problems with anxiety, but I did my some research last year out of desperation to help my depression and had a hunch Welbutrin might work. Asked shrink for it, and it worked! Not a complete cure for SAD but it makes a major difference. I just wanted to report this here, lest anyone get discouraged who doesn't get "cured" by the lightbox.

  - Emma Sue

• January 8, 2010 7:32 p.m.

  are there any harmful rays from the GE Hallogen? Thanks for all your info. You may have just saved me a hundred bucks!

  - KP

• January 5, 2010 12:17 p.m.

  I forgot to say that my psychiatrist said this GE Halogen was a full spectrum bulb. That is the important piece of information. Thanks.

  - Kathleen