Depression (major depression)

Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

• Housecall
• Alzheimer's caregiving
• Living with cancer

• 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

• January 5, 2010 12:15 p.m.

  My psychiatrist told me to buy a HALOGEN GE bulb at the hardware store and put it on a gooseneck lamp (move it up and where it will catch your eyes). A lot cheaper than buying a whole light box. He keeps one "on" in his office in the winter months so others can see and benefit. The bulb is a rather heavy GE Halogen (has the number 24 on the top of the flat-topped bulb). On the bottom of the HALOGEN bulb imprinted are the numbers: C210 120V 90W GE. It used to be around $5.00 but now I think it's around $3.50. Note: you can read a book and look up every now and then so the light catches the insides of your eyes. Another reason NOT to wear sunglasses in the winter as it blocks out the good sunlight from reaching your eyes. Try it! You'll have good luck with this.

  - Kathleen

• December 29, 2009 11:07 a.m.

  Would like to know why blue light therapy for SAD is a problem if you have had cataract surgery.

  - Al

• December 23, 2009 8:44 p.m.

  I LOVE my full spectrum lamp ... I have it on my desk at work and it shines right on my face most of the morning. It's one I got at a big box store almost every town has, probably not the "lux" it could/should be, but it makes such a difference to my mood/energy level I use it every day. I live in Wisconsi btw so use it quite a bit.

  - D

• December 23, 2009 11:48 a.m.

  Robin's explanation is correct. I too have a hard time doing it early in the day; my solution has been to have it on in the bathroom while I shower, put on makeup, brush teeth, fix hair...not always properly sitting in front of it and hardly ever for a full 30 minutes. BUT I feel a difference within a couple of days. My therapist says it "takes the edge off" for some of the people she treats; for me it dispells the grogginess/"foggy brain" of the morning and sorta kick-starts my day. And missing a few days definitely means a set-back. At one job I had, I carried it to work and set it up right on my desk. Even that helped, but the "first thing in the morning" works far better. Keep trying!

  - Susan

• December 23, 2009 7:40 a.m.

  As for A's request to explain why the light box has to be used in the morning: my understanding (I am not a scientist or doctor) is that your body functions by daylight rhythms, whether you're awake at night or not (this is why shift workers have so many problems). Using the light helps boost your energy level. If you use it in the evening, you are likely to have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. I know how hard it is to get up earlier, esp. when it's dark out, but if you try the light box you are likely to feel results in a week or two. I felt a difference in just a day or two and that benefit increased as I used it. I can also tell a difference on days when I don't use the box. Using it every day is helpful, I think because you "re-charge" your light absorption every day. I apologize for not being able to explain this more thoroughly, but the scientific research is online (try pubmed and others).

  - Robin

• December 16, 2009 9:28 p.m.

  Tom I had SAD and was also tested as vitamin D deficient. When I started taking a vitamin D supplement, the SAD symptoms decreased alot.

  - E

• December 16, 2009 5:09 p.m.

  Robin, can you explain more clearly why the light has to be used in the morning. I have always been told that but why???

  - a

• December 16, 2009 10:32 a.m.

  Living in the Midwest(Fort Wayne, In), the skys are pretty gray & gloomy starting in the fall, which doesn't help a person suffering from SAD/depression. This year I finally invested in a North Star 10,000 light box from Alaska Northern Lights(after doing my research on many different kinds.) Trying different meds over the years that give me side effects, I thought "why not try one of these, what can it hurt?" It has been a GODSEND!!! I use it every AM. It has been worth every penny. I can honestly say I enjoy my days even with it being dark, gray & gloomy. It's sooo nice to be able to function this season.

  - Susan

• December 16, 2009 8:24 a.m.

  You can find lights similar to those used in clinical studies for sale on amazon. Forget about the gimmicky light visors, etc. And, yes, you need to use the light in the morning because that's the way light is received through your eyes (indirectly) into your brain. The light brand I use is Day-Light by Uplift Technologies. Cost about $135, but well worth it for mood improvement. I live in the Middle Atlantic region and start using it by Oct. 1, continuing into early May. 15-20 minutes can be enough; you'll have to see what's effective for you, but no more than 30 minutes. You don't stare into it, so you can eat, read or whatever so long as you're sitting in front of the light with it adjusted to the right height.

  - Robin

• December 15, 2009 9:39 p.m.

  do any one know where you can buy a light for therapy treatment od SAD ?

  - suzette

• December 15, 2009 11:38 a.m.

  Tom, I have heard from several MD's that most of us are Vit D deprived, the amounts we need have been revisited and discovered that we need more than previously thought. Sunlight used injudiciously is dangerous. Ask your doc if you are getting enough, for now though, what harm can light do???? I guess I just contradicted myself, but light therapy and vit D seem so benign after all the powerful antidepressants and ECT that I think it is worth a try.

  - a

• December 15, 2009 10:35 a.m.

  I have a light, and have tried it, but my problem is that it should be used in the morning, so I have been told, and when I have to be at work at 6am or even 7 that means that I have to get up even earlier to use the light, so I have never used it consistantly. Is it necessarily true that using it at night or evening is not beneficial or may cause sleeplessness or what? I am still struggling with depression after many many attempts with meds and even ECT I am on 4 different antidepressants now, with uneven response and help. I would try the light in eht evening if i thought it might help. I suppose as I write this I could try it anyway, what serious harm can light do? A response would be appreciated

  - a

• December 15, 2009 7:18 a.m.

  After trying light therapy last year for SAD , I realize how horrible I DONT have to feel every winter anymore! I was hesitant to try it but then after researching and reading I realized its proven science! Please, dont hesitate another day--you dont have to feel so crappy every winter anymore!!!

  - Annie

• December 11, 2009 7:13 p.m.

  Since Vitamin D is sun-related, is that any evidence that Vitamin D supplements help SAD, or any other form of depression?

  - Tom

• December 11, 2009 6:33 a.m.

  Is it possible that when living with someone who has an ongoing depression, that you yourself would become depressed?

  - Carol

• December 10, 2009 2:42 p.m.

  Jeri, this is from the Light Therapy article on this MayoClinic.com website. "Intensity. The intensity of the light box is recorded in lux, which is a measure of the amount of light you receive at a specific distance from a light source. Light boxes for light therapy usually produce between 2,500 lux and 10,000 lux, with 10,000 lux being typical. In contrast, the lighting in an average living room in the evening is less than 400 lux, while a bright sunny day may register 100,000 lux. The intensity of your light box may also determine how far you sit from it and the length of time you need to use it. The 10,000 lux light boxes usually require 30-minute sessions, while the 2,500 lux light boxes may require 2-hour sessions." What is not well explained in the above quote is how critical the distance you sit from the light box is. Apparently not all light boxes of the same lux allow you to sit at the same effective distance from them. In other words, you might be able to sit two feet away from one 10,000 lux light box and three feet away from another 10,000 lux light box.

  - Mark

• December 10, 2009 1:44 p.m.

  Does the lux matter?

  - Jeri